All About Blueprints

No matter how you obtain your house plans, your completed set of plans should include:

Front elevation

Side elevation (one for each side)

Rear elevation

Top view of each floor (floor plan)

Detailed layout of kitchen cabinets

Foundation plan

Electrical layout

Plumbing layout

Window and door schedule

Roof plan

Construction details and framing information

Most stock plans will offer a material list to go with the blueprints. This gives you the list of materials and how much you will need. A material list is a great aid in the cost estimations. Often, the stock plans will also include an Outline Specification that you can modify to the products that suit you.

How Many Sets Do You Need?

Use the following as a rough guide:

1 or 2 sets for your bank, mortgage broker, and construction lender

1 or 2 sets for filing with your municipality

1 master set for you

1 master set for your general contractor

3 or more sets for subcontractors and suppliers


The House Designers offer blueprints for all the house plans.

You can't really have too many sets of plans. The more you have available for your subcontractors and suppliers the easier it will be to get bids quickly and accurately. Blueprints are copyright protected, so you cannot have them copied at your local print shop. You will have to order as many as you will need at the time your order them or obtain a reproducible.

Source thehousedesigners.com