What's Included in a Set of House Plans?

What Is a Foundation Plan?

The foundation plan shows how the house will be supported. It depends on the selected house design and shows the general intent of construction. Typically, the foundation type is slab, crawlspace, full basement, or walk-out basement.

The foundation plan typically delineates the locations of bearing walls that support the structure. It also identifies locations of footings, steel (rebar) placement, and other structural elements required to support the load of the upper floors. In select situations, the foundation plan is a foundation outline.

Sample house plan set: foundation plan.

 

What Do Floor Plans Show?

A floor plan layout is an overhead view of each floor of the completed house. They show wall locations, room sizes, door and window placements, and major fixtures. For walls, parallel lines on the plan scale at the width of those walls are required. Dimensions are usually drawn between the walls to specify room sizes and wall lengths. Similar dimension lines will call out the sizing of doors and windows. Other elements identified may include fixtures such as sinks, water heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces. Among the walls and dimensions, there are often notes specifying finishes, construction methods, or even symbols for electrical or reference cross sections. Most floor plans are drawn at 1/4-inch scale (quarter scale), which means 1/4 inch on the drawing equals 1 foot in real life.

Sample house plan set: detailed floor plan.

 

What's Shown on a Roof Plan?

The roof plan outlines the elements that make up the roof structure, including spacing notations and schematics of peaks and valleys. It may also include roof slopes, vent locations, chimney locations, and notes on the roofing material.

Sample house plan set: roof plan.

 

What Do Exterior Elevations Show?

Elevations show a non-perspective (two-dimensional), or "flat," view of the home. These are drawn to scale so measurements can be taken for any necessary aspect. Elevations include front, rear, and both sides of the house. The elevations specify ridge heights, door and window placement, the final grade of the lot, exterior finishes, roof pitches, and other details necessary to give the home's exterior architectural styling. Elevations are typically drawn at 1/4-inch or 1/8-inch scale.

Sample house plan set: left and right exterior elevations.

 

What Are Building Sections?

Overhead views or floor plan views of the structure don't always provide enough information about how the home is to be built. Building sections, also called cross sections, help explain certain special conditions more appropriately. A cross-section is a view of the home if it were sliced down the center. This allows the builder to view the home from the side, providing better clarity into the relative positions of varying floor heights, rafter lengths, framing, and other structural elements.

Sample house plan set: building cross section.

 

What's Included in the Electrical Layout?

The electrical layout shows locations of light fixtures, fans, outlets, light switches, and similar lighting elements. There is usually a legend on the page explaining what each lighting symbol represents. They do not show exactly where the wires go, as this is handled by the electrician and may depend on the particular building site (e.g., the location of the electrical panel). Electrical layouts are sometimes placed on a separate page to make them easier to read.

Sample house plan set: electrical layout.

 

What Are Interior Elevations and Details?

These drawings provide additional information for interior or exterior spaces to ensure a more complete and accurate build. These can include kitchen and bath elevations showing the arrangement and dimensions of key cabinets, built-ins, and other fixtures in the room. Cabinet drawings give basic information that can be used to create customized layouts with a cabinet manufacturer. Details for a staircase, fireplace or chimney, columns, or railings may also be included.

Sample house plan set: interior elevations and construction details.

 

What Is a Front Perspective Drawing?

The front perspective shows what the finished house will look like after construction and landscaping. It may be in the form of an illustration, rendering, or photo-realistic image.

Sample house plan set: front perspective cover sheet.

 

What Other Details Might Be Included?

Additional details may be included when interior and exterior conditions require more specific information for their construction. This may include:

• Staircases
• Fireplaces and chimneys
• Windows
• Doors

 

Are House Plans Enough to Build a Home?

House plans provide the main drawings needed for construction, but additional steps are usually required.

Most house plan construction projects involve the following:

• A thorough review for local code compliance
• Incorporating adjustments to the construction drawings for site-specific conditions
• Completing any engineering requirements, if needed
• Submitting the plans for permits, typically from the local building department

In some cases, you may also want to make modifications to the house plan.

 

What Happens After You Buy a House Plan?

After purchasing a house plan, you will typically:

1. Review it in detail with your builder (we recommend sharing the plan you've found on the website with a builder prior to purchase to get some input).
2. Make any changes, either modifications to the layout or to ensure local code compliance.
3. Prepare a package for permits, including the permitting applications.
4. Once approved, begin construction.