Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our home plans offer the following: Coversheet - The coversheet has a rendering showing the house as it will look when it is built. In most cases this is not required for house construction. The purpose of the coversheet is to give the homeowner a visual representation of how the home will look when it is completed. Foundation plan - The foundation plan is used to show how the foundation should be built. It explains the thickness of the foundation walls, floor joist sizes and spacing, column locations, window/door/vent locations and sizes, suggested furnace/water heater locations, plumbing (where required) and miscellaneous construction details related to the foundation and basement. Floor plans - The floor plans of the home indicate the layout/construction of each floor of the house. Items typically included are room dimensions, wall sizes, plumbing/electrical locations, stair locations, door/window sizes, kitchen and bath layouts, ceiling conditions in each space, flooring, structural information and any special conditions related to the floor plan. Elevations - The elevation sheets communicate the material/dimensions that the designer envisioned, creating the correct look and feel on the outside of the house. Some of the items typically shown on an elevation sheet include materials used on the exterior of the house, size and shape of windows and doors, size and shape of vents, size of the trim, height and dimensions of various elements, depth of foundations, types of shingles and moldings, pitch of the roof, placement of materials (example: brick soldier course, brick quoins, etc.), roof plan, and location of gutters and downspouts. Details - The details include an explanation of how the smaller items are to be designed and constructed. Examples include the dimensions and appearance of a stair handrail, room moldings, design of railing spindles for staircases, and description of how a fireplace should look. The designer may add details for anything a builder needs to understand the design of the house. Sections - The sections show how the parts of the building fit together. Typical sections include walls, fireplace, and stairs. The designer may add sections in a set for anything a builder needs to understand about the construction of the house. Interior Elevations - The interior elevations show pictures of key interior features should look. Typical items and areas that are drawn include fireplaces, kitchens, and bathrooms.

No, the blueprints are not stamped or sealed by an architect.

Typically, these are all plan specific and we would have to look at the plans or contact the designer. However, some of our plans have this and other specific information in the Design and Material Outline located on the plan detail page on our website. Or, you can call our Home Plans Team at 1-800-373-2646 for any additional plan specific questions you may have.

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Typically, these are all plan specific and we would have to look at the plans or contact the designer however, some of our plans have this and other specific information in the Design and Material Outline located on the plan detail page. Or, you can contact our Home Plans team at 1-800-373-2626 for help with any additional questions.

You can purchase a Reproducible master or CAD file, which clearly indicates your right to copy or reproduce and allows you or a local engineer/draftsman to make changes to the plan. These plans also allow you to make copies of the plan after you have made your changes. We also have an affiliate that can customize your plans. Purchase of a Reproducible master or CAD file is necessary in order for them to make changes to a plan. You can download the modification request form from our website and e-mail the completed form to customize@hdainc.com or fax it to 651-602-5050. Within 24-48 business hours you will be provided with a quote to modify your plan.

If you wish to make some minor design changes, you’ll want to order reproducible masters. These drawings contain the same information as the blueprints but are printed on reproducible paper that it easy to alter and clearly indicates your right to copy or reproduce. This will allow your builder or a local design professional to make the necessary drawing changes without the major expense of redrawing the plans. This package also allows you to print copies of the modified plans as needed. The right of building only one structure from these plans is licensed exclusively to the buyer. You may not use this design to build a second or multiple dwelling(s) without purchasing another blueprint. Each violation of the Copyright Law is punishable in a fine.

Most of our plans will show a detailed section of the framing, and the floor joist and roof layouts, but will seldom include the entire layout.

The rough plumbing is included on the plans showing the kitchen and bath fixture symbols and their locations. However, the location of where the pipes come into the house is site specific and not included on the plans. Suggested lighting fixture and outlet locations are sometimes included. However, the location of breaker boxes, wiring, etc. are site specific and are not included on the plans. For both of these services please refer to a local licensed plumber and electrician so that these services meet local code requirements.

Plans can be printed in mirror reverse. These plans are useful when the house would fit your site better if all the rooms were on the opposite side than originally shown. They are simply a mirror image of the original drawings causing the lettering and dimensions to read backwards. When ordering mirror reverse drawings, we recommend purchasing only one set of mirror reverse plans for orientation purposed and the rest as right-reading plans. Some of our plans are available in a right-reading reverse where the home is reversed but the lettering and dimensions are readable.

These plans are useful when the house would fit your site better if all the rooms were on the opposite side than shown. They are simply a mirror image of the original drawings causing the lettering and dimensions to read backwards. When ordering mirror reverse drawings, we recommend purchasing only one set of mirror reverse plans for orientation purposes and the rest as right-reading plans.

