Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. If you do not find what you are looking for please contact us.
With over 50 years of experience working directly with homeowners and construction professionals, GLA offers unique, popular house plans. GLA House Plans are designed with builder and engineer cost effectiveness. How a house is designed regardless of its front elevation, plays a major factor in the overall cost. We use a thorough hands-on, collaborative process to ensure accuracy, which is why builders love using our plans. You can have confidence in buying from a trusted source as satisfied clients have built homes from our plans all over the country.
A GLA Study Set is set of house plan drawings in PDF format marked NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. This is a great starting point to obtain material estimates and construction pricing. This PDF can be used for contractors and potential builders to give you pricing for the project. This in turn will allow you to see the economic feasibility of the house. It is not uncommon for clients to order more than one study set. These plans are Not for Construction and not granting a license or permit to build. The convenience of this option is a digital PDF download after purchase. Also to ensure this is the right plan for your building needs.
These sets of PDF house plans are essentially the same however –
Study Sets are meant for those still shopping and undecided. A full set of digital house plans intended to be used for pricing. These are marked “Not for Construction”
Single Build Construction Sets are a full set of digital house plans with a single copyright license to build. Please note these are not stamped by an architect.
If you have questions Contact Us before making a purchase.
Our house plans are 24″ x 36″. The digital PDF download is best printed at a local print shop to accommodate the size but can easily be printed from your home computer.
We do not stamp our on-line, out-of-state house plans at this time. Check with your local building authorities for building permit application requirements. If you have any questions Contact Us before making a purchase.
It’s easy! Just start your search using the filters to narrow your plan options down (by square footage, house style, bedrooms, bathrooms, features and more). When you find a plan(s) that you like you can “favorite” and “compare” so you can find them easily.
GLA plans are drawn with a full basement. However, if you need a crawl space or slab, based on your geographic location we can certainly accommodate and provide a written quote and delivery estimate for a new set of drawings. If you are unsure Contact Us before making a purchase.
No they do not. We do not include a full list of interior and exterior materials. This is due to many factors including builder preference, cost, and location. Once you purchase a house plan, consult with a builder or contractor in your area for material estimates. Please note the level of finishing (flooring, light fixtures, countertops, cabinets, molding, etc.) can potentially have a significant impact on cost.
GLA is located in New York so all of our house plans are designed in-house to comply with the International Residential Code (IRC) and New York State local code requirements. Although our plans contain virtually all the information required to construct a home, out-of-state, counties, cities, and subdivisions have their own specific, mandatory requirements. Some even require a professional registered in your state to review and approve plans. Although our plans are sold throughout the country and comply with international building standards, you should take your plans to a local building designer or architect to confirm local codes. Contact your local building department to see what is required to get a building permit. Out-of-state purchasers are responsible for adhering to the required building permits as well as obtaining the required reviews and approvals from engineers / architects for the specific state.
Refer to the GLA House Plan Modification page for more information. After a Study Set is purchased GLA will provide a one-hour initial consultation to discuss your desired modifications. After the consultation we will provide a written estimate to bring you closer to the perfect plan. Proof of purchase is required for plan modifications. An average up to 3 weeks for common plan modifications. Depending on the complexity of the changes and our schedule, it may take longer. Clients will need to accept quotes and pay a deposit before completion.
GLA Study Sets are meant as a great starting point to obtain material estimates and construction pricing. Once you purchase a house plan, consult with a builder in your area for pricing. Please note the level of finishing (flooring, light fixtures, countertops, cabinets, molding, etc.) has a significant impact on cost.
GLA sells house plans all over the United States and unfortunately, we cannot photograph all of them. There are also many variations of our house plans due to location & material trends. We rely heavily on our customers to send photos directly to us and as we receive photos, we update our website and social media channels.
Standard ceiling heights range from 8′-0″ to 9’-0”. Check the PLAN SPECS within the HOUSE PLAN DETAILS section.
Depending on the plan, you may be able to purchase a Study Set but not for immediate download. Please Contact Us with the House Plan Name and House Plan # and we can discuss the timeframe and feasibility.
If you are building OUTSIDE of New York State:
If there is no online purchase option with the associated house plan, you may request Construction Documents. Please Contact Us with the House Plan Name and House Plan # and we can provide the details.
