When planning to build, it’s essential to ensure your house plans comply with local requirements and site conditions. Every site varies in soil conditions, topography, and environmental loads like wind, snow, and seismic activity. Therefore, all online house plans should be reviewed by a structural engineer to optimize for these local design conditions and regulatory requirements.
Types of House Plan Engineering
Structural Engineering (typically $0.75-1.50/SF):
Structural engineering is vital for every custom home. A structural engineer will design your foundation, floor framing, roof framing, wall bracing, load paths, and window/door headers. They'll create a structural framing plan with detailed construction information such as stepped foundations and nailing patterns. Truss engineering is usually provided by the truss manufacturer as part of their cost package.
Geotechnical Engineering ($ cost varies based on site):
Though less common, geotechnical engineering is necessary for sites with abnormal soil conditions. A geotechnical engineer will evaluate your site’s soil composition and bearing capacity, especially on sloped or challenging lots. Their findings will inform the structural engineer’s foundation design. Consult your structural engineer or local building department to determine if this is required for your project.
Finding an Engineer
To make it easy, we have partnered with StructuralPlans ( www.structuralplans.com ) where you can order your structural engineering online and get it completed in just a few weeks. (note: we have no financial relationship).
Alternatively, your general contractor can provide recommendations based on their experience.
Turnaround Time
Engineering typically takes 2-8 weeks, with most of this being waiting time. The actual engineering process usually takes only a few days. We advise contracting your engineer early to secure a spot in their queue.