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Can you provide reversed plans?
Yes, we can provide you with reversed (mirror
image) plans at no additional cost upon request. Why would you
want reversed plans? The plans as drawn may not fit your lot or
work well with the orientation of your lot. Having the plans
reversed may solve this issue.
How many copies of the plans will I need?
Good question. We do not know how many copies
of the plans you will need for your contractor and the various
inspection departments and sub contractors. To solve this problem,
we provide you with PDF files of your
plans. With these files, you can go to most copy stores that have a wide format
printer and have as many copies made as you need. Please remember
that copyright laws apply to your plans. You are only allowed to make
copies of the plans for use on your house.
What is included with the plans?
Your plans will be personalized with your name and address.
These files will contain foundation and floor plans as well as
exterior elevations and other necessary details. We do not supply
any Electrical, Plumbing, or HVAC plans. Your subcontractors will
typically work with you on configuring these systems to meet your
requirements. The plans will not contain an engineering stamp.
Depending on where you live, local conditions and requirements may
dictate changes to the foundation plans and/or beam
specifications. Your builder can typically assist you with these
issues. A structural engineer can provide any calculations and
additional drawings required as well as a professional stamp to
meet these local requirements. You can take the plan files to most local
copy stores and have as many sets of plans printed as you need for
your project.
How do I place an order for plans?
On our web site you will find a link for our
Order Form. You can download the Order Form PDF and fill it out on
your computer or print it out and fill out the form by hand. You
can then print the order form and return it to us via email or
USPS. If you have a scanner available, you can scan the signed
document and email it to us. The last two pages of the order form contain the License
Agreement for use of the plans.
How long will it take for my order to
arrive?
That really depends on how you choose to pay
for your plans. If you send us a personal check, we will have to
wait 7 to 10 business days for your check to clear the bank. Once
this happens, we will typically email your plans out
within a couple of days. If you send us a money order or certified
check, we will have to deposit these. Once we have the funds, we will
email your plans. If you choose to pay via PayPal, we will
typically receive the funds in a couple days and we should be able to
email your plans within a couple days.
Can I return the plans if I change my
mind?
No, sorry, but we cannot accept the return of any
plans sold and shipped. The ease with which electronic files can
be copied today prohibits us from accepting returns. Once we ship
your plans, neither the deposit nor the balance are refundable.
How energy efficient are your house plans?
All of our standard plans are designed to utilize
2x6 wall framing and framed or trussed
roofs. We use 2x6s because it allows the owner to add additional
insulation to the walls, fiberglass, cellulose or expanding foam.
These walls will typically have an R-26 value. We will not sell
any plans that utilized 2x4 exterior walls because we do not feel
that they can be energy efficient enough to meet future
requirements. We can also convert any of our plans to utilize
either SIPs or ICFs upon request. We do this because we want to
help our customers build more energy efficient homes. SIP panels
for walls are typically 6” thickness, the same as a 2x6 wall.
ICFs are thicker and thus would very slightly reduce the interior
dimensions of the house. The advantage ICFs provide is a much
stronger building since the walls are filled with reinforced
concrete. We allow plenty of room for adequate insulation in the
roof systems. We also specify the use of sheet foam insulation
under the floor of slab foundations. Beyond these things, many of
the choices you make will affect the energy efficiency of your new
home. Things such as the quality of windows and doors as well as
the type of insulation and the HVAC system you utilize will make a
big difference in your energy efficiency. For HVAC systems, we
recommend that you consider a geothermal heat pump. They cost more
up front but they save you money every month of every year.
What will it cost to build a house from
your plans?
Because
of the variability of building costs in different parts of the
United States and other parts of the world, we do not know what it
will cost to build one of our plans where you live. Also, different
people choose different building materials to suit their tastes and
budgets. Our plans should not cost much more than typical custom
homes in your area. We do not mean the cheaper builder grade homes,
but the custom homes. Things that could add additional costs to your
home would include wood siding, commercial windows, flat roofs, ICFs
or SIPs, geothermal heating or radiant floor heating, etc.
We would suggest that you download the floor plans and
3D images on our web site and give them to your contractor for
review. This should provide them with enough information to give you
a rough estimate. After that, you can purchase the plans you want
and have your contractor give you a more accurate bid for
construction costs.
Do the plans meet the building codes in my
area?
Building codes vary from location to location. We
do design our plans to meet the local building codes and practices
typically used in our area, Kansas. These may or may not be
adequate for where you intend to build. If you live in areas of
extreme weather or seismic activity, you may need to engage a
local designer or engineer to adapt our plans for your area.
Have the plans been stamped by a
structural engineer?
No, our plans have not been stamped by a
structural engineer. Most residential buildings do not require a
stamp from a structural engineer. This is typically only required by
either local building codes or by the local building code officials.
Our plans are designed to use traditional frame construction
practices utilized in most areas of the US. We can have a structural
engineer review your plans for an additional fee or you could engage
a local engineer to provide this service.
Can I copy the plans and give them to my
mom so that she can build a house?
Sorry, no. The plans we sell to you are meant for
your use only and are personalized with your name and address. You
cannot give a copy to your mother if she wants to build the same
house. But, we would be happy to sell her some plans of her own.
Why are there no mechanical drawings
included?
Because there is too much variation of standard
mechanical systems in different areas, we do not include
mechanical drawings. Also, most mechanical sub contractors will
design these systems to fit your house and do not require
mechanical drawings.
How is the total square footage
calculated?
Square footage of the plans is typically
calculated from the exterior walls of the above ground living
areas. The square footage of the basement is added to designs with
walk-out basements. This does not include any garages, decks or patios.
If the design has a stairwell, the square footage of it is
calculated only on one floor, but not the second or third floors.
Is a materials list included with the
plans?
No, sorry, we do not include a materials list with our
plans. Variability of building practices from region to region
would make any material list we create of limited use. Your
builder will do a much more accurate job of this.
Click here to download our FAQs document as a PDF
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