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Frequently Asked Questions
BEFORE YOU PURCHASE
1. Do your plans comply with building codes in my area?
Our plans are drawn to meet the 2006 International Residential Code for One & Two Family Dwelling and the 2006 International Building Code with Georgia amendments. Many states and counties amend the codes in their area. Consult your local building officials to determine your plan, code, and site requirements. Learn more about our design criteria.Return to Top
2. Are your plans stamped by an architect or engineer?
Frank Betz Associates, Inc. is a residential design firm. We do not stamp any of our home plans. Single family construction in most cities and counties do not require that a plan be stamped by an architect or engineer. Check with your building officials for the specific plan requirements in you area.Return to Top
3. Do your plans include all of the information my building department requires for a building permit?
Each building department's requirements vary. We recommend that you contact them for their specific requirements. Our plans include all of the drawings typically needed for construction, except site specific information and heating or cooling requirements. This information, if required, must be provided based on the geographic conditions in your area.Return to Top
4. Is there a difference in the Southern Living Design collections and your other plans?
Southern Living plans do not have separate framing drawings. The framing information, including the joist sizing, spacing, beam sizes, ceiling joist and rafters is included on the foundation and floor plans or details of each of the Southern Living® plans.To view the contents of a typical set of our home plans, click here. To view the contents of a set of plans from the Southern Living Design Collection, click here.
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5. What additional items do you offer to compliment your home plans?
We also provide material workbooks, artwork, custom artwork and digital artwork for our home plans. On the checkout page, click on "Additional Options" to see a complete list of products available for each home plan.Return to Top
6. What is included with my CAD drawings?
CAD files are offered to allow our customers to make changes to the plans, but the Frank Betz Associates title block and copyright must remain on the plan. Included in every CAD package are: the plan files, pen files, "Read Me" layer instruction file, typical detail sheets file, and font files.Return to Top
7. Do you have interior or exterior photos of your designs?
We post the front exterior of our designs on our website, if available. We do not have any other photos available. (Please note: Photos are the "builders version" of our designs.)Return to Top
8. How is the square footage calculated?
Square footage calculations are made from outside the exterior frame wall and do not include decks, porches, garages, basements, attics, fireplaces, etc. Our calculations include only heated spaces. We include two story and vaulted areas only once in the calculations of the first floor. Stairs are counted once. Balconies and open walkways in two story and vaulted areas are included in the calculations of the second floor. The brick veneer is not counted in our square footage calculations. Square footage is calculated using the actual working drawings. You will not be able to calculate square footage based on the "plan spec" room sizes provided on our website.Return to Top
9. What dimensions are available prior to purchase?
For your planning purposes, we include major room sizes and overall dimensions on the floor plans and on the plan specs page. The room dimensions are approximate and are measured from inside face of stud to inside face of stud. Exact dimensions are only available upon purchase of the working drawings. The overall width and overall depth are measured from outside face of stud to outside face of stud. They do not include finish material, such as brick or stone veneer.Return to Top
10. What are the ceiling heights of your plans?
For the majority of our plans, the first floor height is either 8'-0" or 9'-0". The second floor ceiling heights are 8'-0" except for some of the large homes that have 9'-0" ceilings. These ceiling heights are for the typical rooms that do not have a vaulted or tray ceiling. The rooms with a volume ceiling are indicated on the promotional plans and the construction drawings. (Click on "plan specs" for ceiling heights listed for each design.)Return to Top
11. Are your basements daylight or post and beam?
Our basement plans do not typically include any finished areas and therefore are not available for preview. All our basements are full basements and are designed as framed rear wall, walk-outs. The remaining foundation walls are concrete. The interior walls are 2x6 framed walls used to support the structure above. The layout of these walls, often mimic the main areas of the first floor. These areas do not have to be finished and, please note, unfinished, non-heated, areas are not included in square footage calculations.Need a Post and Beam basement?
See our Modifications FAQ's
Please request a modifications quote or buy reproducibles and use a local professional.
CRAWL
Our crawl space foundations are designed as four concrete stem walls around the exterior of house.Interior concrete pilasters and/or piers support beams and/or girders, which in turn support the structure above.
