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Do I really 'need' plans

DanIndiana

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Apr 17, 2014
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I may be naïve, and I realize pans would be best, but it doesn't seem too complex.

It's a simple 26' x 42' rectangle, one level, trusses, 3 evenly spaced overhead doors. One window on each wall.

Can't I just draw out each wall with accurate measurements, height, width, headers, openings, etc. and go from there?
 
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DanIndiana

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Yeah, I guess I'm thinking there must be more to it. I do have a rough drawing I did with a pencil. We were issued a permit with it. 3 of 4 walls are basically all studs, except for one window in the center. I think I couldn't screw it up too bad.
 

readhead

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When the inspector comes out they will expect to see what is on the plan. Are you thinking of changing things? I'm not sure now if I understand your original question.
 

John in OH

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I may be naïve, and I realize pans would be best, but it doesn't seem too complex.

It's a simple 26' x 42' rectangle, one level, trusses, 3 evenly spaced overhead doors. One window on each wall.

Can't I just draw out each wall with accurate measurements, height, width, headers, openings, etc. and go from there?

General disclaimer ... everything depends on what your local building dept. requires. Since you don't give a location (usually in your personal info) and you don't even describe if it will be a pole barn or masonry foundation, no one can give you a specific answer. However, here's my $0.02 worth!

I live in a very rural county in VA and, even here, we have a building dept. that wants to approve all plans before a permit is issued ... even for a simple pole barn. But, good, hand-drawn plans are acceptable.

Generally, they want details assuring them that you are building a "quality" structure. (Of course, the permitting process also gets the new building on the tax rolls ASAP!!) Let's assume you are planning on building a pole barn ....
in addition to general layout, they want to see:

1) Depth of poles in ground an size (diameter & thickness) of concrete pad at bottom of poles.
2) Size of poles and spacing.
3) Grade around building base and how roof runoff will be handled.
4) Concrete floor pitch, thickness and expansion joints.
5) Size and spacing of girts.
6) Size and location of O/H doors. Particularly, if O/H doors are on load-bearing walls, what size of headers or LVLs. Sometimes this sizing will need input from a builder or from the building dept.
7) Window finish details. For instance, are you using Flexwrap at bottom portion of windows and self-adhesive flashing around window openings?
8) Siding material details at bottom of siding (rodent seal? Z-flashing, etc.)
9) Siding/wall detail at top (how are you closing up spaces between trusses?) Are you using OSB under siding? Will you be wrapping the building in Tyvek?
10) Certified truss drawings from truss manufacturer; truss spacing; purlin size and spacing. Hurricane clips?
11) Detail of facia, soffets, drip edge, ice guard, gutter size, roofing felt, shingles, etc. If steel roof, will there be reflective insulation layer under steel?
12) Ridge vent or spot roof vents?
13) If you are going to insulate and drywall, they may want to see insulation R value and sheetrock thicknesses planned.

This is just sort of a "typical" list details my local building dept. wants to see prior to issuing the permit. I've also found that if you are having the building built by a local builder with a good reputation, they will let a lot of these details slide as they have confidence in his work.

So, even a "simple" rectangular building usually has a number of details that need to be identified on plans. When they do the inspections, "sometimes" they will actually have your plans with them and will do a check to see if you are following them.

Your mileage may vary in your locale!! Good luck!!
 

Kevin54

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What the building department is looking for is how the foundation is going to be for the first thing. I've built garages in my hometown, and where we live now, and did all of the drawings myself, plus the layout for our family room.

If you have a footer and block foundation, they want to see the plans for a footer and block foundation to make sure you are going deep enough, and how many courses of block you are going to have.

As far as the walls, you do not need a lot of detail with every single dimension, but they like to see the basics as far as stud distance from each stud, and they want to see details as to the doors and windows, and how you are planning on framing them in. The truss details, you can get that from the place you order your trusses, or if you are building rafters, they would like to see a rafter detail.

For a simple garage, most places that I am familiar with do not require thousand dollar architectural plans, but they want to see how things are going to be built to make sure that you are within code.

Once you submit your drawing(s), it may take a day, a week, or longer to get approved, and once approved, it may have some markups on it. It could be something as simple as you need to go 8" deeper for a footer.

Once you get approved, then if you are going with footers, some places may want to come out and inspect the footer depth before and concrete is poured. After it poured, and a block or stem wall put up, they may want to check the foundation itself to make sure it is going as planned.

Then once the structure is up, they may want to inspect it to make sure that everything is according to code. When I built my garage a few years back, things were a little more lax than today. I submitted my drawings, got approved, and they didn't need to check it until it was all the way up. Today they are a little more strict, but still not bad to deal with. As long as you are straight and upfront with them, most will also treat you with respect and help you out.

Good luck, and make sure you keep up with a build thread on here. :thumbup:
 
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DanIndiana

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Thanks for the input. I guess I was really asking if I needed plans for myself as I'm building. I think the only stuff I need to come up with is the framing detail of the openings.
 

