Summary: Stock house plans are a convenient way to design a home, but they should be evaluated according to the lot specifics before construction begins. From measuring the lot and setbacks to adapting the footprint, structure, orientation and permitting documents, a homeowner can transform a basic design into a site-specific plan.

A downloaded floor plan may seem to be a perfect option until you try putting it on your actual lot. Suddenly, setbacks, lot dimensions, slope, access, drainage, and other site-related factors can turn a relatively simple plan into a tricky puzzle. This is the point at which most homeowners fail to adapt stock house plans. Stock house plans are a starting point, not a guarantee that the design will work on your specific lot or meet every local requirement.

1. Assess Your Lot

Before adapting stock house plans, one should fully understand the specificities of the property. It includes reviewing lot dimensions, boundaries, slope, existing structures, driveway access, utilities, easements, trees and other physical features of the lot.

Professional site survey provides an accurate measurement of the boundaries and elevations of the lot. This becomes especially important when it comes to sloping or irregularly-shaped lots, because small discrepancies may affect positioning, foundation, drainage and driveway of the house.

For homeowners choosing house plans in Oregon, the specific site conditions including topography, soils, wildfire risks, flooding, and local planning requirements may also play a role.

 

2. Determine Buildable Area

Next, you may ask yourself whether the house would actually fit. Put the chosen stock house plans on the accurate site plan and check its footprint against required setbacks and other restrictions. The house may fit on the property, yet it becomes too large when front, side and rear setbacks are taken into account.

Easements, access requirements, environmental limitations and existing structures can limit the available space even further.

This step determines whether the initial footprint can be preserved or modifications of home’s width, depth, garage location and other elements are necessary.

 

3. Adapt the Design

After establishing the buildable area, the plans can be adapted to the lot.

Such modifications may include reducing the footprint, making the home shallower, reversing the layout, moving garage, changing rooflines and positions of windows and doors. The objective here is not just to shrink the house. One has to keep in mind functionality and logic of the design while making it suitable for the lot.

Orientation is another thing to consider during this process. Correct positioning will help maximize the benefits related to natural lighting, privacy, views, outdoor living spaces, driveways, and energy performance.

This is where stock house plans provide flexibility – you start with the existing design, not with designing each of its elements.

 

4. Review Codes

Even the plan, which works perfectly well on paper, can need some adjustments before approval. For house plans in Oregon, the relevant residential building code, local zoning laws and regulations, structural conditions, and site-specific requirements should be reviewed. Residential Specialty Code of Oregon applies to qualifying one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, whereas other local regulations may come into effect.

Modifications of the stock house plans may create certain structural implications. Moving a wall affects the span of the beam, opening modification affects wall framing and change of the roof creates new load.

Professional review of the plans helps to avoid permitting problems later.

 

5. Prepare Permit Plans

The final stage is preparing documentation for permits that accurately describes your project. The permit plans can include floor plans, elevations, building sections, structural information, construction details and site plan with the position of the home relative to the lot.

For house plans in Oregon, there can be different requirements in different jurisdictions. Therefore, the permit documents should describe the actual lot, the proposed structure, setbacks, site conditions, and other requirements of the particular jurisdiction, rather than just reproducing the original downloaded drawings.

This stage also allows fixing inconsistencies between architectural and structural information before permit submission.

 

Conclusion

Adapting stock house plans does not mean starting all over again. The practical approach consists of evaluating the lot, determining the buildable area, adapting the plan, reviewing applicable codes, and preparing lot-specific permit documents. In this way, you will preserve all advantages of an existing plan while making it suitable for your site. If you need help in adapting house plans in Oregon, call Designs Unlimited today for design solutions.

 

FAQs

1. Can stock house plans be modified?

Yes, many stock house plans can be modified according to lot dimension, orientation, structural conditions and preferences of the homeowner.

2. Why a stock plan may not fit my lot?

Setbacks, easements, irregular lot boundaries, slopes, access requirements, zoning restrictions can make the initial footprint unsuitable.

3. Should I have a site survey before adapting a plan?

Yes, accurate lot dimensions and elevation information form the reliable basis for positioning of the house.

4. Do house plans in Oregon need to be locally modified?

Yes, in some cases there may be local zoning, site conditions, and jurisdictional specific requirements to modify plans prior to permit submission.

5. How the change of floor plan can affect the structure of the house?

Moving walls, changing openings, modifying roof lines, footprint modifications can affect structural spans, loads and framing requirements.