When planning a home, most people usually feel like they have a good idea of what they want in their home design; however, they may be leaving out one important set of criteria.

Your building site has much to say about your home and how it should be designed, but it is most often ignored in the design process. The topography, orientation to the sun, drainage, focal views, existing trees and the type of soil are only part of the conditions that exist at each site and can severely impact your home design. Example — the soil type lurking beneath the home can be expansive clays that may have the ability to crush your foundation. Another example — placing most of the glass area of your home toward the south allows you to capture the solar gain in the winter and avoid direct solar rays in the summer.

Regardless of whether you are looking for a pre-drawn plan or you are having your home custom designed, you should have two documents in your design arsenal:

1. A soil test which can be obtained from a soil testing laboratory. They will take sub-surface soil samples from your site, analyze them and provide you with a soil report and foundation design recommendations.

2. A site analysis plan is usually prepared by a landscape architect. The landscape architect will usually survey the lot to gather tree location and topography data. This information will be used, in conjunction with site observation data, to compile a complete drawing of the site. The drawing will usually include a recommended footprint of the home in order to best fit to the site.

Armed with these two pieces of valuable information, you will be much better equipped when searching for the perfect home design.

See Edsel’s home plans by clicking here!

We recently wrote a blog post about how easy it is to modify your home plan’s foundation if, for example, you want to change a slab foundation to a full basement (or anything else for that matter).  Someone commented on that post and asked what the foundation options were.  I guess they want to know what they have to choose from!  So, we thought we’d share the list of foundation options with all of you here:

Full Basement
Usually the same square footage as the main floor, a standard (or “full”) basement offers the advantage of adding living and storage space at a fraction of the per-square-foot price of upper floors. This is because a basement involves adding only minimal depth to the footings that were necessary for building a home with a crawlspace (instead of digging down four to five feet for the footings, dig down eight feet below the frost line and pour a concrete slab). One disadvantage to a standard basement, however, is that when putting a bedroom in, a window well must be added in order to install a window that is deep enough to exit in case of an emergency. A basement may not be used where the water table is too high, since water may seep into the basement.

Partial Basement
This is a basement where the lot dictates that the square footage of the basement be substantially less than the square footage of the main floor. Areas with rocky or unstable soil conditions, or sloping lots, often require a partial basement. If you want a full basement but can’t dig on certain parts of your lot, put in as much basement as you can.

Daylight Basement
For a sloping lot, whether front-to-back or front-corner-to-back-corner, this is the basement of choice. Simply put, a daylight basement sits at ground level and opens to a side yard and/or the backyard. The big advantage is that this allows the basement to be an indoor-outdoor space, with the outdoors accessible through French or sliding glass doors.

Partial Daylight Basement
Just like a partial basement, the square footage of a partial daylight basement is substantially less than that of the main floor. A partial daylight basement is often used when the slope of a lot would only allow building a basement under part of the main floor, but the owner would like to have full-height windows and perhaps a door to the backyard.

Crawlspace
This type of foundation is an option when soil conditions or a high water table do not allow the construction of a full basement. Footings for a crawlspace are extended down to the frost line, but not below it, as with a full basement. In cold conditions, a well-insulated crawlspace will result in a warmer main floor than would a concrete slab.

Slab
A slab can be poured right over the ground with little or no soil preparation, making it the least-expensive foundation option in home construction. First, forms with steel reinforcing are placed on the ground. Concrete is then poured over and allowed to set before placing the house on top. Cost-effectiveness is the biggest advantage to slab foundations, but they are also beneficial in areas that have insect problems, e.g., termites or ants. The downside is that with a slab foundation you give up the low-cost living and storage space that a basement would provide.

Pole
This foundation type may be necessary in coastal areas where homes are built either partially over water or in flood plains where water periodically rises. The poles allow the main floor to be built high above the ground and keep the home out of harm’s way.

Pier
Like the pole foundation, the pier foundation may also be necessary in coastal locations with periodic flooding; however, the more likely use for a pier foundation would be in mountainous or coastal areas that require you to drill into rock to place steel rods and pour concrete. As with a slab foundation, cement posts offer the advantage of durability and insect resistance.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, our modifications team can change any foundation in any way you want.  And they’d be happy to provide you with a free, no obligation cost estimate to give you a price. If you have any further questions about foundations (or any other house plans-related questions), please feel free to call us at: 1-888-447-1946!