If there is an option to purchase, you can Contact Us to request Construction Drawings. Please have the House Plan Name and House Plan #. The cost of the Construction Documents, shipping and timeline will be communicated back to you as long as no plan modifications are needed.
If a Study Set was previously purchased of the exact plan, the cost of the Study Set will be deducted from the total cost of the Construction Documents. Proof of Study Set purchase will be required. Full payment will be required prior to releasing the pdf. The timeframe for receiving a pdf of the Construction Drawings will be communicated prior to final payment. Along with a Construction Drawings pdf, you will also be provided with a Copyright Release which will allow you to take the Construction Drawings to a local architect and make modifications to the plan as needed. This Copyright Release will allow the purchaser to build (1) one time ONLY. If you require more than (1) build, please Contact Us.
If you are building IN New York State:
If there is no online purchase option with the associated plan, you may request Construction Documents, please Contact Us with the House Plan Name and House Plan # and we can discuss the details.
If there is an option to purchase, you can Contact Us to request Construction Drawings. The cost of the Construction Documents, shipping and timeline will be communicated back to you as long as no plan modifications are needed.
If a Study Set was previously purchased of the exact plan, the cost of the Study Set can be deducted off the total cost of the Construction Documents. Proof of Study Set purchase will be required. Because you are building in New York, our Construction Drawings will be printed and available for pick-up at our office or shipped via UPS. Our plans will come as 8 sets of printed drawings and will include the necessary stamps by one of our architects. Full payment will be required prior to releasing the plans. The timeframe for receiving the Construction Drawings will be communicated prior to payment.
Once your purchase is complete you will receive a confirmation email with a downloadable link. This link will expire within 3 days of purchase.
At this time on-line orders are for digital PDF download only.
We can certainly accommodate additional options depending on your needs and location.
Contact Us before making a purchase.
House plans are a digital PDF download and once purchased can be printed, so unfortunately returns and refunds are not granted. We encourage you to shop carefully before making a purchase. While shopping please keep in mind factors such as lot size, setback and square footage restrictions imposed by the local town. Also check with the local building authorities for building permit application requirements to make sure the plan can be built in your area.
At GLA we have taken extra measures to ensure security & protection on our website, especially within our customer transactions. Our site is built with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate protocol.
GLA house plans are protected by the United States Copyright Act. Our plans cannot be copied without written consent from GLA. Our plans cannot be used in any way without obtaining a license from GLA. The Federal Copyright Law prevents anyone other than GLA, from copyright infringement. This includes reproducing, modifying, marketing, or reusing GLA house plans without written permission of GLA. When a plan is purchased, it is released for a one-time build. Please note: GLA only stamps plans for residences in New York State. Out-of-state purchasers are responsible for adhering to the required building permits as well as obtaining the required reviews and approvals from engineers / architects for the specific state.
All GLA plans are protected under the United States copyright law. To comply with U.S. copyright laws any use of the plans must be specifically authorized by GLA. This includes construction, distribution, copying or modifying the plan without written permission from GLA. The use of our products & content for marketing efforts is strictly limited to promoting the sale of a single individual home constructed from the purchased GLA house plans. Any other means of marketing is prohibited. The GLA name and logo are trademarks of Greater Living Architecture, P.C. and any use without permission is prohibited. GLA house plans are designed to comply with the International Residential Code (IRC) and New York State local code requirements. Although our plans contain virtually all the information required to construct a home, your local building and coding department may have specific, mandatory requirements. These requirements may impact factors including local, climatic, and geographical design criteria (including but not limited to earthquake, snow, wind & seismic conditions). We authorize the use of purchased GLA plans conditioned on your obligation and agreement to strictly comply with local building codes, ordinances, regulations, and requirements (including permits and inspections during construction). We highly advise checking with your local building department early in the process.
These sets of PDF house plans are essentially the same however –
Study Sets are meant for those still shopping and undecided. A full set of digital house plans intended to be used for pricing. These are marked “Not for Construction”
Single Build Sets are a full set of digital house plans intended to be used for construction and come with a license for single build use.
If you have questions Contact Us before making a purchase.
