2007-02-12 16:16:37 · 5 answers · asked by Londal 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
A Yahoo search for "free house plans" (include the quotation marks in the Yahoo search box) yields 29,800 results. If you explore just the first couple pages of results, you will find tons of free plans. Keep in mind that actual construction "blueprints" are another matter altogether.
House plans generally consist of exterior elevations and floorplans with very few measurements identified and almost no specifications. They are designed to be the starting point in the planning process.
The next step is to order the actual blueprints for the house plan you have chosen. These plans and blueprints are usually copyrighted. The purchase of the blueprints grants you the legal right to build the house according to the copyrighted plans. While it is illegal to build from a set of copyrighted plans unless you have permission, from a practical point of view, it is almost impossible to enforce. The companies that develop and sell the plans just do not have the resources to scour the countryside looking for houses that have been built from their plans.
Many people use the plan books, magazines, and online sources to get ideas. Many opt to actually purchase construction blueprints from the publishers. Many others will hire a local house designer (not a registered architect) to develop a set of blueprints based on the plan(s) they like. A call to your local Home Builders Association should put you in touch with such a person. The cost to have these plans drawn will depend on the complexity and cost of the house. A fairly typical subdivision tract house may cost you as little as a couple hundred dollars to have drawn. It pays to shop around. You might also check out architectural or construction technology students at a local college or university who will do the drawings for a very reasonable fee.
Good luck with your home building project.
2007-02-20 04:15:04 · answer #1 · answered by exbuilder 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do you want buildable plans, or are you looking to use them in an educational or artistic manner? If it's the former, I believe you'll need and want to pay. Old plans may be available at your town hall, library, or at a local architectural firm.. You'll probably need to pay to have copies made. These plans would not be suitable for new construction, because of constantly changing codes.. Building codes also vary by region, because of climatic issues, like temperatures and snowfall. Old plans could be modified to meet today's codes, but that would have a cost.
2007-02-20 00:21:30 · answer #2 · answered by Leo L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a magazine that has blueprints for homes in it every month. I'm not sure of the name, but I've seen it in several better book stores, like Barnes and Noble etc.
2007-02-20 08:28:12 · answer #3 · answered by captbob552 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
www.houseplans.com is where I got mine. It's not a detailed blue print but it gives you an idea. You can search by what type of house you would like to build and print them out. You can also get on their mailing list and when they come out with a new plan that you are looking for they will email it to you.
2007-02-15 07:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont think there is anywhere that you can get free blueprints. every where that i have been they want couple of hundred dolllars per print
2007-02-12 18:22:52 · answer #5 · answered by emmitjok 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Become a friend with an architect and do him a big favor is about the only way.
2007-02-12 19:55:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