Are you planning to build a new home and want to get the most for your money? Since labor and materials account for a large percentage of the cost of building a new home, it pays to take an in-depth look at your home plan design. Here are 10 ways to sharpen your pencil to save on construction while creating a bit of pizzazz.
- SPATIAL RELATIONS
Use more open space. Open space areas can borrow space from each other and therefore require less square footage overall. The resulting effect is a greater feeling of spaciousness without increasing the cost. Also, house plan designs that place rooms and access doors at 45-degree angles feel better and tend to be more accessible and open; appearing larger than its actual square footage. This can be an especially cost-effective technique when used for non-load-bearing interior walls.
- MEASUREMENT UNITS
Think even numbers in home plan layouts. Most building material dimensions are based on 2-foot increments. Your plan should use multiples of 2 feet throughout the design to minimize scrap, disposal expense, and reduce cutting time.
- PRE-CRAFTED ARMORS
For the right home construction project, precast roof trusses are less expensive than site-built, saving labor and construction time. They also reduce the length of time interior structural elements are exposed to the elements.
- SINGLE FRAME
Stairs and other framed openings should be located in such a way that interruption to floor joists is minimized. If the house plan layout allows it, place stair openings parallel to joists to reduce the need for long joist runs. Additionally, stairs and other framed openings must not interrupt structural beams or load-bearing walls.
- CUTTING CORNERS
Corners on exterior walls, resulting from a given shape of the structure, add dollars to the total construction cost of the building. A square-shaped plan has 4 outside corners, just like the layout of a rectangular-shaped house plan. An “L” shaped home building plan has 5 outside corners and 1 inside corner. Structures with numerous wings and breaks may have multiple inside and outside corners. Simplifying the footprint of home construction can help keep expenses down. Some corners, however, do not have as large an impact on construction cost and are therefore a preferable design alternative. Non-support bosses that are cantilevered or supported by corbels do not require corners at the bottom base of support. Also, bay windows and other small projections that drop below the main roof do not require any separate roof framing. This can be a less expensive way to achieve visual interest or add interior space.
- WINDOWS AND DOORS IN STOCK
Specialty windows and doors can add beauty and architectural appeal, but they can add a lot of money to a home construction budget. Standard window sizes and styles can be enhanced by grouping them in creative patterns or adding unique details to the exterior. For example, attractive arches can be framed and trimmed at the top of a garage door opening to accommodate standard square-top garage doors creating the appearance of an arched door with the standard garage door fitting behind the door. arched opening.
- STANDARD BEARING SUPPORTS
Keeping spans within normal limits allows the use of standard and readily available beams, girders and joists, avoiding costly special orders or costly engineering. For two-story house plan designs, load-bearing structural walls must be stacked and aligned to meet code limits.
- MECHANICAL RENTAL
Designated areas for HVAC and plumbing mechanical equipment should be located as centrally as possible in the basement or crawl space of the home building plan to minimize pipes and ductwork to their respective destinations. Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to stack baths on top of each other or place them back to back to reduce plumbing usage.
- PASSIVE EARNINGS
Large amounts of south-facing glass, strategically placed under overhang protection during the warmer season, can result in significant savings during the winter months on cold climate energy bills. Additionally, placing windows to better capture light and airflow can help reduce electrical lighting and cooling expenses.
- OUTSIDE APPEAL
Use non-structural elements to add aesthetic interest to the exterior façade. For example, a little extra detail in the trim or non-structural faux stone columns at the front entry can set the home apart at a very reasonable cost. A pergola and multicolored trim or siding can do wonders to break up the monotony of a flat exterior wall.
With a little creative thinking, these ten cost-saving design ideas can go a long way in making your next home construction project a financial success and turning your dream home plan design into reality.