New Home Plans

For a Custom Design the process is simple.
I will work with your ideas to create a set of building plans.
Most of the questions below will need to be answered throughout the planning stage.

  • About how many square feet do you want or need (heat and cooled space and non)?
  • How many stories?
  • How many bedrooms and baths?
  • What type of exterior walls? Masonry (cmu block), wood studs, metal studs, foam or...
  • What type of exterior finish? brick, stucco, siding or...
  • What roof style and roof material?
  • How high do you want your ceilings?
  • Attached or detached garage?
  • Porches and breezeways?
  • Exterior Details and Millworks
  • Do you have a contractor or are you going to build yourself?
  • Does contractor have an engineer?
  • Do you have a lot and tree survey?
  • How big is your lot?
  • Is there an Architectural Review Board (ARB), what are their restrictions and when do they meet?

Additional required information may be obtained from county or city:
Minimum finished floor elevation
Maximum lot coverage
Building Restriction Line (BRL) Setbacks
Are there other Development, Deed, Country or State Restrictions?

Soon after our first meeting a preliminary set will be provided for you to make changes (called the “Mark Up”). Usually two mark ups will do it, however more may be required.

After the design is finished the truss manufacture will need these plans to do the truss engineering. They normally require a deposit unless you or your contractor has an account with them. The structural engineer will need the design plans and the truss engineering plans to do the structural engineering. A lot of people get confused about the truss and structural engineering. They are not the same. Truss manufactures only engineer the truss, not the walls and foundation. This is done by the structural engineer. Today most Florida building departments require a structural engineer to review, design and certify all building plans.
Some developments have an Architectural Review Board (ARB) that review plans to ensure the home will fit the feel and look of the neighborhood. This extra step requires design criteria information from the ARB before the design process can be started. Please have this information prior to our first meeting.

So let’s review: Design building plans, truss engineering, structural engineer, permits then start building.
McConnell Custom Design 904-794-4500