House Plans vs. Reality

House Plans vs. Reality

"Why does the foundation frame or the outline of the perimeter of the house (new construction) look so small? Is that how it's suppose to look, because it doesn’t't look like the rooms on my plans will fit in this small space. I’m concerned!

C.M."

Hi C.M.,

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Do you mean the actual foundation walls are built and it (the foundation) looks too small?

Or, do you mean that the stakes in the ground outlining where the foundation is to be dug (also with, perhaps, string or some form of marking lines on the ground) look too small.

Give me some more input and I'll try to help.

Carl

"Carl
Yes, the stakes in the ground outlining where the foundation is to be dug etc., looks small. We're
building our first home and sub-contracting ourselves. Not sure if this is how it's suppose to look?

CM"

CM,

You may be experiencing what most everyone experiences, even those who build houses for a living. It is called “spatial relations”. That is, nothing looks spatially the same in a different medium or form. It can scare the daylights out of you when so much money and planning is at stake.

I looked at the footings for a 3 car garage last week and I said, “no way”. Now it is framed and it’s humongous.

But, to ease your mind, and to be safe, look at your plans again and make sure you are happy with the room sizes.
Remember (from my book) , that when a home designer indicates the width or length of a room, they are (usually) measuring from the outside surface of exterior walls to the center of an interior wall. NO deduction is made for the thickness of walls! This is the way it has always been done.

But ideally, a home plan (or blueprint), should give you both inside room dimensions as well as the overall dimensions. Some designers don’t give you both.

Click here for a larger image.

If you look on this floor plan, you’ll see both. Note how, for example, that bedroom #2 has inside dimensions of 13’ X 15’6”, yet the outside dimensions of this wall show not 15’ 6”, but 17” because NO deduction is made for the thickness of exterior walls The 13’ dimension is also longer, but I can’t tell from the plans what exactly that should be.

If you are unsure as to whether a room on your house plan is large enough, find a room of about the same size in another house, either a new house, a house under construction, or an existing house and evaluate room sizes. There should be one or more of these “open” on a weekend nearby.

Buy a laser tape measure (About $20). They make the job of measuring rooms inconspicuous as well as easy (only takes one person to use it). Why wonder “how big is this room?” Zap it with your laser tape!

Click here to buy on line from Home Depot

You probably have nothing to worry about, it probably is “spatial relations”, but checking your plans again should ease your mind.

Hope this helps,
Carl