How much does a home cost?
The price will vary depending on the type and quality of finishing materials used. Eighty-five dollars a square foot will get the building an oak kitchen, solid cedar siding, architectural shingles, medium-quality carpet, central vacuum, and alarm system (as an example). Best price is usually brick veneer, ceramic floors, jetted tubs, maple cabinets throughout, central air conditioners, central vacuum, detached garage, high-quality carpeting, chandeliers, etc. but it will cost the consumer between ninety-five and one hundred dollars per square foot.
Contract documents: what should you have and why?
Architectural/Residential Technologies uses four main documents:
1. Construction Contract – Establishes what work will be done, who will do the work, how reviews will be handled, the costs involved, and a payment schedule.
2. Construction plans: detail how the building will be built.
3. Specifications – Describe what materials will be used, the quality of the materials to be used, and how the building elements will be constructed.
4. Timeline – Describes the order of events, provides completion dates for different parts of the project, and helps track the progress of the project, so we can be sure to complete the project on time.
There are a wide variety of other legal considerations to take into account when building your own home.
Construction Permits and Plans
1. An application for building, plumbing, or other permits
2. A site plan – establishes compatibility of building design, proposed land classification, and drainage. The plan must also include the legal description and dimensions of the lot.
• The location and setback of the proposed building from the property lines of the lot.
• Location of any other buildings on the property.
• The distances from the existing building(s) to the new building. Existing and completed grade levels of the proposed building and lot.
• A zoning administrator may require a survey plan certified by a registered surveyor.
• Any number of complete sets of house plans and specifications (specifications may be noted on the plans), one set must be returned to you and kept on the job site during construction of the building. The Building Department is likely to hold one set.
Drawing Requirements
Drawings must be to scale and include:
Foundation Plan
• Fully dimensioned plan showing size and location of beams, load-bearing walls or supporting columns (including footings) and thickness of foundations. Specify the type of material to be used, for example, concrete block, poured concrete, wood, or other.
• Indicate the size of the joists above, including spans and center distances.
• Indicate stair location, including required framing around stairs
Blueprints of the floor
• One floor plan per floor
• Plans should be sized with rooms and spaces identified
• Identify doors and windows, including sizes, rough openings, and header sizes for each.
• Identify plumbing fixtures
• Indicate the location of the ladder, including required framing around the ladders and the direction
• Identify previous structure, including truss and joist designs
cross sections
• Shows the set of foundations, floors, walls and ceilings with all the materials defined
• At least one full section of the building must be completed
• Include floor finish levels
elevations
• Complete set of elevation plans showing all four sides, including exterior finish, grade levels, decks, entryways, and finished floor and ceiling height.
chimney section
• Indicate the size of the flue, the distance to combustible materials, the height of the chimney above the extension of the roof hearth, the fresh air intake and indicate the type and manufacturer’s specifications complete with the material used. in the construction
Legal considerations
Typical permits or approvals may include the following:
1. Can your property be used for the purpose you have in mind? In other words, will you need a rezoning for residential or commercial applications that may be associated with your building requirements, such as home-based businesses, apartments, garages, or woodworks?
2. Check for any special requirements under a subdivision agreement, which may or may not be privately owned.
3. Can you position or design the building as you would like? Allowances for side yards, front yards, back yards, lot coverage, local fire regulations, or the like can have a profound impact on the size and design of the building. And remember that you can request minor variances, which may allow you to override such laws.
4. Fees are involved. As with anything, there is usually a fee for permits, variances, inspections, plan approvals, environmental studies or analyses, and any other consideration your municipality may require.
5. You may need to find out if a site plan control agreement is required
6. You need to know if you can access the property from a local road or highway, if utilities can be brought in, and whether or not you can use the property for the project you are proposing.
7. Will you be required to install a septic system or can you connect to existing services? A fee is usually required for such approvals or connections to city lines.
8. Check for environmental and conservation considerations that local natural resource development authorities may have for the intended property. Issues such as floodplain, drainage, and environmental sensitivities need to be addressed.
9. Check the requirements and costs associated with managing projects that are typically contained in the building, electrical, and/or plumbing laws associated with your geographic locations.
10. Remember to find out, when and by whom, the temporary or permanent services of electricity, telephone, sewage, cable television, gas and other miscellaneous services that you require.
Always check if
1. Any of the above that are relevant to you
2. How much will it cost?
3. How long will it take to get approved?
4. Who must request approvals.
