Frequently Asked Questions
Can we modify a plan to meet special requirements?
What does it cost to build one of our plans?
Will our plans meet the special code requirements of your area?
What will you receive in our when you order one of our plans?
Are the plans we furnish stamped by an architect or engineer?
Are our plans designed for high roof snow loads of a particular area?
Do our plans come with a materials list?
Do our plans come with detailed instructions?
How many copies do you receive?
Do we have other plans not shown on this website?
How soon can you receive your plans?
Can plans be modified to meet special requirements?
Yes. We can make any modifications to our plans.
The cost for modifications depends on the quantity and complexity of the modifications. Many modified plans are priced between $500 and $900. Minor modifications are allowed to be made by the customer. We send a master drawing with each package to allow marked up plans. The user may move a window or add a door to a standard plan with little effort and no additional cost. We encourage customers to make many other simple modifications to save the cost of a custom plan. Many changes may be as easy as changing one number.
We have a money back Guarantee.
When you order one of our pre-designed plans, we guarantee that you will be able to use these documents to build your project or we will issue a full refund of the price of the plans. Study or use these plans for 3 full months and if they are not useful to you, return the complete unused package and your refund will be processed the very next day. There is no refund for custom plans because a custom plan requires labor to create, so the retainer is spent by the time the preliminary plans are provided to the customer.
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Cad Northwest will not share, rent, sell, or otherwise disclose any of your personal data. We value your privacy and security.
We do not store credit card or other payment information. We retain name and email addresses of those who have downloaded free plans. We use this information for periodic mailings. You can unsubscribe at any time. We retain contact information of those that have purchased plans.
We can be reached via email at cadnw@zzz.com or at Cad Northwest Custom Home Design, 22685 SW Conifer Dr., Sherwood, OR 97140, or you can contact us by telephone at (503) 625-6330. Please bring to our attention any instance where you feel these policies have been violated.
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What does it cost to build one of our plans?
The cost to build depends on many factors.
We have seen our garage plans constructed for between $35 and $65 per square foot of space not including rough storage space. Cabins and houses are between $80 and $125 per square foot of living space. The class of finish will influence the cost greatly as will added living space. We encourage you to use our Free Plan or purchase one that is closer to your requirements and present the plans to several builders for bids. That is the best way to determine finished cost.
We also encourage customers to shop for materials. We have had customers purchase an entire truss package for less than the cost to purchase the lumber to construct them.
What do you receive when you order a plan?
We send our Plan Package which includes the master drawing or drawings which are printed on 24″ x 36″ quality bond paper, a materials list (with most of the wood, concrete, and steel), beam calculations (not available in California), an invoice, an instruction sheet for use of the drawings and and a letter, all packaged in a 3″ x 3″ x 24″ cardboard box. The drawing has all the views required which includes all elevations, detailed floor plans at 1/4″ = 1´ scale, roof plan and foundation plans at 1/4″ = 1´, cross sections, electrical and miscellaneous details, and notes and specifications.
Shed plans are emailed to your Email address and you print them on your printer. A paper version of our shed plans is available for an additional cost.
Will our plans meet the special code requirements of your area and allow you to obtain a building permit?
We design to the national codes which are adopted in most states. We are currently complying with IRC 2015 prescriptive code for seismic D1 and below and a wind speed of 110 mph. The codes continually change and we are frequently updating the plans to insure compliance. A few states have created their own code requirements. California is the most difficult state in which to obtain a building permit. Many California counties are unique in their requirements. We have created two California code compliance packages and one Florida package designed to meet the latest California and Florida code requirements. Some areas in California and Florida require engineered plans. We do not provide engineering.
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Are the plans we furnish stamped by an architect or engineer?
No
We do not provide engineering. Some times your planning department will specify that the plans need to be stamped by a registered architect or structural engineer.
When they see the completeness of our plans and realize that we have conformed to the national prescriptive code they may decide that a stamp from an engineer is not required. There are a small number of areas that will require additional engineering by an engineer licensed in your state to obtain a permit. It will still be less expensive to purchase our plans and pay for additional engineering than to have plans prepared by an engineer or architect.
List of Engineers we have worked with Local Engineers
Are our plans designed for high roof snow loads of a particular area?
Yes and No
Our framed roof plans are generally designed for 30 pounds per square foot of live roof load. It requires a recalculation of all roof members to increase the live load for a framed roof garage plan. This will be a custom plan or additional engineering. Our truss roof plans will meet most increased live roof loads because the truss design is performed by the truss manufacturer to meet the individual live load requirement of your area. Many of our plans have both truss and framed version. This is indicated in the details of each plan.
Do our plans come with a materials list?
Yes.
A materials list is free and a standard part of each pre-designed plan package. There is no additional charge. Most plans have the materials list available right on the web page. The materials list details all major lumber, concrete, roofing, siding and steel brackets.It is missing nails, windows, doors, and other miscellaneous components. The purpose of the materials list is to allow a supplier to provide a cost of materials for planning purposes and to allow a basic materials package to be ordered. The actual materials with vary from the list due to individual builder practices, local area driven substitutions, or customer contingencies.
We do not warrant the accuracy of the materials list. And so you should verify the materials list before purchasing the materials.
Do our plans come with detailed instructions?
No. Our plans are suitable for a builder with some experience. Many first time builders have used our plans to successfully construct their building. The plans are meant to allow a building permit, to obtain bids from builders, and to build the garage. There are many do it your-self books that show step by step every phase of building a garage. We have not attempted to duplicate their information. Our drawings are the plan for the garage or building but not instructions for the technique.
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How many copies do you receive?
One.
We provide the master drawing on 24″ x 36″ vellum and permission to make as many copies as you need for your project. We do not charge for additional copies. Typically a copy will cost about $1.30 in your area. This also allows you to make minor changes to the plan before making copies. Your planning department may require one to five copies. You will want copies for contractors. Shed plans are Emailed and you print as many copies as you need.
Do we have other plans not shown on this website?
Yes.
We have a fraction of our total available plans shown on this site. Our other websites have cabin plans, carport plans, shed plans, tiny house plans, barn plans, shop plans and house plans. We are able to modify any of our plans to match your requirements for a reasonable cost and within your time frame.
Yes.
We provide AutoCad DWG files on request for an additional $99. This allows experienced drafters to make changes to our plans.
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Just call (503) 625-6330 and provide PayPal, Visa or MasterCard information. You can order online by clicking the “Order Now” button on the plan sales drawing. You may also send a check or money order to Cad Northwest at 22685 SW Conifer Dr. Sherwood OR 97140. Please include the plan number and your phone number, and return address.
How soon can you receive your plans?
We can send pre-designed plans out by priority mail the next working day. They take 3 to 5 days for mailing depending on your location. We can Email pre-designed plans in Adobe Acrobat format the same day. The Pdf files are formatted for 24″ x 36″ paper so that you will need to take them to a blueprint shop for printing. Custom garage plans require an average of three weeks to complete. Once ordered we will typically send an email with your preliminary plans in about a week and wait for feedback. Corrections may take a few days. Once approved by the customer the plans are mailed.
