High quality house blue prints will be the heart and soul of your project, and will be one of the most important aspects in building your home.
Your search for house blue prints shows that you know the high cost of hiring an architect. Congratulations on your decision to save thousands of dollars before the concrete is poured.
Pre-drawn house plans come in several architectural styles such as:
- Bungalow
- Colonial
- Contemporary
- Craftsman
- European
- Mediterranean
- Neoclassical
- New American
- Ranch
- Southwest
- Split Level
- Victorian
In order to avoid future problems with a contractor during the building phase of your new house, expect/demand that your house blue prints include the following:
You should have at the least, a complete frontal view of how your new house should look after it's built and landscaped.
Foundation Plans
If you're opting for a cement slab instead of a basement, your plan should show footings and details of a monolithic slab.
Detailed Floor Plans
Detailed Cross-Sections
This part of the plan is very valuable during construction. It shows how the various parts of the house are fit together. They should include enlarged, separate sections of foundation, interior and exterior walls, floors, stairways, and roof details.
Floor Structural Supports
Details of this crucial element of your home should be provided with your house blue prints. This should include the specifications of the floor joist, ceiling joist, spacing, direction, and span.
Electrical Plan
Some house blue prints won't contain diagrams detailing how circuits should be installed, or how the wiring should be run, but rather will include suggestions for you and your electrician. These would include locations for the lighting, outlets, switches, and circuits.
Some cities and states now require a review of construction building blue prints. Before you hire a contractor, or start to build your house, check with your local building official who can tell you if you need a licensed architect or engineer to 'seal' or officially approve your house blue prints.
Good luck in your search for your new dream home!