Most plans come with 2x4 framing. However, plans can be modified for 2x6 framing. Please check with your builder and building code officials for local requirements. You can purchase the reproducible masters or a CAD file and have the plans customized to fit your needs. Or, you can download the modification request form from our website and e-mail the completed form to customize@hdainc.com or fax it to 651-602-5050. Within 24-48 business hours you will be provided with a quote to modify your plan.

We only offer the foundations listed with the plan. If these foundations are not what you would prefer, you can purchase the reproducible masters or a CAD file and have the plans customized to fit your needs. Or, you can download the modification request form from our website and e-mail the completed form to customize@designamerica.com or fax it to 651-602-5050. Within 24-48 business hours you will be provided with a quote to modify your plan.

Yes. If brick is being added to a house, you will have to make modifications to the foundation to create a brick ledge. If brick is being removed, the ledges on the foundation plan will not be required. Most exterior finishing changes can be made easily without causing problems. You may want to check with a building professional to discuss the changes you want to make.

No, the detail plan packages are not specific to any home plan. Each package includes three-dimensional illustrations and a glossary of terms. They offer homebuilders details for constructing various foundations, numerous floor, wall and roof framing techniques, simple to complex residential wiring, sump and water softener hookups, plumbing connection methods, installation of septic systems and more.

No, the total square footage only includes the heated square footage of the home. The garages, porches, decks, unfinished areas, bonus/future areas and attic space are not included in the total.

At the time the drawings are prepared, the plans conform to most national building codes. However, they may not comply completely with your local building regulations. Some counties and municipalities have their own building codes, regulations and requirements. The assistance of a local builder, architect or other building professional may be necessary to modify the drawings to comply with your area's specific requirements. We recommend you consult with your local building officials prior to purchasing the blueprints or beginning construction.

Contact your local building department to find out if a stamp or seal is needed for your county and/or state. Some areas only require an Architectural seal while other may require an Engineered set of plans. Based on what is necessary in your area, your local building department should be able to direct you to a local architect or engineer who is able to stamp and/or seal the plans for you for your particular area.

Standard delivery is 7-10 business days. We also offer Priority (3-5 business days) and Express (1-2 business days). If you need to place a rush order, please call us by 11:00 a.m. CST Monday through Friday.

Contacting a building or design professional (builder, contractor, real estate agent, etc.) is a good place to start. You can also do research information on general construction at bookstores, home improvement stores and on the Internet.

Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm CST.

Since plans and cost to build estimates ordered from houseplansandmore.com are printed in response to your order, we cannot honor requests for refunds. It is the plan purchaser's responsibility to verify all lot conditions, measurements, and code requirements prior to ordering and building.

A "1-Set" plan package is perfect for studying your home in greater detail. A "1-Set" is considered a study set and is marked "not for construction". And, making copies of this set is a copyright violation. But, reproducible masters are printed on reproducible paper that is easy to alter and clearly indicates your right to copy or reproduce. This will allow your builder or local design professional to make the necessary changes without the major expense of redrawing the plans. Reproducible masters also allow you to print copies of the modified plans as needed. The right of building only one structure from the reproducibles is licensed exclusively to the buyer. However, you may not use this design to build a second or multiple dwellings without purchasing another blueprint.

The total square footage includes the entire heated living space, calculated from the exterior frame walls. It does not include decks, porches, garages, unfinished basements, attics and most bonus rooms. Also, any two-story rooms, like atriums, are added only once to the first floor square footage. Most plans with unfinished living spaces call out the square footage available, and any other square footages needed can be obtained by calling our Home Plans Team at 1-800-373-2646.

No. Since plans and cost to build estimates ordered from houseplansandmore.com are printed in response to your order, we cannot honor requests for refunds. It is the plan purchaser's responsibility to verify all lot conditions, measurements, and code requirements prior to ordering and building.

Material lists are available for many of our plans and availability is indicated when you view a plan on this site.

Material lists are plan specific and are available for purchase only with the purchase of a plan that has a material list available.

It is not necessary to purchase the material list to build your home. However, each list gives you the quantity, dimensions and description of building materials needed to construct your home so you will get faster and more accurate bids from your contractor and material suppliers. You will save money by paying for only the materials you need. Please note that the material list is designed with the standard foundation only and it will not include alternate or optional foundations.

You, as the original purchaser of plans, are licensed to build a single home from the plans. Building more than one home from the plans is an infringement of the designer's copyright. The purchase of a multiple set package of plans is for the construction of a single home only. The purchase of additional sets of plans does not give you the right to construct more than one home. Therefore, if you would like to build a house more than once, you are required to purchase another full set of blueprints.

CAD files are a complete set of construction drawings in an electronic file format. They can be beneficial if you want to make moderate or substantial changes to the home plans or bring the plans up to your local codes. With the CAD file option, you have the ability to take the plan to your chosen design professional (provided that they have computer-based design equipment i.e. AutoCAD or DataCAD), discuss your needs/changes, and the designer can then modify the design much easier and quicker than trying to do so with a paper-based drawing - which will save you time and money. With your CAD purchase you will receive a one-time build copyright release that allows you to make your changes and the necessary copies that you will need to build your home.

