house plans and more home / customer service / frequently asked questions

17. Do the plans/blueprints include plumbing and electrical? 

1. The rough plumbing is included on the plans showing the kitchen and bath fixture symbols and their locations. However, the location of where the pipes come into the house is site specific and not included on the plans. Finished electric, suggested lighting fixture and outlet locations are usually included.

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17. How do I customize my plans? 

1. You can purchase a Reproducible master, which is printed on erasable paper and allows you or a local engineer/draftsman to make changes to the plan. This plan also allows you to make copies of the plan after you have made your changes. We also have an affiliate that can customize your plans. Purchase of a Reproducible master is necessary in order for them to make changes to a plan. You can download the modification request form from our website and e-mail the completed form to customize@hdainc.com or fax it to 913-856-7751. Within 24-48 business hours you will be provided with a written cost estimate to modify your plan. Learn more about customizing your home plan.

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17. What is included with the blueprints? 

1. Most of our home plans offer the following:

   1. Coversheet - The coversheet has a rendering showing the house as it will look when it is built. In most cases this is not required for house construction. The purpose of the coversheet is to give the homeowner a visual representation of how the home will look when it is completed.

   2. Foundation plan - The foundation plan is used to show how the foundation should be built. It explains the thickness of the foundation walls, floor joist sizes and spacing, column locations, window/door/vent locations and sizes, suggested furnace/water heater locations, plumbing (where required) and miscellaneous construction details related to the foundation and basement.

   3. Floor plans - The floor plans of the home indicate the layout/construction of each floor of the house. Items typically included are room dimensions, wall sizes, plumbing/electrical locations, stair locations, door/window sizes, kitchen and bath layouts, ceiling conditions in each space, flooring, structural information and any special conditions related to the floor plan.

   4. Elevations - The elevation sheets communicate the material/dimensions that the designer envisioned, creating the correct look and feel on the outside of the house. Some of the items typically shown on an elevation sheet include materials used on the exterior of the house, size and shape of windows and doors, size and shape of vents, size of the trim, height and dimensions of various elements, depth of foundations, types of shingles and moldings, pitch of the roof, placement of materials (example: brick soldier course, brick quoins, etc.), roof plan, and location of gutters and downspouts.

   5. Details - The details include an explanation of how the smaller items are to be designed and constructed. Examples include the dimensions and appearance of a stair handrail, room moldings, design of railing spindles for staircases, and description of how a fireplace should look. The designer may add details for anything a builder needs to understand the design of the house.

   6. Sections - The sections show how the parts of the building fit together. Typical sections include walls, fireplace, and stairs. The designer may add sections in a set for anything a builder needs to understand about the construction of the house.

   7. Interior Elevations - The interior elevations show pictures of key interior features should look. Typical items and areas that are drawn include fireplaces, kitchens, and bathrooms.

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17. Can I get a different foundation other than what is listed? 

1. We only offer the foundations listed with the plan. If these foundations are not what you would prefer, you can purchase the reproducible masters or have the plans customized to fit your needs.

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17. Are the blueprints stamped/sealed by an architect? 

1. No, the blueprints are not stamped or sealed by an architect. 

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17. How can I get them stamped/sealed? 

1. Contact your local building department to find out if a stamp or seal is needed for your county and/or state. Some areas only require an Architectural seal while other may require an Engineered set of plans. Based on what is necessary in your area, your local building department should be able to direct you to a local architect or engineer who is able to stamp and/or seal the plans for you for your particular area.

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17. Are the detail plan packages specific to the blueprint I order and what do these packages consist of? 

1. No, the detail plan packages are not specific to any home plan. Each package includes three-dimensional illustrations and a glossary of terms. They offer homebuilders details for constructing various foundations, numerous floor, wall and roof framing techniques, simple to complex residential wiring, sump and water softener hookups, plumbing connection methods, installation of septic systems and more.

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17. Do the plans meet my local codes? 

1. At the time the drawings are prepared, the plans conform to most national building codes. However, they may not comply completely with your local building regulations. Some counties and municipalities have their own building codes, regulations and requirements. The assistance of a local builder, architect or other building professional may be necessary to modify the drawings to comply with your area's specific requirements. We recommend you consult with your local building officials prior to purchasing the blueprints or beginning construction.

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17. How long will it take for me to receive my plans once I order them?

1. Standard delivery is 7-10 business days. We also offer Priority (3-5 business days) and Express (1-2 business days). If you need to place a rush order, please call us by 11:00 a.m. CST Monday through Friday.

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17. Is a material list available? 

1. Material lists are available for many of our plans and availability is indicated when you view a plan on this site.

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17. Can I purchase only a material list? 

1. Material lists are plan specific and are available for purchase only with the purchase of a plan that has a material list available.

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17. Do I need a material list to build the home? 

1. It is not necessary to purchase the material list to build your home. However, each list gives you the quantity, dimensions and description of building materials needed to construct your home so you will get faster and more accurate bids from your contractor and material suppliers. You will save money by paying for only the materials you need.

