Buzz
Digital rendering of a house floor plan. Dieter Spannknebel/Digital Vision/Getty ImagesPurchasing a newly built home is a significant commitment, both financially and emotionally. It's important to prepare thoroughly for such an endeavor. One of the initial tasks you will encounter is designing the floor plan for your new home.
A floor plan is a scaled diagram or drawing representing a room or building from above. These plans can differ greatly depending on the specific requirements and preferences of the owners. A blueprint, on the other hand, is a more detailed, precise scaled drawing of the plan. It includes the foundation (with footing and framing), the roof, and detailed electrical and kitchen layouts with notes that go beyond the basic floor plan, serving as the contractor's detailed guide.
When designing a floor plan for your new home, consider these key factors:
What are your unique lifestyle requirements? Do you have a family or pets, or are they in your future plans? Do you host guests, and will they need designated sleeping areas? Where do you foresee spending most of your time inside the home?
What level of privacy do you need? The shape of your house, for instance, can increase privacy. You'll also want to account for your privacy preferences when planning the placement of windows.
Will you require specific workspaces? Many people prefer or need home offices or laundry rooms.
What decorating style will you choose for your home? The floor plan should complement the way you intend to use and furnish each room. If you plan to have a large sectional sofa, you'll need a room spacious enough to fit it [source: House Designers].
Your new home may be a site-built house, constructed directly on the land. Alternatively, you could be considering a mobile or modular home. For more details on these two types of housing and their corresponding floor plans, proceed to the next two sections of the article.
Mobile Home Floor Plans
Imagine life on the move. This might be a lifestyle that resonates with you. Living with your loved ones and having the freedom to pick up and relocate to a new place without the hassle of packing or searching for a new home. Simply lock the doors and windows, and drive your home to its new destination. But such flexibility requires substantial planning.
When it comes to mobile homes, builders and owners face far more constraints compared to site-built homes. Everything must fit into compact spaces. While larger recreational vehicles might not feel cramped, efficient use of space is still critical.
In addition to managing the limited size of a mobile home, designers must create a robust foundation and support structure to accommodate tires, a gas tank, and mobile plumbing. Instead of connecting to sewer systems, small internal tanks are planned, which can be easily drained or cleaned by the homeowners. They also need to ensure connections to electrical outlets and water lines so that these mobile homes are fully functional.
Visit the next page for details on modular home plans.
Square footage may seem like a straightforward concept: it’s the total area of each room in your house. However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For a room to count toward your square footage, it must be finished and within the heated space of your home. Unfinished areas, like your garage or attic, aren’t included. If you want to increase your square footage, you’ll need to convert those spaces into livable areas [source: Cool House Plans].
Modular Home Floor Plans
Waiting for the completion of a home construction project can be frustrating, and costly. You’ve been paying the crew, purchasing materials, and gradually putting everything together. If you live nearby, you’re sure to hear the early morning hammering and sawing. This is why many people choose modular homes instead.
Modular homes are constructed in sections (or modules) at a factory and then transported to the site. This process reduces on-site construction time, making it more affordable. At some point, you’ve probably found yourself stuck behind a truck hauling a half-built house. That’s a piece of someone’s modular home.
The floor plans for these homes must be designed differently to account for their transport and assembly needs. They must be organized in a way that allows the house to be divided into manageable sections small enough to fit on a truck. This often leads to narrow rooms and numerous support structures. Despite these constraints, the homes must still meet the needs of their future inhabitants. Creating plans that balance both considerations can be challenging, but modular homes remain a popular option for home ownership.
Now that you have a better understanding of floor plans, as well as the differences between on-site built homes, mobile homes, and modular homes, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision the next time you need to move and take an active role in designing the floor plans that suit your needs.
Plans change. Budgets tighten, new requirements arise, and sometimes, you simply change your mind. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to modify your floor plans and blueprints as long as construction hasn’t progressed too far. Shifting walls or windows can be as simple as marking changes on your drawings. However, because you might not fully understand the structural integrity of your home, any changes should be reviewed by a professional [source: House Designers].
