House plans are essential for the success of your construction project, providing guidance through each step and recording important details like how many power points are necessary, where the lighting should go, and how much storage space you have available. With the correct house plans in hand, you'll know exactly what steps need to be taken for a smooth process. House plans typically come in four main varieties - floor plans, elevations, foundation and basement plans, and site plans. Since each type is tailored for a different purpose, it's essential to comprehend what each one includes.
Types of Styles
House plans come in a range of styles, each depending on your location, budget, and personal preference. Understanding the distinctions between them will help you focus your search and minimize the chances of making an error when making your final selection. Cape Cod houses are a classic home design from the 1700s that still remains popular today. Typically one story, they boast wood siding, multiple windows, and a steep roofline for added light and space. Some even include dormer windows at the top for extra light and ventilation.
French Country designs draw inspiration from the rustic aesthetic of France's countryside. Homes can range in size from small cottages to grand chateaux and typically feature moderate to steep rooflines as well as exterior finishes like stone, brick, stucco, or wood. Craftsman-era homes are easily identified by their low-pitched hipped roofs with wide eaves, decorative brackets, and tall and narrow paned or multiple windows with intricate trim. Many feature large front porches featuring tapered columns as well as stone or brick supports.
Ranch houses are the most common design in 19 states. As these one-story homes require fewer construction costs than two-story residences, they tend to be popular in areas with low land costs. They provide more living space due to the absence of stairs. This style is ideal for older homeowners who may find it difficult to maneuver stairs easily. Traditional houses are the most prevalent style in 14 states. These two-story dwellings often take inspiration from colonial and farmhouse architecture. These homes are easily identified by their low-pitched gable or hipped roofs and dramatic beamed ceilings with exposed rafters. Some even feature front porches adorned with decorative brackets as well as a covered entry.
Adam houses are similar to Georgian houses, but more elaborate and feature distinctive architectural details. Like Georgian homes, they also boast symmetrical facades with a central front door. This style has its roots in the Spanish colonial movement and was created for warm climates where they're easier to cool than larger multi-story homes. These houses can be two stories or one story, with a center porch supported by grandiose columns. Typically, they feature low-pitched gable or hipped roofs, wide eaves, decorative brackets, and an inviting front porch featuring tapered columns in stone or brickwork.
Floor Plans
House plans are an indispensable element of the design process, whether you're building a new house, renovating an existing space or simply making changes. They give you an overview of the overall layout and help visualize how each room will fit together. Create a floor plan for your new home to visualize all the spaces and furniture that will go in each one. It also helps you determine if your design ideas are realistically achievable.
Floor plans are diagrams that depict the layout of your home from above, including walls and rooms. They may be either 2D or 3D and are frequently utilized by real estate marketing agents to assist in selling properties. Floor plans in both 2D and 3D can be rendered in full color for a more realistic representation of the home. They also highlight furniture layouts, textures, and surface materials to provide buyers with an in-depth insight into the space.
2D and 3D floor plans are becoming more widely used for property sales, as homeowners and realtors increasingly understand that well-designed floor plans can increase a home's appeal and increase its value. They also help to avoid any misunderstandings between builders and owners during construction by providing transparency in design. They can also assist in determining the size of various furniture pieces, appliances, and features. By doing so, you can avoid oversizing and guarantee your floor plan accurately reflects what will be in your home.
Floor plans provide you with the ability to strategically locate doors and windows, as well as plumbing and electrical points. These will be necessary if you plan on including built-in appliances or other interior features in your home. Floor plans offer the only true representation of how a home will appear when finished, unlike photos which may distract or misrepresent the best features in an area. This makes them invaluable tools for buyers when selecting their new property.
Elevations
Elevations are a crucial element of the design process, whether you're embarking on a brand-new construction or renovation. They give builders and contractors an accurate representation of your house so they can estimate costs, timelines, and materials requirements more precisely. Exterior elevations are the drawings that depict the front of a building, including details for doors, windows, window openings, and rooflines. They also display exterior finishes like cladding or bricks.
These are typically drawn at a similar scale as their corresponding floor plans, helping architects and builders visualize how the house will appear when completed. Aside from displaying exterior features, these drawings may also note any special details that cannot be seen when viewed straight-on. Examples of such things include porches and decks, railings, stair risers, and more.
Another type of side elevation is the split elevation, which displays interior details such as wall thickness and stair rises alongside door openings and fireplaces. This gives you a great idea of how your house will appear inside, plus it helps you select materials and accessories to match the style. Internal elevations are an integral part of the design process. They give clients a visual of how rooms will appear, enabling them to make decisions regarding cabinet placement, windows, and power points.
Site Plans
Site plans are an essential aspect of building a new home. They allow you to visualize exactly how your house will appear once completed, as well as guarantee that it complies with local zoning laws. Create a site plan by gathering all pertinent information about your property, such as its boundaries, dimensions, and rights of way. After that, measure distances between existing buildings, roads, driveways, and trees on your land to get an accurate measure.
Create a site plan using graph paper or computer software by sketching this information out on a piece of paper. Be sure to include any property setbacks, buffers, and necessary construction limits in your plan as well. Some cities require certified site plans before construction can begin. Nonetheless, most building departments will accept non-certified plans provided that you have measured the property and confirmed your measurements with another person onsite.
Before beginning to design your additions, it's always wise to have a firm plan of where they will go on your property. Doing this helps keep everything within budget and on schedule. Your design team should create a site plan that clearly illustrates how drainage, access, and landscaping are integrated within your property. This is essential when planning and constructing any development on your land as it will help ensure the best results.
A site plan is essential in determining the optimal parking location and it includes any easements you must obtain from other owners before building. This information is especially essential if you plan to add a garage to your property. Site plans are an integral component of the design process and are required for most residential and commercial projects. Furthermore, they serve as essential marketing tools that showcase all the unique characteristics of a property, allowing potential homebuyers to appreciate all its unique features.