| Building your dream home yet remaining within a | | | | - Minimum Details - Minimize excessive interior trim |
| realistic budget can be one of the most challenging | | | | details to keep cost down. Use them sparingly as |
| aspects of home building. If you build the dream | | | | a means of defining key aspects for special areas |
| home you really want but can't afford you either | | | | rather than just repeating them throughout the |
| don't build or surpass your budget and probably | | | | house. |
| lose your home in the process. At the other | | | | - Non-Structural Tricks - Interior visual, |
| spectrum, you may be able to build an | | | | non-structural tricks such as alcoves with lowered |
| inexpensive house but it may not please you at | | | | soffits can add aesthetic interest without the |
| all, thus making you feel as though you just threw | | | | structural expense normally associated with such |
| away a whole lot of money. | | | | variations in form. Eight foot ceilings may be run |
| Costs are now more important than ever. Faced | | | | of the mill but they can be more affordable than |
| with rising construction material costs, it is | | | | high ceilings. A good alternative would be |
| important to carefully examine ways of keeping | | | | combining cathedral, vaulted or raised ceilings with |
| building costs down. Whether you are a single | | | | standard 8' or 9' ceiling areas. This can achieve |
| person with a limited budget, a retiree on a fixed | | | | the effect of providing dramatic spaces while still |
| income or financially comfortable yet cautiously | | | | remaining within budget. |
| conservative you will undoubtedly want to | | | | - Standard Units - The use of standardized, stock |
| exercise some effective control over the budget. | | | | cabinetry dressed up with a few specialty items |
| Quality Of Plans | | | | can be just as attractive as having the entire |
| Generally there are two variables that can | | | | kitchen custom built while saving a fair amount on |
| influence cost: quality and quantity in the | | | | labor costs. Use standard window sizes and |
| construction, but there is a third, equally important | | | | configurations. Custom windows involve serious |
| variable; that of quality of plans. The structural | | | | money; try limiting them to one or two focal |
| design of the house plans can be one of the most | | | | points. This will not only save money but retain |
| effective means of achieving valuable cost saving | | | | the uniqueness of that custom window setting it |
| measures. Economical house plans that reduce | | | | apart from the others. |
| construction costs follow a standardized grid | | | | Cost-Saving Methods And Materials |
| system layout in their design. | | | | In addition, the building industry today provides |
| Recent studies have been reported in major | | | | some beneficial standard material and methods |
| building magazines demonstrating the positive | | | | which can help to minimize construction costs: |
| results of preplanned designs and smart value | | | | - Floor Systems - Standard floor joists of 2X10's |
| engineering applied to new construction. Builders, | | | | are the most common floor systems in use |
| developers and homeowners alike are taking | | | | today and will generally span a given distance |
| notice. The potential dollar savings resulting from | | | | depending on conditions and species. |
| reduced construction cycle time also decrease | | | | Pre-engineered trusses are a great alternative to |
| construction loan costs, further enhancing the | | | | standard dimensional lumber joists since they allow |
| benefits of efficient building design. | | | | for longer unsupported spans. This enables more |
| The key to cost savings in frame construction is | | | | flexible use of floor space below creating greater |
| preplanning, using standard lumber, panel and | | | | efficiency under one roof. In addition, ductwork |
| pre-engineered components in the house plan | | | | and wiring can be installed between and through |
| design. By employing a modular type grid system | | | | the trusses. |
| when laying out a design with the major module | | | | - Wall Studs - The use of pre-cuts can also save |
| of 48" and the minor module of 24", a | | | | considerably on labor. To achieve 8' ceilings use |
| standardized planning guide is applied to the overall | | | | pre-cuts measuring approximately 93"; when |
| exterior house dimensions (or foot print). | | | | added with the sole plate and double top plate |
| Coordinating floor, ceiling and roof construction | | | | (after factoring in finish flooring and ceiling) the |
| with these dimensions enables full use of | | | | result is an 8' ceiling height. Pre-cuts measuring |
| standardized, readily available construction | | | | approximately 105" are also available to achieve 9' |
| materials at significant savings. | | | | ceiling heights. Since drywall is now available in |
| House plans that employ this system in their | | | | standard 54" widths as well as the usual 48" |
| overall design layout and structural configuration | | | | having a 9' ceiling height is now economically |
| are a must toward implementing money-saving | | | | feasible. |
| techniques. | | | | - Roof Systems - Pre-fabricated and engineered |
| Other Quality Features In Affordable House Plans | | | | roof trusses have made roof framing much |
| Include: | | | | easier, less complicated and less labor intensive. |
| - Simplicity - When choosing house plans also look | | | | Using computerized equipment to calculate the |
| for simplicity in form. Busy, multi gabled roof lines | | | | most efficient and effective method of |
| and other complex structural forms add major | | | | construction, roof trusses can be made at much |
| dollars to the framing costs before you even | | | | lower cost and installed at greater speed than |
| contemplate interior finishes. Instead, create | | | | manual roof framing. |
| interest and variations with non-structural | | | | Economical and affordable house plans achieve |
| elements. For example, using built-ins around a | | | | savings through their quality. Efficient house plans |
| standard window can transform it into a window | | | | that use grids and modules in their design layout |
| seat without the expense of a structural | | | | can save money by avoiding waste of materials. |
| bump-out. Keep roof lines simple with minimum | | | | Selective usage of methods and materials are |
| use of dormers and cuts. When bump-out | | | | vital in cost-saving construction. Simplified |
| windows are used support them with cantilevered | | | | structure and standardized building unites will save |
| floor joists or support brackets thus avoiding | | | | you money. Choose wisely. |
| expensive foundation corners. | | | | |