Plan set FAQ
HOW WILL I RECEIVE THE DRAWINGS?
The drawings will be available to you immediately after purchase. A link to download the PDF file will be sent to the email you purchased with immediately following check-out.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This set is intended to be used for permitting, pricing, and construction of the entire project (sheet size: 18”x24” or 24”x36” depending on the design). The drawings and specifications are detailed and commensurate with the level of service you would expect to receive from a high end architectural design studio. There’s a huge amount of value included with this package. (See my ‘unboxing’ video on each page where I walk you through the drawing package you’ll receive).
Cover Sheet – notes, license agreement, legend + door, window, hardware schedules
Floor Plans – dimensioned layout drawings
Foundation Plan – dimensioned
Framing Plans - conceptual (a local engineer will be req’d to design the structure to your local loading conditions (wind, snow, seismic, etc.)
Exterior Elevations – showing windows, doors, + exterior materials
Building Sections + Details
Interior Elevations
Electrical Plan
Does it include structural drawings?
No. Because local design conditions, climate concerns and codes vary so widely, it's impossible for me to design a structure that would work for every location. For this reason, the license agreement requires you retain the services of a local engineer to design the structural system for your project.
Does it include PLUMBING drawings/fixture schedules?
Plumbing fixture types are shown on the plans, but the set doesn't include rough-in locations or fixture selections. If you'd like help selecting appropriate fixtures, 30X40 can be hired on an hourly basis (studio workload permitting) to aid in the selection process. Plumbing runs and rough-in will be influenced by local codes and must be coordinated with the structural design (see above). As such, these decisions are to be coordinated with local subcontractors.
Does it include electrical drawings?
Yes, exact fixtures are to be confirmed + selected by you and to suit your taste.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO CONSTRUCT?
The cost of construction varies so much geographically that it's hard to offer useful information. Equally, site work, septic, mechanicals, and finishes all have an impact on final overall build cost too. Just as an example, in late 2021, custom construction costs where I live in Maine range between $400 - 800/square foot (excluding site costs + land acquisition). In the southeast US the cost per square foot is markedly lower, in California, double it. Travel 100 miles inland from the coast and the costs are radically different. The builder you choose will also influence the final cost as well as how much of the work you choose to do yourself.
The best place to start is by talking to a few local contractors. They’ll be able to give you a rough idea of what things cost to build in your area.
When I constructed my own Longhouse for my family in 2008 and was able to build it for $113/square foot by doing much of the work myself. So, there’s definitely some variability in the actual price range, but that was also 11 years ago a time when materials and labor was much less expensive. The Longhouse plans have been designed with efficiency in mind. The simple plan layout makes for efficient framing and the detailing is intentionally simple. Cabinetry is modularized and even the construction can be phased if you choose.
HOW ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY?
To keep things affordable, the drawing sets have been designed to meet US energy codes as a minimum standard. However, the wall systems can be upgraded and adapted to your local climate and this includes increasing the insulation and air-sealing components to meet your individual efficiency needs. Following the mantra: build tight, insulate right will go a long way to ensuring your Longhouse is an efficient, comfortable home to live in.
CAN I COPY THE PLANS?
No, except: you are able to distribute the plans to Contractors + Subcontractors, so that they’re able to price and build your home, but you can’t freely distribute it to others to construct their homes too. The plans are licensed for use in constructing one home. Purchasing the plans means you're bound to the licensing terms, which spell reproduction rights out in more detail. I retain the copyrights for the plans but allow you to use them for the duration of the project.
WHAT IF I WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING?
I suggest working with a local draftsperson or contractor to make minor modifications as my current studio workload + waitlist prohibit me from doing any customization work.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE DURING CONSTRUCTION TO ANSWER QUESTIONS?
I’d be happy to consult with you - at my current hourly rate ($150/hour) - to guide any remaining decisions you might need to make or walk you through some of the details. Contact me via email to schedule a time to talk.
WHY A MODERN LONGHOUSE?
Inspired by the Native American building type and rooted in historical precedent, the Longhouse assimilates the ideas of this simple communal shelter and reinterprets them in a modern design context. The Longhouse make sensible use of minimal square footage and it does so with bold architectural purpose.
By elongating the house and preserving a narrow width, the modest floor area appears much larger. The central open space with its taller ceiling unifies the kitchen, dining and living functions while allowing for the separation of private sleeping spaces at either end of the plan. Dividing the ‘public’ and ‘private’ spaces in this way is a hallmark of an architecturally designed home. The hallway ringing the private ‘service’ spaces – the bath, mudroom, pantry, laundry + storage; enhances the perceived sense of space while maintaining a compact layout. This isn’t a traditional house it feels custom and modern in every way.
The simple forms and humble materials ensure the Longhouse is an economical home to construct. It’s the perfect home for someone looking to live within a smaller footprint, fits easily on almost any small lot and is particularly well suited to narrow sites.
The home is structured to allow for renovation and modification along the way with exterior bearing walls and a trussed roof renovating to accommodate future needs is baked in to the design.
Need more convincing? Watch my video where I explain how the design for The Longhouse came to be.