What Do You Get With Your House Plan?
So what exactly are you purchasing when you buy a house plan? It’s more than just a pretty picture. Your home plan gives your builder the details needed to construct your perfect dream home. Read below to see what’s included, different options, and what to know before starting your project.
Usual plan sheet elements
*Not all plan sets include all sheets listed below. See the ‘What’s Included section’ on specific plan pages to get complete information.
Foundation Plan
Representing the general design intent of the foundation, the foundation plan will showcase a basement, crawl space, or slab. This usually includes the layout of the footing, post and beams, and extent of structural slabs, based on what foundation type is purchased.
Floor Plan(s)
This plan sheet features an overhead view of the design that indicates the location of windows, doors, walls, and rooms.
Roof Plan
Generally illustrating valleys, hips, and ridges, this plan sheet incorporates the elements that make up the roof. It may also reveal the roofing material and slopes of roof surfaces, as well as chimneys and any other ornamental elements.
Exterior Elevation
Typically displaying the materials for roof, walls, and any other components that are part of the design, elevations are a 2d representation of each side of the home plan.
Building Section(s)
This plan sheet features a cut-away view through the home design that displays the adjacencies of spaces. It also showcases the relationship from the ground to the house and to the roof.
Electrical Plan(s)
Displaying lighting design intent and layout, this sheet illustrates the location of lighting fixtures, switches, and outlets.
Construction Notes and Details
The foundation, interior walls, exterior walls, stairways, floors, and/or roof details may be included in this plan sheet.
Read this before you build!
Many of our plans can be built “as is” in most locations but you still need to check with your local building department to insure your plan meets local codes and building requirements. It’s important to note that some of these requirements may require significant additional investments (such as structural engineering, soils reports and energy efficiency calculations).
Most plan sets do not include any plumbing, heating or air conditioning drawings due to the vast variety of local codes and climatic conditions. These details and specifications can be accessed from your builder, contractor, and/or local suppliers.
All house plans on Eplans.com are designed to conform to the building codes from when and where the original house was designed.
Other Important Documents
License
The License Agreement gives you the access to construct a single home from a purchased plan design.
Plan Media (Digital Files or Printed Copies)
Digital Files
If you purchase a PDF or CAD, it will be sent via email. Digital files can be sent to a copy shop or a blueprint store near you when you need printed “sets” for bidding and permitting. This allows you to save both time and money when you need an extra copy or even just something as small as a single page.
Printed Copies
Would you rather have hard copies? We can have your plan’s designer or architect make printed copies and send them to you via mail. If you are in need of more copies, simply order another set and they will arrive within a few days in the mail.
Digital Media (sent by e-mail)
Popular option and a great value
PDF sets will arrive the fastest and give you the opportunity to print more copies locally (and inexpensively) when needed.
Print locally as needed
CAD
Computer Aided Design (CAD) files are required if you are making considerable changes to a plan set and are using your own architect.
Printed Copies (sent in the mail)
Printed Copies (sent in the mail)
5 or 8 Copy Set
Printed sets are stamped “do not copy” and legally cannot be copied.
For more prints, order additional copies
Reproducible
Reproducible sets are printed on paper and allow direct copying. This set includes a limited copyright release to make additional copies when the need arises.
Print locally as needed.
Just want a closer look at a plan before building?
Many plans have a Study Set or Single Set option that allows you to obtain bids from contractors if you are not ready to buy a full-priced plan. These plan sets are stamped “Not for Construction” and the builder or contractor legally cannot build from it. However, we do credit you 90% of the Study Set or Single Set purchase towards your upgraded plan set once you are ready for your construction documents.
* Unless you buy an “unlimited” plan set or a multi-use license you may only build one home from a set of plans. Please call to verify if you intend to build more than once. Plan licenses are non-transferable and cannot be resold.
** The original designer retains the copyright to plans derived from their plans. You cannot buy a CAD set, change them and sell the changed design to others or build additional homes based on the changed set.