Want to save money with a slab foundation? Or are you dreaming of a daylight basement that will take the best advantage of the lake views on your sloping lot? Or maybe you want to warm up your main floor by adding a crawlspace underneath?

If you are interested in a home plan that doesn’t offer the foundation that you want or need, we want you to know that this is a VERY EASY modification to make to the design! We have a modification team that can, quickly and inexpensively, create the right foundation for you.

Foundation modifications typically cost about $550 but the actual price will vary depending upon your house plan and the type of foundation you want to add.

Call our modifications team for a free, no obligation estimate: 1-888-266-3439.

Or go to the free modification estimate page on our website, fill out the form and submit it. Someone from our modifications team will get back to you shortly with a price. CLICK HERE to get to that page.

Behind the striking combination of this home’s random stack stonework and geometric windows is a hard-working four-bedroom home that forgives a lot that slopes to the side and rear.

Square windows interspersed on the façade provide exciting visual interest from the curb, and bring much desired light to the interior. The main level feels especially light and airy thanks to a band of second-story windows beneath the upper roofline. The light floods the core of the main level where the staircase and great room meet, and spills into the neighboring kitchen and dining room. Secluded behind a set of French doors, the office gains its own light from tall corner windows.

Three of the home’s four bedrooms are on the upper level. The master suite includes a private balcony, and a bath with a walk-in shower, a dual-sink vanity, and a private commode. The other two bedrooms are down the hall from a laundry room and a full bath.

The lower-level features several spaces to customize. An exercise niche and walk-in wine closet accompany a large game room. A hallway secludes a bathroom, bedroom, and utility room. A storage shed accessible from the backyard, can store tools, potting supplies, and outdoor equipment.

Front rendering of Home Plan AM-2381.  See floor plans and details online by clicking here!

South Carolina customers, Jeff and Wendy, told us they are “in love” with their new home — built from home plan DW-2112.

(CLICK ON ANY PHOTO to get to the detail page and see floor plans, more photos, and other information about this home plan!)

Wendy & Jeff built this lovely farmhouse design in the South Carolina countryside and have been thoroughly enjoying it with their two dogs. They were first drawn to the home because of its wraparound porch, open floor plan and abundance of windows, light, high ceilings and French doors and say these are still their favorite features.

(Above) View into Great Room. (To see more photos from Jeff and Wendy, view their Customer Testimonial by clicking on the photo above!)

(Above) A view into the kitchen showing the island and breakfast nook. (To see more photos from Jeff and Wendy, view their Customer Testimonial by clicking on the photo above!)

“Each unique, custom detail stands out, and the unique architecture makes our house stand apart from the rest,” say the couple, who fell in love with their home when it was first built and relive that feeling each time they walk into it.

Asked if they would purchase a stock plan again, the answer was a definite “Yes!” Stock plans offered them hundreds of plan choices and the ability to see many of them that were already built in the Customer Testimonial presentations. Their future plans include finishing the room that they added above the garage.

(Many of our home plans include customer testimonials with details and photos. Click here to see all homes with testimonials. Then select “Customer Testimonial” from any plan’s detail page.)

Energy-saving home designs are sure to become a topic of interest for future plan buyers.

(Note to readers: This is an expansion of an earlier article written by designer, Edsel B. Customers asked for more details about energy-saving features of homes and Edsel provides those details here!)

The involvement of Edsel’s design firm in the development of energy efficient design dates back decades. In the mid 1970’s at the height of the oil embargo, industry and government came together to develop the prototype of the energy efficient home. Owens Corning and Middle South Utilities teamed with housing agencies of the Federal government to test and develop various models. After developing a superior prototype, Edsel’s firm was selected as the home design company to package the technology into appealing and marketable home designs.

Each design is based upon a criteria of two key goals:

1. The home must have a maximum heat loss/gain of no more than 16btuh per sq. ft. per hour of the thermal envelope. In plain terms that means – it must be about twice as efficient as the standard home.
2. It must have optimum value – in other words, it must cost the least to save the most.

