Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can I get some questions answered before I order a house plan?
A. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our designs. Please call our office Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. Our phone number is 859-441-9460. If outside of office hours, you may ask your question in the "Contact Us" link on the web site. We will answer your questions as quickly as possible.
Q. How do I place an order?
A. Please call our office at 859-441-9460 to place an order. We accept all major credit cards and can ship your selection within 24 hours.
Q. How can I get a construction price quote before investing in a house plan drawing?
A. It is impossible to get an accurate price without having the drawings for a builder to use for bids. We do offer a "study set" to customers for a reasonable price. A "study set" can be purchased by calling our office at 859-441-9460. A "study set" consists of one (1) copy of the construction drawings. They are clearly stamped "not for construction" and a critical detail page is omitted. Copies cannot be made of a "study set" and a house cannot be built from a "study set" but a builder should be able to give you an accurate bid on the cost to construct this home with an allowance for interior specifics. If you purchase a "study set", that cost will be credited toward the purchase of a building package of the same plan when purchased within 6 months.
Q. Will I be able to have a house built from a 5 set, 8 set, reproducible or PDF of the plan I select?
A. A house can be built from any of the above construction packages; however some restrictions apply to the various package choices. A 5 or 8 set package cannot be copied or scanned for copying or email purposes which is why we now include the PDF with each 5 or 8 set package. Additional prints ordered beyond the 5 or 8 set package are billed at $50.00 per set.
Q. I need an alternate foundation plan but your plans show basements. What should I do?
A. Yes, we design our homes with basement foundations. In most cases we can make modifications to the drawings to create an alternate foundation for you. We will need to know some specifics on the placement of the water heater and furnace when creating an alternate foundation. The cost of creating an alternate foundation will depend on the specific house that has been selected. The average cost is $300 - $350. Larger, more complex houses will need to be bid for a more precise price.
Q. What type of roof system do you specify?
A. We design our homes using roof trusses. We specify a 30 psf live load and a 17 psf dead load on the roof.
Q. Will I be able to get a building permit with these house plans?
A. We design our homes to meet the (IRC) International Residential Code one and two family building code. Check with your local building department to verify what they require. Changes to meet local code requirements can be requested for an additional fee or you can have the plans reviewed and modified by a local architect or residential designer in your area.
Q. Do you supply an Architect Stamp?
A. Mike and Paul Studer and Mike Frimming, owners and primary controllers of the company are members of the American Institute of Building Design. Studer Residential Designs, Inc. is not an Architectural Firm and we do not represent ourselves as Architects. We specialize in designing single family homes. An architectural license is not required to create construction drawings in many states in the U.S.
Q. I am in a hurry for house plans. How can I get them quickly?
A. We can ship them to you via UPS Next Day Air or you can purchase a PDF file and we can email them immediately. If no changes to the plan are needed/requested we can fill all orders within 24 working hours.