Design Your Home Improvement Plans

Home Improvement Considerations

• Traffic Patterns:
  
  traffic should flow to one side of the
  room rather than through its center
  
  more traffic information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/room_design.htm
  
  
  
• Kitchen:
  
  location of the kitchen should have direct access to the dining area and garage where grocery items can be unloaded conveniently
  
  traffic should not flow through the kitchen working area
  
  larger kitchens have a greater resale value than smaller kitchens — you will want to design the working area with appliances in a triangular position for easy working
  
  more information on kitchen layout:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/kitchens_baths.htm
  
  see kitchen design basics:
  http://www.kitchen-bath.com
  
  see our kitchen design directory:
  home improvement center: kitchens
  
  
  
• Private Areas:
  
  bedrooms and bathrooms should be separated visually from the working areas of the house
  
  you should have at least one bathroom near working and relaxation areas and with easy access from the outside
  
  never situate bathrooms where you must pass through one room to get to the facilities
  
  it is almost a necessity (particularly in a resale) that the master bedroom has an attached master bathroom
  
  the master bathroom should be large, with full size bath, shower, his/her vanity sinks and exhaust vans that vent to the outside
  
  see bathroom design basics:
  http://www.kitchen-bath.com
  
  see our bathroom design directory:
  home improvement center: bathrooms
  
  
  
• Living Areas:
  
  living areas include the dining room, living/family room, and den
  
  designs may vary with rooms segmented by walls or merged into a larger, multi-purpose room with boundaries such as pillars segmented one room from the other
  
  see our main-floor design directory:
  home improvement center: main floor
  
  
  
• Energy Efficiency:
  
  there are some great energy efficient products on the market that can reduce your energy costs and keep you more comfortable
  
  the government has published materials on energy efficient homes:
  elements of an energy efficient home
  home energy advisor
  energy information for your home
  
  see our energy design directory:
  home improvement center: attic floor
  
  
  
• Foundations:
  
  poured concrete is the most expensive foundation and best choice for full basements because of its strength and resistance to leaks
  
  cinder block is a substitute to concrete, but is not as strong and is subject to leakage
  
  monolithic con create slaps are used with homes without basements bringing the cost and implementation down
  
  more structural information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/structural.htm
  
  
  
• Plumbing/Electrical:
  
  plumbing information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/plumbing.htm
  
  

  Plumbing Projects:

  • plumbing repair page
  • plumbing forums
  • plumbing doctor
  
  
  electrical information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/electrical.htm
  
  

  Guides: Electrical and Lighting

  • the "basics" of home wiring
  • how to install - repair home wiring
    
    
    
• Room Dimensions:
  
  bedroom: not less than 7 feet in any direction
  closets: depth at 24 inches or more
  hallways: minimum width 3 feet
  dining room: big enough for 8-person dining table
  kitchen: work aisle at least 42 inches wide
  
  more room dimension information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/room_design.htm

Designing Your Home Improvement Plan

1. Design Objective:
   let's begin with the design objective. What are you looking to accomplish in your home remodeling?
   
   — newer kitchen
   — room addition
   — greater size dimension
   — working office environment
   — other?___________________
   
   link to our Home Improvement directory for ideas and product trends:
   
   Select a Room... • Kitchen • Dining Room • Living Room • Family Room • Rec Room • Den/Study • Sun Room • Entry • Bathroom • Master Bedroom • Child Bedroom • Teen Bedroom • Nursery • Home Office • Exercise Room • Play Room • Laundry Room • Closet/Storage • Outside • Attic • Basement • Exterior Home • All Other Rooms
   
   
   also link to our directory of design galleries for pictorial views:
   link to design gallery
   
   
   
   
2. Sketch Your Plan:
   Complete a simple sketch of your remodeling plans. Don't get bogged down with details. That will come later when working with an architect or designer.
   
   You may want to view some house plans to get some ideas of what's new. This will be the best place to begin your search:
   http://www.searchhouseplans.com
   
   
   You can use software to sketch design ideas:
   
   Drawing Software:
   http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/floorplans.asp?
   
   Punch! Professional Home Design:
   http://www.punchsoftware.com/
   Punch! user and support group:
   http://www.punch-alternatives.com
   
   Other home design recommendations from b4ubuild.com:
   http://www.b4ubuild.com/links/cadd.shtml
   
   
   
   
3. View Plans:
   if you are looking for a simple project, you might be able to buy stock remodeling plans from more than 100 leading residential designers for every size-style-budget. Select the size of home plan you would like to view:
   

   Minimum Sq. 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 3000 3250 3500 3750 4000 4250 4500 4750 5000 Maximum Sq. 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 3000 3250 3500 3750 4000 4250 4500 4750 5000 5250 5500 5750 6000
   Advanced Search

   you might as check our directory of house plan sites to get an idea of some latest trends in new home construction
   
   these plans can be used when meeting with an architect or designer to custom design your own plan
   
   link for house plans views
   
   
   
   

4. Develop Project Specification Plan:
   you will use this plan to discuss your home improvement project with an architect or designer
   
   download project specification plan
   
   
   
   
5. Meet with an Architect:
   you are now ready to meet with an architect with your design objective clearly defined
   
   The architect will use your project specficiation plan, current home layout, and your design ideas to tailor a plan that can be used to bid for contractors, obtain financing, and begin the project.
   
   search architects below

Search Architects / Designers

or use the local Yellow Pages to search architects:
search home architect

Other Places to Look:

Use an online architect:
http://www.virtualarchitect.com
Design, Review, & Repair Architectural Services:
http://www.beforethearchitect.com
Another online directory for architects:
http://www.architectsusa.com

Use a draftsman to modify an existing plan — less expensive:
http://www.servicemagic.com
search yellow pages:
search for drafting services