Get matched with top architects in Kodiak, AK

Depending on what the blueprints are for, a qualified draftsperson, contractor, or architect can draw them up. In some cases, including specialty permitting for a build, you may be required to use a licensed architect. 

In many cases, a blueprint drawn up by a certified professional is required before a city or municipality approves a permit. 

Federal and Colonial architecture are similar in that they both appear mostly utilitarian and symmetrical, but Federal architecture is a bit more ornate. Federal design often includes decorative palladium windows, window lintels, and, sometimes, columns surrounding a more decorative portico. Inside, Federal architecture is set apart by its centrally-located oval room. Additionally, Federal homes tend to have brick facades, whereas Colonial homes more often have wood siding.

Some homes, like those with flat roofs, may not have eaves at all. Some contemporary-style homes also lack eaves, although many may have abbreviated eaves to divert water and protect the walls and foundation. Homes without eaves often have specific types of gutters affixed directly to the edge of the roof to provide adequate drainage.

Federal architecture is most common in urban areas throughout the New England states, including the older parts of New York, Pennsylvania (namely, Boston and Philadelphia), Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The style also dominated in parts of Georgia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, so many historical homes in the area embody this home design. Salem, MA, has two historic districts that predominantly feature this architectural style: Chestnut Street District and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.