Do You Ship Paper Copies of My Plans?
YellowBlue Designs sells only the electronic version of your construction documents (PDF) which are available for instant download. We believe this is both more efficient and convenient for you, the customer. First, you get instant access to your documents so you can review them right away. You can email them to your builder for review or send them to another designer to make modifications (See below for more on this). When you’re ready to print your documents, you can get them printed at your convenience and in the quantities you require.
This also saves expensive and carbon-consuming shipping of bulky items across great distances. After all, we’re in this business to be Green.
How do I Print My Plans?
Typically your contractor will require 8 copies of your design for construction purposes. Your plans must be printed in the native size of the document, not shrunk to fit the paper you have on hand. In most cases you will not be able to print your plans on a conventional printer (Though, you can print them for reference if you wish). The documents will need to be printed on a plotter or a wide format printer. Get your documents printed at a local printer or any FedEx Office location.
I want to modify a design. Can I do that?
Definitely. The easiest way to make modifications is to have the original architect or designer make the modifications for you. Because they have the original CAD files, it will expedite the process and may be cheaper for you. If you want to make modifications to a design you purchased, contact YellowBlue Designs and tell us what plan you purchased. We’ll put you directly in touch with the designer.
If you want to have another designer make modifications to your drawings that’s OK too. It might be more difficult for them as they’ll need to reproduce the drawings from your PDF document.
Note: This does not apply to Study Sets which are copyright protected. You must purchase a construction set to obtain the license to copy or modify the design.
What’s Included With My Purchase?
Your purchase includes an electronic PDF document which serve as the ‘Blueprints’ your builder will work from to build your house. You will need to have this document printed to the specifications outlined in the document. Some designs include additional components such as a list of materials, energy saving information, options (such as heating and electrical systems) and construction costs. See the Product Descriptions for details on what is specifically included with each plan.
Do All Plans Meet My Local Building Codes?
Each plan is designed to comply with the building codes where and when the home was designed. Most plans already comply with national standards (when they were designed) such as the 2009 International Residential Code. Building codes can vary significantly from region to region, especially for wind, snow and earthquake requirements. It’s also important to note that building codes are updated and changed regularly and plans that met code when they were designed may not meet current standards. Your builder and/or local building department can help ensure your house meets the current specifications in your region.
In most regions you will require a construction permit from your local building office before you can commence construction. They will help ensure your plans meet the requirements of their local building code.
Do my Blueprints Need to be ‘Stamped’?
Occasionally your building department may require that an engineer or architect ‘stamp’ or approve your house plan. By doing so they takes responsibility for the design, certifying that it will produce a safe structure. In the United States, engineers and architects must be certified in the state where you will build your home.
At this time, the plans you purchase from YellowBlue are not stamped. This is standard procedure in the houe plans industry.
What’s a Site Plan and Do I Need One?
Basically, a site plan shows where your house will sit on your property. You’ll likely need one to obtain a building construction permit for your house. A site plan is also very important if you plan to purchase a plan that utilizes passive solar heating. The location and orientation of your house on the property will need to meet certain requirements to obtain maximum heating efficiency. Your contractor or builder should be able to help you with appropriate site selection for your house.
Can I build More Than One House with My Plan?
When you purchase a plan you are in effect purchasing a license to build your home, not the intellectual rights to the drawings. Each purchase you make grants you a license to build 1 (one) home with your plan. If you’re a property developer or interested in obtaining a license for building more than one house with your drawing, contact us for special pricing.
