While we do not modify the plans available on this site, it does not mean modifications cannot be made. Sometimes, minor changes, such as moving a window or door, can be made at the jobsite with the help of your contractor or builder. Be sure to discuss your changes with them before construction begins.

For more extensive changes such as adding square footage, we suggest taking the plans to a local design professional for assistance. Reproducible masters are available for all plans on this website and CAD files are available for many. Both of these are helpful tools your design professional can use when making modifications to your blueprints. Be sure to discuss your changes with the design professional before ordering your plans and ask what types of plans he or she prefers to work with. For more information, please read, Modifying Garage Plans.

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These plans include almost everything you need to obtain a building permit. Your general contractor will be able to assist you with the additional material that needs to be gathered and submitted for permits. If you are serving as your own general contractor we suggest you contact the Department of Public Works in the city or county in which you wish to build. They will be able to provide you with a list of what they require in addition to the architectural drawings (blueprints).

Examples of other items necessary for a permit application would be a site plan, septic system design (unless on city sewer), pre-engineered roof truss diagrams, mechanical layout for heating and cooling system and installation instructions from manufacturer for a pre-fabricated fireplace if applicable. There may be additional items necessary. Again, consult with your Department of Public Works.

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We calculate the living or finished square footage of our garage apartments and carriage house plans by determining the total heated area contained within the exterior walls, including the wall thickness. This does not include the thickness of brick veneer if the exterior finish of structure requires brick. It also does not include unfinished spaces such as garages and porches.

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The room dimensions given in each room are rounded to the nearest inch. As you will see on some of the designs with open floor plans it is difficult to give exact room dimensions because there may not be natural starting and stopping points. An example of this may be a two-car garage that opens to a storage space on the side. Exact dimensions are only given on the actual construction drawings.

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Unfortunately, the plans cannot be returned once they have been purchased. The reason for this is that with today's technology the plans can be easily copied, which is illegal. Please be certain of your selection before purchasing the plans.

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Unfortunately, we cannot email plans to you even if you have purchased CAD files. We have tried this previously and have been met with claims the email and/or attachment did not come through. If you order an electronic CAD file, you will receive the plans on a CD or DVD.

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Our material lists are intended to be a guide for you during the construction of your new garage, shed or other building. We are confident in the accuracy and completeness of our material lists, however due to variations in building practices and differing code requirements found throughout the country, exact material quantities cannot be guaranteed. Our material lists include the wall framing, roof system, exterior doors and windows, exterior finish and trim, electrical and guttering. For designs with finished living space like our carriage houses, they also include the floor framing system, drywall, insulation, bath cabinets and accessories, bath fixtures, interior doors, hardware and trim, kitchen cabinets and accessories, flooring, fireplaces and interior wall finish when applicable. Our material lists do not include rough plumbing, heating and air conditioning, foundation materials and appliances.

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Each set of drawings includes enough information to construct the shed or garage. The drawings will include a foundation plan, floor plan(s), exterior elevations, roof plan, electrical plan, wall sections and other related details pertinent to a particular design. For garage plans with lofts or finished space, construction drawings may also include cabinet elevations, cross sections and a typical stair detail when applicable. These plans are not designed to provide step-by-step building directions. There is a certain assumption the work will be done by those with some construction knowledge and experience.

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Depending on the scope of the project and the number of people/tradesmen working on it, you will need a minimum of three sets of blueprints. Ask your local building department how many sets of plans are required to obtain a building permit. To that, add one set for each contractor or subcontractor working on your shed or garage. If you are getting a loan for your project, also check with your lender to find out how many sets of plans, if any, they require. Also, it is a good idea to have your own set of plans to serve as a reference during construction. Additional sets of blueprints can be ordered if needed (for one project) if ordered with 90 days of the original order.

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The study set is available to help you determine whether or not you can afford to build a particular project. Another way is to interview local general contractors to see what the average cost per square foot is to build a given design. Keep in mind they will only be able to provide approximate costs without fully analyzing the construction drawings.

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We do not have the addresses of where our sheds or garages have been built. When we receive orders we only receive billing and shipping addresses. Therefore, we are not able to give locations of where our garages and other designs have been built. We make every attempt to get photographs of our projects so we can display them on our website for our customers to view.

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These plans are copyright protected and cannot be legally copied without the expressed written consent of the designer. Remember, making illegal copies of any blueprint is considered copyright infringement, punishable by law in the form of a fine.

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You are only allowed to build one structure from these plans. In some cases, a multi-use and/or unlimited-use license is available for purchase. Review the information under each plan to see if a multi-use license is available.

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The license to these plans cannot be transferred to anyone.

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The drawings will not be sealed by an architect or engineer. In some instances, building officials require the drawings to be reviewed and sealed by a professional architect or engineer licensed in the state in which the structure is to be built. In this case you would need to take the drawings to somebody locally to have them sealed. A copyright release is available for such instances.

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We offer a variety of shipping options for our blueprints to accommodate your needs. Orders placed before 11:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) will ship that day. If your order is placed after 11:00 a.m. CST, it will not ship until the next business day. Our shipping schedule is as follows:

Express Shipping: 1-2 business days
Priority Shipping: 3-5 business days
Ground Shipping: 8-10 business days

Canada Express Shipping: 3-5 business days
Canada Ground Shipping: 10-12 business days

If your order must be shipped outside the United States and Canada, please call for a shipping quote and estimated shipping time.

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A reproducible master is a complete set of construction drawings typically printed on erasable paper such as mylar, sepia or vellum. They are offered for those who would like to make simple changes to their plans. This option allows you to work with your builder or a local residential designer to make the necessary changes to your blueprints without investing great amounts of time and money to redraw the entire plan. Once your changes are completed, you can make all the necessary copies you will need for the construction of your new home or garage. Not all designers offer this option, so check for availability. A copyright release is included with a reproducible master giving you permission to legally make changes to the copyrighted construction drawing and then make the copies you will need for building. You will need to take the copyright release with you when you take the blueprints to a copy shop. The copyright release does not give you the right to build the home more than once with the same set of construction drawings. (Note: Some designers print reproducible masters on bond paper, and it is necessary to use White Out to make changes. The house plans will come with a copyright release.)

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At the time blueprints are drawn, each designer puts great care into ensuring the construction drawings conform to national building codes. However, this does not mean they will meet all local building codes. Each city, county, municipality, etc. has its own set of building codes consisting of zoning requirements and other regulations that are best suited for that particular area. Be sure to check with your local building official to determine what is required for the area where you plan to build. It may be necessary to work with your builder, a local residential designer or another building official to modify the blueprints for code compliance in your specific area. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering codes such as the Northern areas with snow load requirements, hurricane-prone areas of the Golf Coast and parts of California that are in a high-risk zone for earthquakes. If you are building in these areas, it will be advantageous to higher a local engineer to review your plans and provide any additional drawings or calculations required by your building department. Along with the blueprints, your local building official may require a site plan, septic system design (if your property is not served by a county sewer system) and energy codes. If you are not sure if you will need to hire an engineer or supply the other items along with your construction drawings, contact your local building department. They can provide a list of all the required items needed to obtain a building permit.

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