Posts Tagged ‘house floor plan’

10-Basics to Know About Floor Plans

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Review what a floor plan is and what do know before you select your house floor plans…

In this installment of Best House Floor Plans, we’re talking basics. So, we are backtracking to the fundamentals of what defines a floor plan. Below are ten concepts to understand about floor plans:

A floor plan includes…
the interior and exterior designs schematics of a home.

Floor plans are developed by…
architects and home designers. Draftsmen can render modifications; however because copyright laws are applicable to floor plans, owners are required to purchase house plans.

Stock floor plans…
are less expensive than hiring a home designer or architect to customize a brand new floor plan.

Selecting the floor plan is…
the first part of building a new home.

Various companies offer home floor plan…
customization services. For a fixed price, they can take a stock floor plan and tweak it to the homeowner’s specifications.

Before deciding on a customized or stock floor plan…
be sure to check with your area’s local building codes, copyright laws as well as any other requirements. For instance, prior to homebuilding approval, certain municipalities mandate the review and approval of any house floor plan.

Redlining is a…
house floor plan term that means to amend the blueprints. To illustrate any modifications, homebuilders used to take a red pen to the floor plan. Today, red-lining is considered an affordable means of making changes to the house plans. But, again make sure the changes are within your town’s building codes.

Most designers recommend…
floor plans that merge comfort, contrast and texture.

When it comes to hiring a specialist to modify your house plans, select a local draftsman. The reason is that a professional from your area will know the building codes, hence incorporating municipal guidelines with your design specifications.

Here are some great articles on floor plans and finding the right one for you from House Plans and More:

Green House Floor Planning Considerations

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Check out what everyone should consider before planning a green house.

Greenhouses are the latest trend in going green and maintaining the eco consciousness.
While many of us may have a green thumb itch to start a green house, there’s a bevy of questions to consider. So, before you spring into greenhouse floor planning mode, here are a few matters to weigh:

  • Purpose/objective of the green house
  • Green house Zoning/Permit Issues
  • Greenhouse Budget
  • Climate appropriateness
  • The Magnitude/Size
  • Green house style

Purpose/objective of the green house
How do you plant to use your greenhouse? Are you planning to use it to prepare for spring (i.e. extending the growing season or start seedlings)? Then a cold frame greenhouse or collapsible one is suitable. Will the green house be used to grow vegetables during the winter month? For obvious reasons, like budget and size, how you plan to use your green house influences the floor plan.

Green House Zoning/Permit Issues
Before you invest a moment into your green house floor planning, check with your local municipality’s by-laws to determine if there are any restrictions. Also, find out if you will need a building permit and how much it may cost you.

Budget
Given any permit fees and your budget, your greenhouse floor planning begins. Since most financial situations are subjective, there are a number of considerations: 1) Is your climate conducive for cultivation in the winter? 2) Do you plan to use the greenhouse for self- sufficiency, as in a vegetable garden? 4) For the next several years, can you afford the time, cost and maintenance of a greenhouse investment?

Based on your budget and utilization, the green house could be quite cost effective.

Climate appropriateness
To save a lot of time and heartache, conduct a little research about your climate’s capacity to harvest vegetation during the winter months in your region. Also, be sure to investigate the best place to position your green house. This depends on what types of botanicals you are growing and where the sun is during the winter months.

Magnitude
If you plan to grow flowers, herbs and vegetables, you’ll need a sizable space to accommodate all that cultivation. To map out the green house floor plan, measure one of your rooms, and sketch out a blueprint of the greenhouse floor plan. Remember certain fruits, in example tomatoes, need more headroom or height for growth.

Style
The style of your green house has a wealth of components. Here are a few concepts to explore:

  • The exterior design
  • Material for the structure green house
  • Windows
  • Insulation

Well, that’s it for this week’s installment of Best House Floor Plans. Although, we touched upon a few ideas about green house floor planning, we barely covered the surface.

In the meantime, for more in depth greenhouse information, check out Greenhouses.com.