Although there are more than 50 key elements that go into the homes design to make it a super energy saver, the following are the most important:

1. 2×6 exterior walls (a) Provides 33% more wall cavity and 33% more insulation (b) Studs at 24” o.c. vs. 16” o.c. means 33% less interruption of the insulation but the home is supported by the same amount of wood. (c ) The wider stud allows for a wiring channel at the bottom so that wiring no longer is in the mid wall and interrupting the insulation.
2. The roof is raised 1’ (modified raised plate) to allow for a full 12” thick layer of attic insulation to extend to the outer perimeter.
3. Insulated exterior doors doors.
4. Insulated windows. Windows are the weakest link in the thermal barrier. Even the most efficient windows loose or gain 10 to 20 times the amount of heat as the stud wall areas. To offset this loss and to add efficiency, glass area is carefully sized to 8% glass to floor ratio. Whenever possible, windows are placed under covered areas so that they are protected from solar gain.
5. All exterior penetrations of the wall are sealed with expandable urethane to close up all weak areas.
6. Positive vapor barriers on the conditioned side of the exterior wall stops the flow of moisture which allows greater control of the interior moisture and greater room comfort.
7. Heat & a/c ducts are located in the interior of the home rather than the attic or beneath the floor. Ducting accounts for approximately 15% of heat loss or gain. This loss is generally incurred through faulty joints or the flow of heat through the duct walls. When this loss occurs, if the ducting is located in the attic or beneath the floor, it is permanently lost and cannot be recovered. If the ducts are located inside the conditioned area, there is no loss. Although the ducts are located in the interior of the home, they are hidden from view by using furr downs over cabinets are in closets and other less visible areas.

Plan E-1835 (above) – one of Edsel’s super-energy-saving home plans. Click on the image to see details and specifications.

See more of Edsel’s super-energy-saving home designs by clicking here. 

Or, link to all of Edsel’s plans here.

(Heidi, from our Customer Service Team, agreed to share her “fantasy house plan” with us and we thought our blog readers would be interested too. See details on this plan by clicking on any of the images below.)

The house plan that I love and actually printed off and posted at my desk, right above my phone, is Plan L-774-VSB. The moment I found this design I knew it was for me. One of my goals is to build this house for me and my family. The design is a Queen Anne-style Victorian with 4 bedrooms, 3 and 1/2 baths, and 2 stories.

What are my favorite features? 

First of all, the front porch! It seems to just go on and on! There’s a cozy rear porch too (pictured above). I can imagine myself sitting on one of the porches, enjoying the fresh air while visiting with neighbors, watching my daughter play in the yard, working on a project, or just thinking.

The turrets add so much style to the exterior of the house and I love the rounded rooms they create on the interior, in the study on the main floor (shown above) and the alcove and bath on the upper floor.

There are enough bathrooms and they are situated to allow for privacy when family visits or if a parent needs to move in with us down the road. And check out the garden tub in the master bath (above)!

The rooms, like the family room above, are spacious enough to accommodate large furniture pieces.

The kitchen (above) is open and airy.

The foyer is so warm and welcoming (above).

I cannot say enough good things about this house. It’s just a big, classic Victorian on the outside with all the interior amenities that today’s families want. Seeing it built on the shores of a beautiful Minnesota lake would be the icing on the cake!

(To see more floor plans and specifications for this plan, CLICK HERE.  Select “Customer Testimonial” to see photos and read about how one family customized this home to make it their own.)

Beautiful windows seize the eye on the exterior of this Arts and Crafts-inspired home (aka “The Lofton”, Plan#AM-2383). Banks of triple windows and a strip of stationary windows above the front porch gleam with a crisp welcome and offer hints to the light-filled interior. The front porch, anchored by flared pillars atop ledgestone pedestals offers a transitional respite. Beyond the front door, the dining room, great room, and kitchen draw you in to the open living areas. Light spills into the dining room from windows on two walls, dissolving any hint of stuffiness.

Casual Sunday brunches and elegant holiday parties are equally at home in the kitchen, where a long island delineates work and eating areas and a large pantry provides plenty of storage. A bump-out window in the breakfast nook can include a built-in seat or simply provide extra floor space. From the nook, a set of French doors opens to the back porch, which includes an outdoor fireplace.

The master suite wing joins the living areas on the main level. The bedroom and an office flank a private hallway. Built-ins—a desk in the office and bookshelves in the bedroom—supply focal points in each room.

