1. How do I view the rear
elevation of a home?
2. How do I make changes to a plan?
3. What is reproducible vellum and how are changes made?
4. What if the foundation I need is not available for the plan I selected?
5. What is included in a set of your house plans?
6. Will this plan meet my local building codes?
7. Can I get the plans with an architectural or engineering seal for
my local area?
8. Do your plans provide all of the information necessary for the HVAC,
plumbing, and electrical systems?
9. How is the living square footage calculated?
10. Can I build a Sunterra home design with insulated concrete forms
(ICF)?
11. Can structural insulated panels (SIP) construction be used or adapted
to a Sunterra plan?
12. Is it possible to purchase the plans in CADD form?
13. What does your Energy Conservation Guide cost?
14. How do I know if I can afford to build this home?
15. Can I get an address where this plan has been built, so I can see
the finished home?
16. Can I order plans in reverse?
17. How many sets of house plans will I need?
18. Do you sell “Study Plans” or “Study Sets”?
19. How do I place an order?
20. How can I pay for my purchase?
21. When and how will my plans be shipped?
22. Is rush service available?
23. What is your return policy?
24. How do I contact you?
1. How do I view the rear elevation
of a home?
For plans that do not have the rear elevation on our website, please
contact us and we will email, fax, or mail a rendering or image of the
rear elevation to you if one is available.
2. How do
I make changes to a plan?
If you want to change the plan you have 2 options:
a. You can purchase the “reproducible media package” for
you plan and have someone in your local area make the changes for you.
What the local market charges for this service will vary, so you will
want to shop around. In many cases you builder can make the changes you
want without having to go to the expense of having the original drawings
redrawn.
b. If the changes are extensive, we offer a designer co-op program. You
can find information about this HERE.
3. What
is reproducible vellum and how are changes made?
Reproducible vellums are ideal if you intend to make minor changes to
the plan. They allow qualified architects and engineers to modify the
design without having to completely redraw the plan.
You may use one of the following items
to remove the image from the vellum paper (these can be purchased
at a blueprint/drafting supply store):
a. Xerographic eradicator fluid such as Michlin film eradicating fluid
applied per manufacturer directions.
b. A dark grey ink eraser in an electric eraser.
4. What
if the foundation I need is not available for the plan
I selected?
First check with your builder, most builders can make this type of change
on the building site. If you need a particular foundation specified in
your area, you may need an engineer, architect, or designer to draw a
foundation plan to replace the one that is supplied with our plans.
5. What
is included in a set of your house plans?
Each set of plans that we offer will provide you with the necessary information
to build the home. There may be some adjustments necessary to the plans
in order to comply with your state or county building codes. The following
list shows what is included within each set of plans that we sell. Depending
on the plan chosen there might be more building information provided.
All site plans must be generated by you or your builder being specific
for your property.
Our blueprints include:
a. Exterior Elevations: Shows the front, rear, and side of the house
including exterior materials, details, and measurements.
b. Foundation Plan: Shows a basement, crawlspace, or slab depending on
what is available for the plan. The foundation plan details the layout
and construction of the foundation. Designed for 1,500 lbs per square
feet soil loading.
c. Detailed Floor Plans: Shows the placement of walls and the dimensions
for rooms, doors, windows, stairways, etc. for each level of the house.
d. Roof Layout: Shows the pitch and layout of the roof assembly.
e. Cross Sections: Shows details of the house as if it were sliced from
the roof to the foundation. The cross sections detail the construction
of the home.
f. Electrical Schematic: Shows the location of fixtures and switches.
It may be shown as a separate sheet or be included on the floor plan.
Electrical plan is typically not required to obtain a building permit
and can be created by your electrical contractor, so a few designs may
not include the electrical layout.
g. Additional: Most of our plans include an energy recovery ventilation
design and many include a radiant floor heating layout.
h. Conservation Guide: Provides instructions and information about any
combinations of the following: structural specifications, excavating,
and thermal and moisture protection.
Conservation Guide Table of Contents
Due to regional variations it is impossible
to include much detail about heating, plumbing, and electrical
work. Duct work, venting, and other details vary depending
on the type of HVAC system and the type of energy used. These
details and specifications are easily obtained from your
builder, contractor, or local supplier. Also not included
is a material list. This varies depending on the type of
wall construction you choose as illustrated in your Conservation
Guide CD included.
6. Will
this plan meet my local building codes?
Many states, counties, cities, and subdivisions have their own set of
codes and regulations that they have determined work best for their area.
Since stock plans are sold throughout the country, they meet national
codes at the time they are designed. You may need to take the plans to
a local architect or designer to bring the plan up to your local codes.
It is also possible that you will need to hire a local engineer to analyze
the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required
by your building department. If you aren’t sure what is needed
it is best to contact your building department to see what provisions
they have imposed in order to obtain a building permit. Most of our plans
are designed for Central Oregon conditions such as: 80 mph wind and 25
lb per square feet snow load.
