A previous poster mentioned that none of our participants have a background in architecture or engineering.

Happy to connect, I'm with a design & architecture firm in Florida.

All of the architecture, civil, and structural engineering is all complete and approved by the city.

I work with a luxury interior design & architecture firm in Sarasota.

I normally wait for sales on 35 year architectural shingles at the big box stores - you can get them for around $20-23 a bundle.

But filing plans mirroring what I have, with slight modifications cost me $6,000, which incudes my expeditor fee, something around $2,500 including the architectural plans I had to submit.

From an architectural standpoint, I would recommend doing a feasibility study to make sure what you’re planning for can actually work on your specific site.

I built this one 7 new st.. which build cost was probably 40 to 50% higher for the sq ft because of what we had to buy to meet the BAR ( architectural review for those that are not familiar)  I also built about 20 in North Charleston a before it sky rocketed.. my building partner is now working hanihan. which is the next one to go. 

I lacked the architectural knowledge to design my own.

We spent 10 months planning with architectural, structural, builder, city permits, etc.