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What Does My House Plan Order Include?

When you purchase a house plan you are purchasing the details your builder and/or contractor will need in order to build your home design. Contents may vary depending on the home plan being purchased. This section highlights the items that are typically included in a house plan set.


Typical plan sheet examples

*Not all plan sets include all sheets listed below. See the "What’s Included section" on specific plan pages to get complete information.

Sample Foundation

Foundation Plan

The general design intent of the foundation is represented in this plan set. It showcases a basement, crawl space, or slab. The layout of the footing, post and beams, and extent of structural slabs is usually included (based on what foundation type is purchased).

Sample Floor Plan

Floor Plan(s)

The floor plan(s) sheet gives you an overhead view of the home plan design and indicates the location of windows, doors, walls, and rooms.

Sample Roof

Roof Plan

The roof plan sheet typically shows valleys, hips, and ridges and incorporates the elements that make up the roof. It can also reveal the roofing material and slopes of roof surfaces, as well as chimneys and any other decorative elements.

Sample Elevation

Exterior Elevation

Exterior elevation plan sheets generally display the materials for roof, walls, and any other elements that are part of the plan design. Elevations are a 2d representation of each side of the house plan.

Sample Cross Section

Building Section(s)

These feature a cut-away view through the home design that displays the closeness of spaces. It also displays the relationship from the ground to the house and to the roof.

Sample Electrical

Electrical Plan(s)

The lighting design intent and layout is displayed in this plan sheet set. This includes the location of lighting fixtures, switches, and outlets.

Sample Construction Detail

Construction Notes and Details​

This plan sheet set includes the foundation, interior walls, exterior walls, stairways, floors, and/or roof details may be included in this plan sheet set.

A Note on Local Regulations


Because different locations have their own requirements, you may need to get engineering, soil testing, stamps, or other requirements. Our plans are sold nationally and so do not include these items. Always consult with your local building department before beginning any project.

Typically, the plan set does 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 BuilderHousePlans.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

Digital files can be sent to you via email. They can also be sent to a copy store near you when you need printed “sets” for bidding and permitting. This allows you to save time and money whenever you need an extra copy (or even just a single page).

Printed Copies

We can have your plan’s designer or architect send printed copies to you via email. Just order another set if you need more copies and they will arrive to you within a days in the mail.

Digital Media (sent by e-mail)

PDF


Great Choice

These plan sets arrive the fastest and allow you to print more copies locally if needed.

Print locally as needed

CAD

If you are using your own architect and making many changes to a plan set, then Computer Aided Design (CAD) files are required.

Printed Copies (sent in the mail)

Printed Copies (sent in the mail)

5 or 8 Copy Set

Printed copy sets are stamped “do not copy” and legally cannot be copied.

For more prints, order additional copies

Reproducible

Reproducible sets include a limited copyright release so you can make additional copies when needed. These are printed on paper and allow direct copying.

Print locally as needed

A lower-commitment option: the study set (not for 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. 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.

Builder House Plans Partners

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