7. Can I
get the plans with an architectural or engineering seal
for my local area?
Some cities and states now require a licensed architect or engineer to
review and “seal” a blueprint, or officially approve it prior
to construction due to concerns over energy costs, safety, and other
factors. Prior to application for a building permit or the start of actual
construction, we strongly advise that you consult your local building
official who can tell you if such a review is required. If a seal is
required, you will have to find a local architect or engineer to perform
this function for you.
8. Do your
plans provide all of the information necessary for the
HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems?
Specific HVAC, plumbing, and electrical information is not shown on the
blueprints. HVAC system information regarding location units, what types
of units are used, and the mechanical and final electrical layout are
determined by local building codes and your preference of heating and
cooling system. Also, we don’t know which direction the water flow
will enter your house or where the electrical feed will enter. Determining
the location and the type of these systems you install in your new home
is something you would discuss with your local builder or local subcontractors.
They should be able to provide you with the necessary information based
on what your local building codes will allow.
9. How is
the living square footage calculated?
Generally, square footage calculations are made from outside the exterior
frame wall and do not include decks, porches, garages, basements, attics,
and bonus rooms. We include two story and vaulted areas only once in
the calculations of the first floor. Stairs are counted once. Balconies
and open walkways in two story and vaulted areas are included in square
footage. This is generally true for all plans.
10. Can
I build a Sunterra home design with insulated concrete
forms (ICF)?
Insulated concrete form construction is a Sunterra approved method of
building a home shell. Each time we have produced a cost estimate of
our projects with insulated concrete form construction compared with
advanced 2 x 6 framing and foam insulation, our clients have all chosen
the 2 x 6 advanced framing method and foam insulation for the following
reasons:
a. Insulated concrete form construction cost $6.00 to $8.00 more per
square foot of home floor area versus our preferred method.
b. ICF reduced the interior volume of the home because of the wall thickness
required, which also increases cost per square foot of usable space.
c. The insulation value is less than we recommend when needed in the
cooler regions during the coldest time of the year.
11. Can
structural insulated panels (SIP) construction be used
or adapted to a Sunterra plan?
Several of our home designs have been built with SIP construction. We
design in 24” modules which help reduce the cost of SIP construction.
We also illustrate in our “Energy
Conservation Guide” the advanced framing method with
structural urethane spray foam. This allows you to not change
standard construction methods and to acquire the added structural
strength and insulation value.
Both of these construction methods are
highly recommended by Sunterra Homes, Inc.
12. Is
it possible to purchase the plans in CADD form?
We do not offer our designs in CADD format. There are too many different
programs resulting in incompatibility problems.
13. What does your “Energy Conservation
Guide” cost?
Our energy conservation guide can be purchased for $99.00. This guide
was composed, so you have the same information to build you new home
as we offer our local customers and the design and construction methods
that achieved us our national and local awards.
14. How
do I know if I can afford to build this home?
The cost of building a home varies, depending on where you build, the
cost of materials in your area, how you finish the home, and who you
hire to build the home. Because of all the variances involved, we cannot
tell you how much it will cost to build a specific house plan. We recommend
you research the cost of construction in your area and feel comfortable
in proceeding before you purchase a plan. We believe a Sunterra home
is your best value.
15. Can
I get an address where this plan has been built, so I can
see the finished home?
There are several reasons why we cannot give out this information. First
and foremost, is to protect the privacy of our customers. All of our
customers’ personal information (including yours) is held in strictest
confidence. Secondly, when you place an order with us; we collect your
billing and shipping addresses – not the address where the home
may be built. For the homes we still have access to, we have provided
virtual tours of these existing homes on our website.
16. Can
I order plans in reverse?
Yes, when a plan is printed in reverse, the text also is printed in reverse;
this is called a Mirror Reverse. When ordering a mirrored reverse plan,
you need to order at least one set of the blueprints in non-reverse (so
that the text is easy to read). To reduce the chances of confusion, the
non-reversed blueprints should have the words “Build in Reverse” clearly
written on every page of the blueprints.
Reproducible media cannot be ordered in
mirror reverse format. If you order a reproducible media
for a plan and want to print the plan in mirror reverse,
you simply turn the master plan upside down while running
it through a blueprinting machine. This will cause the blueprints
to be printed in mirror reverse.
17. How many sets of house
plans will I need?
Besides a set for yourself, you may need to turn a set in to your builder,
subcontractors, mortgage lender, and local building departments. We provide
a deluxe package with 8 sets of plans. This package is good for those
that are going to build the home as is with little modification. If modification
to our design is required, refer to our Designer Co-op Program.
18. Do
you sell “Study Plans” or Study Sets”?
We don’t offer “study plans”. We are more than happy
to answer any specific questions that you may have in hopes to help you
with the selection process before ordering a full set of plans.
19. How
do I place my order?
There are three easy ways to order:
a. Us our secure online shopping cart, Pay Pal.
b. Phone us at (541) 389-4733, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. – 3
p.m. Pacific time.
c. Mail us your order at Sunterra Homes, Inc., PO Box 5278, Bend OR 97708.