SLAB
Our slab foundation is designed for a single, "monolithic" concrete pour. The perimeter of the slab consists of turn-down footings. Interior concrete grade beams support the structure above.Return to Top
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
1. I'm modifying the home plans, what type of support do you provide?
Our Technical Support staff has access to the "stock" plans only. Therefore, if your plan has been modified, we are not able to answer any questions. We recommend that you contact the designer who has made the modifications for you. To learn more about our copyright, click here.Return to Top
2. I've purchased a blackline license and have decided I want changes made to the home plans, what's the procedure?
You will need to request a quote for modifications for your specific changes through our modifications department. If you are using another designer, please contact customer service about upgrading your license to a reproducible or cad file. The Technical Support staff can not assist you with redesigning our home plans.Return to Top
3. I purchased a CAD file and information appears to be missing?
Our homeplans are drawn using DataCad 11 and may have been converted to other formats at the time of purchase. DataCad, uses a feature called "Go to View", which automatically allows you to view a plan, such as first floor framing plan, without having to turn layers on and off. Other programs may not have this feature. You will need to turn layers on and off to view information. See the "Read Me" files for layering information.Return to Top
4. Are there issues exporting information from DataCad to other file formats?
When exporting to other formats, there can be issues with data translation. Drawing elements may be exploded or displayed differently. Hatching and dimensions are usually easily isolated by layers. See the "read me" files for layering information. You may also need to change the way information is displayed from within the program's display settings, such as resetting line types. Text may not display properly because of missing font types. We include these font files with each CAD order.Return to Top
5. Where are the foundation details?
Included with your purchase is a detail sheet, D-1. This drawing contains typical sections and details showing the foundation. You will need to use the details pertinent to the foundation you are building.Return to Top
6. What size studs are shown for exterior walls?
All first and second floor exterior walls are 2 x 4 wood studs. Exterior walls in two story areas are typically 2 x 6 wood studs. All stud sizes are dictated by the building codes to meet the structural load requirements or the insulation requirements in colder climates, adjustments may be necessary to meet your local requirements. All of our basement plans exterior and interior load bearing walls are shown as 2 x 6 wood stud walls.Return to Top
7. What do the window and door sizes represent?
Our homeplans are designed using a wood, double hung divided light windows. Each set of working drawings uses a generic window sizing system that does not apply to any brand of windows. For example, a common size seen on our plans is 2862. This is a window that is 32" wide and 74" tall (2'-8" x 6'-2"). This is also the standard system used to identify the size of doors. A "2-6" door is a standard 6'-8" tall door that is 2'-6" wide. Since all manufactures carry different sizes and types of windows, adjustments may be necessary to the "stock" plan. Keep in mind to follow all code requirements regarding emergency egress windows.Return to Top
MODIFICATIONS
1. If a house is shown in siding or stucco, can I build it with brick instead or vice versa?
If brick is added to a house, a brick ledge must be added to the foundation to support the brick and wider overhangs may be required on the roof. If brick is deleted, the ledges on the foundation plan will not be required. Most changes to the exterior finish can be made easily without causing problems. Other changes should only be made after consulting with a qualified professional.Return to Top
2. Can any plan be built on a slab foundation?
Any of our plans can be built on a slab foundation. The type of foundation needed depends on your building site. If a slab foundation plan is not available, our modifications department can design one for you at an additional charge. You may order a custom slab directly through Customer Service.Return to Top
3. How hard is it to switch from a front car garage to a side car or vice versa?
Usually this is not hard to do. The most important consideration is the structure and the beam that spans across the garage. Depending on the current design of the garage doors and windows, the structure may need to be changed when the door is relocated. We will review this, when we do a modification for you. Learn more about our Modification Services.Return to Top
4. How can I find plans that are similar to the one I like?
Just enter your design parameters into our plan library search page. If a similar plan is available, click the link on the design page that says "similar plan." You can also find similar plans listed within the "plan specs" link for each design.Similar plans are just that, similar. Not the same. They might be similar in appearance, or only in square footage, but not the same. If none are listed for the design, email design@frankbetz.com and ask if there might be a similar plan. Please allow time for a proper search.
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5. Do you offer different elevations for your designs?
A stock plan will come the way it is advertised, either on web or in a magazine. Published photos are "builders versions" of our stock design. And not necessarily "true" to the stock plan design. There are no other "versions" or elevations offered. However, we offer modifications for most of our designs. Any requested changes have to go through the modifications department.Please note: Previous modifications are not available for resale.
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ORDERING INFO