Frequently Asked Questions About House Plans

What do our stock house plans include?

• Detailed foundation plan (slab, basement, or crawl space)
• Detailed floor plans
• Front, rear, and side elevations.
• Roof plan overview
• Typical wall sections and foundation details.
• General specifications and miscellaneous details as needed per house plan.

See what’s in a set of house plans for a more detailed description of our plan sets.

How do you calculate the square footage in a home plan?

Square footage calculations are taken from outside perimeter of the exterior frame wall and includes only living (heated) spaces. Two story, vaulted areas, and staircases are only included once in the calculations of the first floor. Area calculations do include balconies and open walkways in the heated space. The combine total gives you the total square footage. The total heated square footage does not include, decks, porches, garages, basements, attics, and bonus rooms. Basements are usually the same square footage of the first floor because it follows the same footprint of the first floor.

Do your plans include framing, HVAC, electrical, & plumbing plans?

• Our house floor plans include abbreviated floor & ceiling framing member specifications. A more detailed framing plan package with lumber and beam sizes, in addition to load points and calculations are provided by your local lumber company who will provide the lumber to frame your home.
• Our plans do not include HVAC plans. HVAC mechanical system information regarding location of units, what types of units are used, and the duct layout are determined by local building codes and your preference of heating and cooling system. Detailed plans for this are provided by your mechanical subcontractor.
• Our plans include schematic electrical plans (suggested fixture, outlet, switch, etc. locations). Your electrical subcontractor will provide more detailed drawings to include circuiting and wire sizing.
• Our plans include the layout of fixture locations and that is usually enough for plumbing. However, if more details are needed, your mechanical or plumbing subcontractor will provide a detailed set of plumbing plans.

Do your home plans have all the information needed by my local building codes department?

In some cases, our house floor plans can be built as-is; however, each state, county or municipality will have their own building and code requirements. It is possible that your plan may need additional documentation and drawings to comply with those local codes.

Some counties require you to follow certain energy codes. This normally involves filling out a form proving compliance. There are some areas of the country that have very strict local engineering codes. Examples of this would be earthquake-prone areas of California or hurricane risk areas along the Gulf Coast. If you are building in these areas, it is possible that you will need to hire a local engineer to analyze the home design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. We recommend that you check with the local building department, in the area where you plan to build your home, to get the most current requirements.

Will a material list be included with your house plans?

We do not provide material lists with our plans.

Can I modify a house plans?

Yes, we will be happy to help you customize any of our home plans to fit your needs. For more information, visit our house plan modifications page.

Will the plans be stamped by an architect or engineer?

House plans do not come stamped by an architect or an engineer. Most states exempt residential plans from requiring an architect stamp. In some states, house plans may need to be stamped or sealed by a local licensed architect and/or engineer depending on your city, county, and state building requirements. In such cases the plans may need to be reviewed by a local licensed architect or engineer for structural details and code standards before construction begins.

It’s best to check if your state require house plans to be stamped by an architect first. Once you verify that information, check with your county building department for any additional requirements on the local level.

How fast will I receive my house plan?

We generally processed orders within 1-2 business days.  In the case of PDF plan orders, we attempt to email those orders the same business day or within a 24 hour period.

Is there a return or exchange policy?

Because our house plans show intellectual knowledge of our product, all sales are final and cannot be returned or exchanged under any circumstances.

Do you offer discounts?

We will occasionally discount prices on our house plans.  Discounts exclude plan modifications. Price adjustments are not offered on plans that were purchased prior to a sale’s discount. We do not provide rain checks.

Do your plans come with an unlimited license to build?

Plans offered by Design Evolutions Inc., GA, grant you the right to build one (1) home. If you plan to build the same home more than once, we offer a 50% discount for each time you purchase and build the same plan.

Are your plans protected by copyright laws?

Yes, our plans are protected by copyright laws. Our article on what your should know about house plan copyright laws will detail more information about how to avoid penalties for infringement.