Three additional bedrooms, two baths, a storage area, and a bonus room are on the upper level. The bonus room has many options: it can become a hang-out space for the kids or an exercise room for the whole family.

Exterior Rendering of “The Lofton”, House Plan AM-2383. See plan details here.

House Plan GHD-3142 is a vacation home with fabulous outdoor and indoor living spaces. From a 10-foot deck off the side of the house to a spacious great room with dining area and eating bar on the main level, and a loft above, it caters to those with a comfortable escape in mind.

Our customers, the Jenkins, are building this home in a somewhat isolated part of British Columbia – a true “get away from it all” locale. This will be their cabin — their main home being near Vancouver. While they intend to spend a lot of time alone at the new cabin, they wanted it redesigned to better accommodate guests since they have a large extended family and many friends who will be invited up for long visits. 

They asked our modifications team to redesign the main level to include a larger master suite and a significantly larger kitchen. And they removed the garage from the lower level and replaced it with 2 additional bedrooms, a small living area, and a large laundry room. The Jenkins also had us increase the house length by 2 feet so the total length is 46 feet. Finally, we reversed the blueprint drawings, text and dimensions (so that what was once on the right is on the left and vice versa) to better suit the layout of their lot.

The couple are also planning to build a separate (detached) garage and are currently reviewing our selection of garage plans to find one that fits their needs.

House Plans GHD-3142

Main Floor Plan of GHD-3142

This ultra-contemporary hillside plan has some amazing details that add style to its appearance and comfort to its livability. Extensive fenestration on the exterior takes advantage of ambient light on the inside.

The upper level has a delightful entry foyer with stone columns, a bench and a niche. To the right is the open stairway to the lower level with a wall of windows on one side and a glass floor on the other. A wet bar connects the vaulted dining room to the professional-style kitchen (note the walk-in pantry). A vaulted nook with sliding doors to a patio is adjoining.

Step down into the vaulted great room, which also opens to the patio (note the outdoor grill and fireplace). A large, skylit laundry is close by. On the lower level you’ll find a game room with built-in entertainment center, three family bedrooms, another laundry area and a snack-bar area.

The lower-level patio area is reached from Bedroom 2 or the game room. Don’t miss the double garage with space for a shop.

(Photography by Bob Greenspan) CLICK ON ANY PHOTO to see the details for Plan AM-1410!

The outside is brought inside in this ultra-contemporary plan. Extensive fenestration on the exterior takes advantage of the ambient light on the inside. Natural elements such as wood and stacked stone allow this home to blend beautifully with its surroundings.

(Above) This outdoor living space has it all. An elegant stone wall houses all you’ll ever need for your next barbecue. Guests can gather around the fireplace while you prepare the meal on the stainless steel built-in grill, complete with a prep sink and mini fridge!

(Above) Nature continues both inside and outside this fabulous home. Here, guests can dine in contemporary elegance surrounded by rich wood and stacked stone accents while gazing out the large windows to the lovely gardens.

(Above) The focal point in this room is quite obvious. Natural beauty is found in the impressive stacked stone wall that not only serves as an artistic element, but also houses many practical items such as built in cabinets and a fireplace. Natural light illuminates the space and further enhances the ambiance.

(Above) This ultra contemporary kitchen is sleek in design but spares no amenities. A large breakfast bar also houses a sink, dishwasher, and cook top. Large cabinets placed in front of an enormous window create a sculptural effect while housing all of your dishes.

(Above) Earthy colors, a wood vanity, and sleek fixtures in this guest bathroom reiterate the natural contemporary style of the home.

(Above) Varying ceiling angles combined with a large wall that serves as a headboard and shelf conveys the ultimate modern elegance in this luxurious master bedroom. Sliding doors open onto a private viewing deck.

(Above) The serenity of nature flows into the master spa through large windows that flow with the angle of the ceiling. Sleek fixtures further communicate the modern style of the home.

(Above) This home is not only beautiful to look at, its kid friendly too! A magnificent playroom decorated with a beautiful wall mural allows children to travel to the furthest reaches of their imagination!

See FLOOR PLANS and other details of Home Plan AM-1410 by clicking here.

To get right to the PHOTO GALLERY page, click here.