20. How
can I pay for my purchase?
We accept MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and checks for orders placed
via our shopping cart or checks only by telephone or mail orders. For
telephone and mail orders please pay via cashier’s check or money
order (payable to Sunterra Homes, Inc.).
21. When
and how will my plans be shipped?
We require 3 business days to process orders. For US orders, we have
UPS shipping to a customer’s physical address or the United States
Post Office for PO boxes. Both delivery services take approximately 5 – 7
business days for $18.00, which is already factored into the plan package
cost. All Energy Conservation Guide CDs will be mailed through the United
States Post Office.
22. Is
RUSH service available?
Yes. Telephone orders for in-stock items can be shipped the next day.
Delivery is via UPS 2-Day service (US deliveries only). The cost is $25.00
plus our normal $18.00 shipping cost.
23. What
is your return policy?
All construction plans ordered are provided as is. Sunterra Homes, Inc.
disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including merchantability
or fitness of purpose. Construction plans may not be returned for credit
and/or refund under any circumstances. Sunterra Homes, Inc. is not liable
for incidental, special, consequential, or indirect damages of any kind,
including, but not limited to, loss of anticipated profits, business
opportunity or other economic loss arising out of the use of services
or any construction plans received from Sunterra Homes, Inc., even if
Sunterra Homes, Inc. has been advised of the possibility of such damage.
It is the customer’s responsibility
to ensure the accuracy, compliance with applicable statue(s)
or regulation(s), and fitness of purpose of any plans or
construction information received from Sunterra Homes, Inc.
prior to the use thereof. In the event that any liability
is imposed on Sunterra Homes, Inc.’s liability to you
or any third party shall not exceed the price paid for the
Sunterra Homes, Inc. house plan product.
24. How do I contact you?
Sunterra Homes, Inc. is committed to providing the highest level of customer
service. Please feel free to contact us with
any questions or comments. Check HERE for our
latest contact info.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1 Introduction Page 1
2.1 Design Concepts Page 2
2.2 Building Shape Page 2
2.3 Building Orientation Page 2
2.4 Room Location Page 3
2.5 Use of Space Page 3
2.6 Window Placement Page 4
2.7 Earth Sheltering Page 4
3.1 Home Placement page 5
4.1 Heat Cost Ratings Pages 6-7
5.1 Recommended Conservation Package Page 8
6.1 Financing Efficient Homes Page 9
7.1 Excavation Page 10
8.1 Concrete Footings Page 11
9.1 Foundation Walls Page 12
9.2 Concrete Slab Floors Pages 12-13
9.3 Crawl Space Page 13
10.1 Basement Walls Page 14
10.2 Concrete Foundation Walls Page 14
10.3 Insulated Concrete Forms Page 15
10.4 Permanent Wood Foundations Page 16
11.1 Concrete Floors – General Page 17
11.2 Slab Above Grade Page 17
11.3 Slab Below Grade Page 17
12.1 Framing General Pages 18-19
12.2 Wall Construction Pages 20-24
12.3 Strapped Wall Construction Pages 25-26
12.4 Structural Insulated Panels Page 26
12.5 Insulated Concrete Forms Page 26
13.1 Air Sealing – General Pages 27-30
13.2 Air Sealing – Single Wall Construction Pages 30-32
13.3 Air Sealing – Strapped Wall Construction Pages 32-33
13.4 Air Sealing – Structural Insulated Panels Page 33
13.5 Air Sealing – Insulated Concrete Forms Page 33
14.1 Insulation – General Pages 34-35
14.2 Insulation – Floors Pages 35-37
14.3 Insulation – Walls Pages 38-41
14.4 Insulation – Ceiling Pages 41-44
15.1 Window and Door Selection Pages 45-48
16.1 Window and Door Installation Page 49
17.1 Skylights Page 49
18.1 Roofing and Siding Page 50
19.1 Ventilation Page 51
19.2 Heat Recovery Ventilators Pages 52-53
19.3 Energy Recovery Ventilators Pages 53-54
20.1 Heating and Air Conditioning Page 55
20.2 Electrical Zonal Page 55
20.3 Central Forced Air Page 56
20.4 Conventional Hydronic Page 57
20.5 Floor Radiant Heating Pages57-58
20.6 Wood or Gas Stove and Fireplace Considerations Page 59
21.1 Plumbing Checks Page 60
22.1 Electrical Checks Page 61
23.1 Alternative Energy Systems Page 61
23.2 Passive Solar Heating and Cooling Pages 62-65
23.3 Air-To-Air Heat Pumps Pages 65-66
23.4 Air-To-Water Heat Pump Page 66
23.5 Water and Ground Source Heat Pumps Pages 67-68
23.6 Active Solar Pages 69-71
24.1 Electric Off-Peak Utility Option Page 71
25.1 Landscaping Page 72-73
CONCLUSION Page 73
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