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17. What if the plan would work better on my site if it were reversed? 

1. Plans can be printed in mirror reverse. These plans are useful when the house would fit your site better if all the rooms were on the opposite side than originally shown. They are simply a mirror image of the original drawings causing the lettering and dimensions to read backwards. When ordering mirror reverse drawings, we recommend purchasing only one set of mirror reverse plans for orientation purposed and the rest as right-reading plans. Some of our plans are available in a right-reading reverse where the home is reversed but the lettering and dimensions are readable.

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17. What is a mirror reverse? 

1. These plans are useful when the house would fit your site better if all the rooms were on the opposite side than shown. They are simply a mirror image of the original drawings causing the lettering and dimensions to read backwards. When ordering mirror reverse drawings, we recommend purchasing only one set of mirror reverse plans for orientation purposes and the rest as right-reading plans.

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17. What do I get with a reproducible master? 

1. If you wish to make some minor design changes, you’ll want to order reproducible masters. These drawings contain the same information as the blueprints but are printed on reproducible paper that it easy to alter and clearly indicates your right to copy or reproduce. This will allow your builder or a local design professional to make the necessary drawing changes without the major expense of redrawing the plans. This package also allows you to print copies of the modified plans as needed. The right of building only one structure from these plans is licensed exclusively to the buyer. You may not use this design to build a second or multiple dwelling(s) without purchasing another blueprint. Each violation of the Copyright Law is punishable in a fine.

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17. Do the plans come with 2x6 framing? 

1. Most plans come with 2x4 framing. However, plans can be modified for 2x6 framing. Please check with your builder and building code officials for local requirements. 

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17. What is your return policy? 

1. Please see our Terms and Conditions for details. 

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17. Why are one set plan packages stamped "not for construction"? 

1. This single set of blueprints is offered so you can study or review a home in greater detail. A single set is never enough for construction and it is a copyright violation to reproduce blueprints.

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17. Do you ship the plans overseas? 

1. Yes, we can ship overseas or internationally. Please call, fax or e-mail for shipping costs.

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17. Can we build the house more than once? 

1. You, as the original purchaser of plans, are licensed to build a single home from the plans. Building more than one home from the plans is an infringement of the designer's copyright. The purchase of a multiple set package of plans is for the construction of a single home only. The purchase of additional sets of plans does not give you the right to construct more than one home. Therefore, if you would like to build a house more than once, you are required to purchase another full set of blueprints.

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17. Are there photographs available of the home I am interested in?  

1. We do have photographs available for some of our homes. If they are available, they will be published in a book or on our Web site.

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17. Do the blueprints show the framing, floor joists and roof layouts?  

1. Most of our plans will show a detailed section of the framing, and the floor joist and roof layouts, but will seldom include the entire layout.

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17. If a house is shown with siding or stucco, can I change it to brick or vice versa?  

1. Yes. If brick is being added to a house, you will have to make modifications to the foundation to create a brick ledge. If brick is being removed, the ledges on the foundation plan will not be required. Most exterior finishing changes can be made easily without causing problems. You may want to check with a building professional to discuss the changes you want to make.

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17. Can I go see a particular home that has already been built?  

1. We sell home plans throughout the United States and may not know exactly where they are built. If we do know the exact location, we do not release that information in order to protect the privacy of our customers. In some cases, we publish an actual photograph of the home that the builder or customer has shared with us.

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17. What are building codes?  

1. Building codes are safety regulations pertaining to how a building should be built. They are intended to protect both the builder and the home buyer. Many restrictions and regulations are regionally required and depend on soil, weather conditions, etc. There are four major nationally recognized model building codes that are similar in content: UBC (Uniform Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials & Code Administrators), CABO (Council of American Building Officials) and IRC (International Residential Code). Every state, county and local municipality has adopted some form of one, any or all of there standard building codes.

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17. I want to build a home, but where do I start?  

1. Contacting a building or design professional (builder, contractor, real estate agent, etc.) is a good place to start. You can also do research information on general construction at bookstores, home improvement stores and on the Internet.

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17. How many sets of blueprints do I really need to build a home?  

1. It depends. In most cases, five or more sets are needed (one set for you, one or two for your builder, one to two sets for your building department, one set for the bank, one set for each contractor or subcontractor and so on). You may want to check with your builder before ordering or consider ordering a reproducible master. With the reproducible master, you can make as many or few copies as you need.

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17. What is CAD? 

1. CAD files are a complete set of construction drawings in an electronic file format. They can be beneficial if you want to make moderate or substantial changes to the home plans or bring the plans up to your local codes. With the CAD file option, you have the ability to take the plan to your chosen design professional (provided that they have computer-based design equipment i.e. AutoCAD or DataCAD), discuss your needs/changes, and the designer can then modify the design much easier and quicker than trying to do so with a paper-based drawing - which will save you time and money. With your CAD purchase you will receive a one-time build copyright release that allows you to make your changes and the necessary copies that you will need to build your home.

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