Questions & Answers

Are there different kinds of house plan drawings? If so, what are they, how are they used, and which ones do I need to build my house?

Yes. The type of drawing collection you are referring to is called a plan set and comprises a construction set, a reproducible set, a CAD set, a study set, and a single set. Although not all our designers offer every type of drawing set, every house plan that you purchase from Houseplans.com is complete and has all the information you need to build your dream home. The following is a description of each set:

• Construction set--the basic package of drawings you need to obtain a building permit (see Building Codes and Permits), secure your financing, and build your home. It includes five complete sets of house plans. Each set has all four exterior views (also called elevations), complete floor plans, a basement or foundation plan, a roof plan, building sections, and all other details necessary to construct your house. (For more details about construction set contents, see What's Included.)
• Reproducible set--for making minor changes to your house plans, this complete set of house plans is on an erasable Mylar, sepia, or vellum paper. A reproducible set includes a copyright release so that you can legally copy the modified plans as many times as you need to complete the building process. Although this set is licensed, you may not use it to build more than one home without obtaining a multiuse construction license. Not available with all house plans.
• CAD set--for making substantial changes to your drawings by a local design professional, this complete set of house plans is similar to a reproducible set but in an electronic-file format. A copyright release is included so that your designer can make changes and legally make copies; however, like the reproducible set, you may not construct more than one house with each CAD set without obtaining a multiuse construction license. Not available with all house plans.
• Study set--for estimating costs and determining if the house is affordable within your budget. It includes all four exterior views plus the main and upper-story (if more than one) floor plans, but it does not include the roof plan, foundation plan, building sections, or other details. A study set is stamped "Not for Construction," does not include a building license, and may not be copied. Not available with all house plans.
• Single set--for obtaining bids, this complete set of house plans is stamped "Not for Construction," does not include a building license, and may not be copied. Not available with all house plans.