Are Floor Plans Enough to Build a House & Do You Need an Architect?

When embarking on the exciting journey of building a new home, one of the crucial aspects to consider is the creation of architectural floor plans. Floor plans serve as the blueprint of your home, providing a bird's eye view that captures the essence and functionality of the spaces within. 

As an architecture firm that also does construction, we have a unique perspective on the importance of having complete floor plans for your new home. At AV Architects + Builders we’ve coined this type of residential design-build work as the MasterBuilder approach.

In this article, we will explain what floor plans are, their associated costs, and the essential components that make up a comprehensive set of architectural plans so that you know what to look out for when selecting your own architect and home builder. 

We will be reviewing the four main components of architectural floor plans:

• Floor Plans
• Sections
• Elevations
• Details

What are Floor Plans?

A floor plan is like a visual story told "in plan." It offers a top-down view of the house, as if you were cutting through the walls horizontally at a height of three feet and looking down. This view includes all the windows, doors, and interior partitions, giving viewers a clear understanding of the layout. Think of it as slicing the top off a muffin to reveal its inner structure. 

What are Cross Sections?

Cross sections are transverse cuts through the house that provide insights into room heights, window and door placements, and changes in ceiling height. This third dimension adds depth to the floor plans and allows architects to create cohesive designs.

What are Elevations?

Elevations are used to showcase a view of the house from the outside, offering a perspective as if you were standing and looking at the property. Elevations of the home are needed for both exterior and interior perspectives. 

For the exterior elevations, all sides of the house are captured including front, rear, and both sides. 

For the interior elevations, anything that is interesting on the wall and is not included in the floor plans or the sections will require an interior elevation. Usually, this applies to things like cabinets, built-ins, fireplaces, and basically any space that is not plain drywall.

Elevations depict the exterior details such as columns and windows, highlighting the architectural aesthetics. Unlike floor plans and sections, elevations solely focus on the exterior aspects of the house, without any internal cuts. 

What are Details?

To ensure that every aspect of your home is accurately constructed, architects provide intricate details that illustrate how different elements are connected. These details, such as wall sections, showcase the makeup of walls, including foundation, framing, insulation, and exterior siding.

While there can be multiple pages of detailed information, even the bare minimum details help avoid assumptions by the builder. The more information provided, the fewer assumptions are made, leading to a smoother construction process.

Do I Need a Civil Engineer?

Yes, a civil engineer is a vital part of the home building process. The civil engineer is the one who connects the house with the land. The architects are responsible for designing the house, but at that point it’s just a design floating in space and now that design needs to be connected to the land. 

The civil engineer helps to determine the best placement of the house on the land. Engineers work with architects to manage the zoning requirements like setbacks, topography or slope of the land, and the removal or addition of utilities to the home. 

The civil engineer collaborates with the architect to create several important documents usually totaling from 10 to 20 sheets of drawings for a full package. These documents include the grading plan, topographical boundary survey and any additional drawings that a specific project may require. Examples of additional drawings may include calculations for stormwater management, erosion control, and tree preservation plans. Regulations vary from place to place, but almost every locality requires reports on the damage that is being done to the earth for new construction and the ways in which you plan to make up for it. 

The grading plan is created by combining the architectural home design with the topographical boundary survey of the lot to determine a plan to re-grade the land to fit the new home. To create a grading plan for the property, civil engineers require access to the floor plans, sections, and elevations. Working together, architects and engineers ensure the house is harmoniously integrated into the land. The architect then develops the architectural site plan, which serves as the foundation for creating the comprehensive set of architectural plans, including floor plans, sections, and elevations.

Who Hires the Engineer?

If you already have architectural plans and you only need a builder, the builder you choose will either tell you to go hire an engineer or they will provide you with one from their firm. 

If you don’t have any home plans and are working with an architect to design them, the architect you choose will either tell you to go hire an engineer or they will provide you with one from their firm. 

If you don’t have any home plans, and are using the plans provided by your builder, the builder you choose will either tell you to go hire an engineer or they will provide you with one from their firm. 

How Much Do Floor Plans Cost?

The cost of architectural floor plans varies depending on the complexity of the project, the size of the house, and the specific requirements of the client. 

There are several routes to obtaining floor plans for your new home project.

First, you could purchase a set of standard floor plans from a site like houseplans.com

These plans are available for purchase for as low as $2,000. 

It’s important to keep in mind that these plans will still need to be re-engineered to conform to your local building department’s requirements potentially including structural engineering, soil reports, and energy efficiency calculations, which may require significant additional costs. 

The second route is to purchase a set of plans from a builder with an in-house designer. The cost of this option will vary greatly depending on the average cost of living in your area. 

Third, is to hire an architect to create your plans and then take them directly to a builder of your choosing. 

Fourth, is to select an architect-led design-build firm to create your home plans as well as carry out the construction of the project.

Do I Need an Architect?

Architectural floor plans are an essential component when building a new home. They provide the necessary information to bring your vision to life and ensure that the construction process proceeds smoothly. 

If you are just starting your new home journey, we recommend going to an architect first. The architect is the best leader of the project that you can have because they are the ones who best understand the intended design and your vision behind it. 

If you do not have an experienced architect providing the necessary information for your new build, then your builder will simply make assumptions during construction and they may not be what you wanted. The more information we can provide the builder with, the fewer assumptions and potential mistakes will be made. 

While floor plans alone only offer a fraction of the overall details required for construction, choosing to work with an experienced architect from the start will help to avoid assumptions by the builder during construction, and therefore avoid unexpected surprises when you move in. Investing in well-designed and detailed architectural floor plans is an investment in the future of your dream home. On average, architecture firms charge a markup of 8% to 20% of the total project cost. 

What is a Home Designer?

Some builders have home or interior designers on their team that claim they can draft up the drawings and plans you need for your new home, but these are not the same level of plans provided by an architect. These plans are only floor plans. A home designer is great for helping to make decisions on the use of space, determining the best layout for components of the house, selecting materials, and overall adding to the aesthetic value of the home. Whereas architects create detailed drawings of the structure ensuring the building is up to required codes. 

Who are AV Architects + Builders?

At AV Architects + Builders, we design and build modern homes utilizing the Master Builder approach. Our proven turnkey process is what you need for single-point accountability and minimizing all the stress of building a new home. You’ll be guided from start to finish by our team of Master Builders … from helping you find a perfect lot to handing you the keys. Consider us an all-in-one solution.

What’s more, our beautifully designed homes are constructed using the highest quality sustainable materials — making them easy to maintain. Our stress-free Master Builder process allows empty-nesters, busy professionals, and families with small children the feeling of Vacation Style Living™ all year round.