Anderson Associates Architects Inc | House Plans, Additions, and Home Remodeling Plans

Where do I start when planning to build a home?

You should identify the site or lot on which you intend to build. All jurisdictions having authority over the building process have site and zoning regulations that determine the maximum length, width, and height of your home. These regulations also include the ratio of the gross building area (livable and non-livable spaces) to the total area of the site. Based on these site regulations, you can then select a stock plan or request a custom design. Other site and zoning regulations may apply. You can contact your local building department to obtain this information.

At Anderson, we can assist you with obtaining site and zoning regulations as part of our architectural services for a nominal fee that can be applied as a credit towards the purchase of one of our stock plans

What is a stock plan?

A stock plan is a set of construction documents that has been previously prepared, reviewed, and approved by a licensed architect for construction according to applicable codes. Because they have been constructed at least once before, stock plans have proven to be architecturally functional and structurally sound and are thus reliable to be used again for construction. The use of a stock plan also reduces the architectural fees because no time is needed to develop a new design.

Can I request a modification to a stock plan?

Yes, it is possible to request a modification to any of the stock plans in our online curated collection to meet your specific needs. Select a design that comes closest to what you have in mind for your home needs and then contact us with the stock plan number and the requested modifications. You can also contact us directly and we can discuss options for designing your custom home that meets your specific needs.

For modified plans, we will assess your requested modifications and contact you if we need additional information. For a nominal fee, we can then proceed to formally enter into the design process needed to make the modifications architecturally functional and structurally sound. The fee will then be applied as a credit towards the purchase of a modified stock plan.

Optionally, you can purchase any of our stock plans, and if you decide you want to make changes, we can credit the purchase of the plan towards the purchase of a modified stock plan.

If you would like us to custom design a home, which is part of the architectural services we provide, we can answer your questions and assess your request. For a nominal fee, we can then proceed to formally enter into the design process needed to custom design your home. Based on your design, we will quote you a price for providing you with the signed and sealed set of construction documents for construction according to applicable codes. The nominal fee will be applied as a credit towards the total price.

What are signed and sealed plans?

Signed and sealed plans are a set of construction documents. The set contains the plans, elevations, sections, details, and notes of a specific design and has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by a licensed architect for construction according to applicable codes. The licensed architect’s seal and signature are affixed to the drawings.

At Anderson, we have thousands of stock plans to select from to meet your design needs. However, because building codes are revised periodically and the location of the home will be unique, we need to invest a nominal amount of time to prepare the signed and sealed construction documents to meet code and site requirements of the jurisdiction in Illinois or Indiana.

Why do I need signed and sealed plans?

You will need signed and sealed plans if you intend to have a design built according to the prepared construction documents. All jurisdictions having authority over the building process require construction documents to be signed and sealed by a licensed architect. Signed and sealed plans are submitted for permit and once approved can then be used for construction.

What purchasing options do you offer?

CDSET – This is a Construction Document Set of drawings with no modification to an existing Anderson stock plan and meeting code requirements in the States of Illinois or Indiana. It includes a PDF file, 3 signed and sealed sets, with additional signed and sealed sets at cost of $50/set. This set is stamped and sealed by the architect and is issued FOR CONSTRUCTION.

DXF – These are Drawing Exchange Format files of plans, elevations, and sections with architectural annotations. They are provided NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.

PDFD – This is a multi-page PDF Design Set of plans, elevations, and sections with architectural annotations. They are provided NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.

PDFP – This is a multi-page PDF Presentation Set of plans and elevations. The plans and elevations do not contain architectural annotations, only drawing titles and room names. They are provided NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.

How many copies of the plans will I need?

Each jurisdiction that requires you to submit signed and sealed construction documents for permit and construction has their own specific requirements. For that reason, we provide you with one PDF set of the signed and sealed drawings and grant you the right to print as many copies that will be needed according to the jurisdiction. Copies can be made at your discretion in the planning and/or construction process as long as it is used or intended to be used under the license agreement issued for the intended site. Anderson reserves the right to enforce these rights under copyright infringement if a plan under a single license is attempted to be used for more than a single building site. Copyright law applies to every state.

For a nominal printing fee, Anderson can provide you with copies as needed.

Can I make additional copies of the plans?

Yes, but only for the building site for which it was purchased. We grant you the right to share the PDF set of the signed and sealed drawings via email or in printed format to any contractors or subcontractors involved in the building process. There are copyright terms that require acknowledgement of these rights at point of purchase. Copies can be made at your discretion in the planning and/or construction process as long as it is used or intended to be used under the license agreement issued for the intended site. Anderson reserves the right to enforce these rights under copyright infringement if a plan under a single license is attempted to be used for more than a single building site. Copyright law applies to every state. You are required to make a payment for each home you plan to build based on an Anderson design (stock plan, modified stock plan, or custom plan). For example, if you are a developer or builder and plan to build three homes based on one design, you will need to purchase a quantity of three designs.

Can I build from a set of plans that my friend purchased?

No. Plans are sold to be built once. All building plans are copyrighted and are the intellectual property of Anderson Associates Architects, Inc. If you want to build the same home a second time you must purchase the construction documents to build that plan. Substantial penalties can be imposed based on copyright infringement laws. Anderson reserves the right to enforce these rights under copyright infringement if a plan under a single license is attempted to be used for more than a single building site. Copyright law applies to every state. You are required to make a payment for each home you plan to build based on an Anderson design (stock plan, modified stock plan, or custom plan). For example, if you are a developer or builder and plan to build three homes based on one design, you will need to purchase a quantity of three designs

Are all of Anderson's plans on the website?

No. Anderson has an inventory of stock plans that date back to 1941. The website is a curated collection of our stock plans. Please continue to visit our site for updated plans or contact an Anderson Associate to discuss your design needs.

I have a question that is not answered in this FAQ?

We do our best to provide answers to the most common and frequently asked questions. We understand that you will have questions specific to your needs and we will do our best to answer them for you. Feel free to contact us via email or by phone. We will reply via email within 24-48 hours and we can reply by phone if you call during normal business hours.