Material lists give you the quantity, dimensions and description of the building materials necessary to construct your home. You’ll get faster and more accurate bids from your contractor while saving money by paying for only the materials you need. Our material lists are some of the most thorough in the industry. Please note that the material list is designed with the standard foundation only and it will not include alternate or optional foundations.

Yes. In fact, all of these plans can be viewed on our website www.houseplansandmore.com. There, you will find with many of the plans, the elevations available for viewing and printing for reference only. If for some reason, an elevation isn’t shown, please feel free to call our Home Plans Team at 1-800-373-2646 and we will be happy to assist you in obtaining the information.

No. The total square footage pertains to only the heated area of the home. But, if for some reason you need to determine the square footage of the unheated areas, our Home Plans Team will be happy to work with you in determining these dimensions and sizes. We are available by calling 1-800-373-2646, Monday through Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm CST.

Our website, houseplansandmore.com, offers the most comprehensive estimated-cost-to-build feature that is gathered based on your zip code in addition to the building materials and labor. Just search online for the plan number(s) you are interested in purchasing, then insert your zip code to obtain a specific estimate to your location. These prices include all the components necessary to build the house; the only factor not included is the cost to purchase the land. Building materials vary greatly by location, so with this one-of-a-kind feature you will feel comfortable about staying within your budget.

Yes, we can ship overseas or internationally. Please call, fax or e-mail for shipping costs.

We do have photographs available for some of our homes. If they are available, they will be published in a book, or on our Web site.

We sell home plans throughout the United States and may not know exactly where they are built. If we do know the exact location, we do not release that information in order to protect the privacy of our customers. In some cases, we publish an actual photograph of the home that the builder or customer has shared with us.

All plans in this collection are energy efficient because they have increased insulation from either 2" x 6" exterior walls, insulated concrete form walls or expanding foam insulation. In addition, most plans specify insulated exterior doors and windows and added ceiling insulation. After choosing your home plan, you may decide to build green by incorporating green lumber, bamboo flooring, solar panels, Energy Star® rated windows and appliances, and naturally-dyed carpets and “green” paints. Local Home Builders Association Chapters have specific guidelines to determine if a house is Green Certified if you wish to have your home inspected

Yes and No. Upfront costs for energy efficient materials are typically 2-5% higher than standard products. However, energy efficient materials cost less to operate. Therefore, a green home will provide homeowners with monthly savings on utility bills that more than pay for the initial upfront overages. Also, a green home will recoup the costs in its resale value.

The benefits of building green far outweigh any initial higher costs. The home will run more efficiently and be more economical, resulting in lower utility bills. Also, you will be more comfortable in any season with less drafts seeping through. The atmosphere throughout the house will be healthier, with increased ventilation and less toxic chemicals being dispersed. In addition, homeowners will have pride in knowing their home is safer for the environment, decreasing the amount of toxins submitted into the air. With all of these benefits, the home will be a pure joy to own. And when you’re ready to sell, your green home will prove to have been a solid investment with a higher resale value than any standard home.

If you are looking for general framing knowledge, then purchase the Framing Package. It offers home builders details for constructing various foundations and numerous floor, wall and roof framing techniques. However, it will not pertain to your specific plan, so keep in mind all three Detail Plan Packages that we offer; the Framing, Plumbing and the Electrical plan packages act as a general guide in all of these fields.

Yes, a plan can be converted to the metric system. Our customizing service is able to accommodate this need. However, it can be costly, especially if the plan is large in size and has several pages in the blueprint package that need to be converted. The plans will still have the American scale per foot, but the dimensions will read metric. You will simply need to fill out the Home Plan Modification Request Form stating the changes you would like to make and then purchase the reproducible masters. For more information on customizing a plan, please call us at 1-800-373-2626.

If the plan page does not indicate in the foundation description to specify a certain type of foundation when you order the plan, then anything listed in the plan features is included with the plan package for that plan number.

Building codes are safety regulations pertaining to how a building should be built. They are intended to protect both the builder and the home buyer. Many restrictions and regulations are regionally required and depend on soil, weather conditions, etc. There are four major nationally recognized model building codes that are similar in content: UBC (Uniform Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials & Code Administrators), CABO (Council of American Building Officials) and IRC (International Residential Code). Every state, county and local municipality has adopted some form of one, any or all of there standard building codes.

It depends. In most cases, five or more sets are needed (one set for you, one or two for your builder, one to two sets for your building department, one set for the bank, one set for each contractor or subcontractor and so on). You may want to check with your builder before ordering or consider ordering a reproducible master. With the reproducible master, you can make as many or few copies as you need.