Where Are The Plans?
It’s every home renovator’s dream: You lift a floorboard in the attic and, voilà! There are the original blueprints, with dimensions, specs and elevation drawings. The mysteries of your house are solved, and you have a roadmap for repairs and restoration. For most of us, this is only a dream. In the early 1900s and before, builders rarely drew up the kind of detailed specifications found in modern blueprints. House construction was largely a matter of convention, using methods passed down by word of mouth. Written manuals and pattern books often contained the hazy instruction, “Build in the usual way.” So, should you give up the hunt? Not yet! Here’s how to find answers… without tearing up your attic floor. 1. Call your Realtor. If your house was built in the past 50 years, the sales agents at your real estate office may be able to help you locate facts about its construction. Often they will know the local developers and be familiar with housing styles in your region. 2. Visit your
