what you need to do —

Step 1: start your spec planning by defining your style

• first, download our construction specification sheet
  
  use it to define your construction specs and building ideas as your move through this site. The spec sheet will be used by your builder to bid and design the construction project
  
  view more information about spec planning
  
  
• the construction specification sheet begins by noting the type and style of your home:
  — colonial
  — english tudor
  — cape cod, etc.
  
  link to our home styles for ideas
  
  
• your style will define the number of floors:
  — one-story
  — two-story, etc.

  review our library of house plans for ideas

• will there be a basement?
  what are the ceiling heights on each floor?
  
  
• what type of closets for the bedrooms and other:
  — walk-in
  — standard
  — other

Step 2: identify your rooms

• depending on the number of floors, your next task is to identify the rooms that will make-up each floor

• you will have a kitchen, dining room, master bedroom, master bathroom, laundry room, etc.
  
  perhaps your would like to add a breakfast nook, sun room, rec room, etc.
  
  view some house plans for ideas: click here
  
  or quickly link to our Home Building Gallery for a view of a floor layout. Link to "upstairs", "main floor", and other for a review
  
  
• use the construction specification sheet (page 3) to list your rooms by floor
  
  note any finished our unfinished room additions for the attic and basement areas

Step 3: arrange your rooms

• how would your like to arrange your rooms?
  the construction specification sheet (page 4) has a worksheet to complete this exercise
  
  
• the idea is to identify your primary adjacencies — rooms that must be adjacent:

  • master bedroom / master bathroom
  • kitchen and dining room
  • mud room, garage or outside entry
  • etc.

• identify those rooms that should not be adjacent:

  • master bedroom and child's room
  • kitchen and den / library
  • bathroom and foyer

• that leads to secondary adjacencies that basically connect the whole floor:

  • living room and dining room
  • master bathroom and laundry room
  • kitchen and sun room

Step 4: size your rooms

• what are the size dimensions for each room?
  
  the construction specification sheet lists sample sizes for possible rooms
  
  Size A     Size B    Size C
  select the size desired (or specify your custom dimension) and enter the calculated square footage for each room (width times length)
  use our online footage calculator to calculate
  
  
• note that you will calculate dimensions for the interior finished area, other finished our unfinished areas, and exterior home area

  these size dimensions allow the architect to customize or find a house plan that meets your dimension specifications

• total your calculated square footage for each area

  note that for the interior finished area, you will need to add 20% to your subtotal for circulation secondary areas (for wiring, plumbing, venting, etc.)

  *your square footage can vary depending on your overall layout
  

• your total square footage will give you an estimated size requirement for your house
  
  you can then use these dimensions to:
  
  — search house plans: see plans
  — estimate your construction costs: view tools
  — work with an architect: find an architect

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