Kevin54

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Thanks for the input. I guess I was really asking if I needed plans for myself as I'm building. I think the only stuff I need to come up with is the framing detail of the openings.

You will also have to have a drawing of the foundation, whether it be a floating slab, footers and walls, or however it is going to be.

You could be capable of building a $3 million dollar home,. but if the foundation is ****, everything else will follow. They will want to know and most likely see a sketch of the foundation.
 
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kbs2244

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As evrybody has said:
It depends..............
Local legal inspection trumps everything else.
 

John in OH

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Thanks for the input. I guess I was really asking if I needed plans for myself as I'm building. I think the only stuff I need to come up with is the framing detail of the openings.

If you know what you are building, then, no, you don't need the plans for yourself. BUT, in order to get a building PERMIT you have to communicate to the local building dept. what it is you are building and how you plan to build it.

Basically, the local building dept. wants to make sure your structure meets basic minimum building requirements so you don't build a POS. And, it's not so much to protect yourself (as you should be able to build whatever POS you want), but it's really to protect any future owner that you may sell to. Nobody wants to get stuck with a POS building that could have been decent if only a few additional steps were taken.

Nothing wrong with the local building making sure you build a decent (ie., safe and durable) structure.
 

Autorotica

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I didnt when I built my "shed". Plot plan, sketch of the building and stamped drawings of the trusses. Dropped my stuff off at the township building on Monday afternoon, had approved permit on Wednesday at 8:05 am.

Where is that easy button?

Chris
 

nicksnothereman

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I may be naïve, and I realize pans would be best, but it doesn't seem too complex.

It's a simple 26' x 42' rectangle, one level, trusses, 3 evenly spaced overhead doors. One window on each wall.

Can't I just draw out each wall with accurate measurements, height, width, headers, openings, etc. and go from there?

Uh...if you have to keep track of a bunch of stuff (i.e. measurements) better write it down. Otherwise you get a bird house when you're trying to build a watchtower. People still build watchtowers right?:headscrat

Your problem will probably be framing the window spaces right (if you don't write it down). I'm not in construction but have enough of it figured out. People frame window holes still right?:headscrat
 

southalabama

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As stated before it depends on your location.

I'm in the rural south. Plans? We don't need no stinking plans. That's why we started a war without any cannon factories.

I've remodeled an office building and added a couple thousand square feet. Just drew room dimensions on a legal pad and went from there.
 
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DanIndiana

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Apr 17, 2014
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I think I am a bit more prepared than it sounds. I did get the permit; poured foundation with four foot wall and footer is done. I measure everything over and over before cutting, mostly because I'm lazy and hate doing anything twice. I do draw everything out, at least roughly before I commit to a section. I think I just need to start with the simplest wall first and get going.

Thanks again
 

srmofo

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Thanks for the input. I guess I was really asking if I needed plans for myself as I'm building. I think the only stuff I need to come up with is the framing detail of the openings.

Around hear they also want details of the roof showing truss/sheeting (w/clips and nailing schedule)/tar paper/shingles

Also foundation showing depth/method/and anchor dimensions for tying the walls down

details around any windows or doors as well as a site map with elevations

I had a friend in a nearby municipality that also had to show his exterior covering

Requirements can vary widely especially if you are in the city

plans for yourself? not really if you have some experience doing this
 

Kevin54

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I think I am a bit more prepared than it sounds. I did get the permit; poured foundation with four foot wall and footer is done. I measure everything over and over before cutting, mostly because I'm lazy and hate doing anything twice. I do draw everything out, at least roughly before I commit to a section. I think I just need to start with the simplest wall first and get going.

Thanks again

You should have put that info in the first opening thread :lol:

If you have the time, you can draw things up for yourself. You do want to make sure where your doors are at when you start framing. You want to make sure you have the supporting studs correctly placed. And I am assuming that you trusses are going on the 26' side, and your doors on the 42' side? That means that you will need a beefy header above your doors as the truss weight will be at those areas. If your doors are on the 26' walls, then you don't need a beefy header because the truss weight would be on the outside walls.

You also want to be sure to stagger your double top plates so they tie your corners in solid. And you want to be sure to build your corners so you have a nailing area for your inside finish material. You will automatically have one wall you can finish to the corner, but if you don't build your corner correctly, you won't have anything to nail the other wall's finish material to.

But all in all, it pretty much sounds like you are on top of things. Just remember though, when you put OSB on the roof.....rough side up. :lol:
 

little d

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Dan,
it sounds like you have a pretty good handle on it. The only thing I would add is to make damn sure you start your layout from the same side every time. What your building is pretty simple but, I've seen people just go around laying out as they go and the studs dont line up after. With double top plate and 16" center stud spacing, it may not affect anything but, why not go ahead and let the load be carried through the center of the stud, all the way to the footer.
 

JCQuick

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Apopka Fla.
here they want 2 copies of stamped engineered drawings i found a company that will do it for $450 which everyone has said is a good deal.
I'm just waiting on my concrete guy
 
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