Can't find a house plan

   / Can't find a house plan #33  
Re: Can\'t find a house plan

Alan, I too was having difficulty finding a plan that offered what I wanted, yet would be unique and affordable. I stumbled across this web site and found some truly unique designs. I have pretty much decided on one of them, but will still have to make some modifications.. Also, they seem to give good service. I had a list of 5 or 6 questions that I sent to them on a Sunday afternoon while browsing, and had a detailed reply within a matter of hours.

Good luck to you! It's an exciting thing, to be planning to build your home to meet all (or most) of your wishes!
 
   / Can't find a house plan #34  
Re: Can\'t find a house plan

Alan, I too was having difficulty finding a plan that offered what I wanted, yet would be unique and affordable. I stumbled across this web site and found some truly unique designs. I have pretty much decided on one of them, but will still have to make some modifications.. Also, they seem to give good service. I had a list of 5 or 6 questions that I sent to them on a Sunday afternoon while browsing, and had a detailed reply within a matter of hours.

Good luck to you! It's an exciting thing, to be planning to build your home to meet all (or most) of your wishes!
 
   / Can't find a house plan #35  
Re: Can\'t find a house plan

This discussion hits close to home for me, I've spent about $7000 on plans so far and still don't have a workable, buildable plan. My wife and I did pretty much all the floorplan and kitchen design, the architect basically drew it up (I know there was more too it than that, but stay with me for a minute). Then my wife was diagnosed with cancer, and we spent the next two years on that. When she finally felt it was safe to go ahead with the house construction, we found just a couple of small details to change, then we were ready to go ahead. In the meantime, my architect has left the state. I found a reputable design/build firm that I wanted to use, his first estimate to redraw our plans for bid was $12K! This is a 2700 sq ft home, basically a ranch with a full basement. He's figuring $100 sq ft to build, on land I own and with me doing plumbing and electrical. I am planning to build with ICF's, but I'm told in todays market that only adds about 5% to the cost over stick built.

So, we're in a quandry now. Interest rates have doubled, material costs have gone way up and now I'm not completely happy with the elevations and roof design. I'm almost ready to give up and sell the land I bought for this, and just stay in our paid for home - but it's a split level with lots of stairs and we both are just tired of it..........

But to continue means basically starting over with another architect and /or builder..............

Too bad too, since we really like our build location and floor plan design........

So alan, I feel your pain............. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
   / Can't find a house plan #36  
Re: Can\'t find a house plan

This discussion hits close to home for me, I've spent about $7000 on plans so far and still don't have a workable, buildable plan. My wife and I did pretty much all the floorplan and kitchen design, the architect basically drew it up (I know there was more too it than that, but stay with me for a minute). Then my wife was diagnosed with cancer, and we spent the next two years on that. When she finally felt it was safe to go ahead with the house construction, we found just a couple of small details to change, then we were ready to go ahead. In the meantime, my architect has left the state. I found a reputable design/build firm that I wanted to use, his first estimate to redraw our plans for bid was $12K! This is a 2700 sq ft home, basically a ranch with a full basement. He's figuring $100 sq ft to build, on land I own and with me doing plumbing and electrical. I am planning to build with ICF's, but I'm told in todays market that only adds about 5% to the cost over stick built.

So, we're in a quandry now. Interest rates have doubled, material costs have gone way up and now I'm not completely happy with the elevations and roof design. I'm almost ready to give up and sell the land I bought for this, and just stay in our paid for home - but it's a split level with lots of stairs and we both are just tired of it..........

But to continue means basically starting over with another architect and /or builder..............

Too bad too, since we really like our build location and floor plan design........

So alan, I feel your pain............. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
   / Can't find a house plan #37  
Re: Can\'t find a house plan

From your description of what you want in the way of a home design ordinary HVAC ducting is going to be a problem. Do some web research on HIGH VELOCITY AC. This a relatively new technique and you will be hard pressed to find a sub with experience but maybe you can find one willing to learn.

The ducts are about 2", with insulation about 6" in diameter. They are a fixed length - 25'. Placement should be easier and less intrusive.

A warning: our previous home had open ceilings of about 22'. We had a lot of problems with stratification since the architect and the mechanical engineer used conventional duct design. I was not knowledgeable enough at the time to anticipate the problems we would face. Ceiling fans or other circulators are absolutely necessary with conventional ducting.

Good luck on your search.

Vernon
 
   / Can't find a house plan #38  
Re: Can\'t find a house plan

From your description of what you want in the way of a home design ordinary HVAC ducting is going to be a problem. Do some web research on HIGH VELOCITY AC. This a relatively new technique and you will be hard pressed to find a sub with experience but maybe you can find one willing to learn.

The ducts are about 2", with insulation about 6" in diameter. They are a fixed length - 25'. Placement should be easier and less intrusive.

A warning: our previous home had open ceilings of about 22'. We had a lot of problems with stratification since the architect and the mechanical engineer used conventional duct design. I was not knowledgeable enough at the time to anticipate the problems we would face. Ceiling fans or other circulators are absolutely necessary with conventional ducting.

Good luck on your search.

Vernon
 

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