Frequently Asked Questions
All you need to know about our self build house designs.
Can I make changes to your designs?
Yes, of course. We understand that every client may wish to customise their preferred design – whether that means simply changing the external materials (from brick to stone, or cladding, for example) or something more complex. We regularly amend designs to suit customer requirements, and are happy to discuss any changes with you before you commit to a particular house design.
How do I make changes to a design once I’ve chosen which one I want?
Purchase the design you like and add your requested amendments during the checkout process, or contact us with to discuss your required alterations beforehand. We will also personalise the plans with your details. We offer free amendments for non-structural changes such as the relocation of doors, windows, internal walls etc. under our ‘Free Amendments’ promotion (more information here). If in doubt, or for a no-obligation quote, please contact us before purchasing.
Why should I use your ready-made house plans instead of hiring a local architect?
All of our plans have previously been drawn up for private clients and submitted with planning applications. You benefit by not paying for our designers to start from scratch – it’s much quicker, and therefore cheaper, for us to amend an existing design than reinvent the wheel.
What do other people think of your designs?
We are proud that we have so many satisfied customers, dating back to 2008. You can read testimonials from some of them here, or check out our Trustpilot reviews here.
What’s included in your Full Planning Application package?
You get a full set of house plans, consisting of elevations, floor plans and section drawings, in PDF format. The plans are drawn to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 on A3 paper for easy printing. The house plans cover everything the planners will need to know about the design – you just need to add site and location plans. Click here for a sample of what our house plans include.
Can I make further copies of the plans?
Yes. The plans are supplied in electronic format so you may print as many copies as you wish. Please note that you may only use your purchased plans for one project unless agreed otherwise in writing, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.
What does the ‘internal area’ measurement cover?
This is the habitable space within the house, so will include all bedrooms, living areas, kitchen, dining room etc. but will not include garages, porches and the like.
What if I change my mind or am dissatisfied with my plans?
You can access and Refunds & Returns policy here.
Who owns copyright of the design?
Houseplansdirect retains copyright for all of our self build house designs at all times, and our work may not be reproduced or distributed without prior permission. Each purchase entitles the customer to construct one single dwelling using the plans provided. Should you wish to construct more than one dwelling of the same design, please contact us first.
How can I work out the cost of building a specific design?
We have provided estimated building costs here which show variations by UK region and internal area. These figures are provided by PropertyData and are updated constantly. We can also recommend independent estimators should you wish to go into greater depth – see our Links page for further information.
Do the downloadable plans include everything needed to build the house?
Unfortunately, we can’t offer off-the-shelf plans for Building Regulations applications, as at this stage the package of drawings and documents have to be site specific, and the regulations will vary depending on which UK nation you are building in. We do, however, offer a fixed price service to help you satisfy Building Control – click here to find out more.