What is included in Tuttle Design Firm's custom house design?

 

Our custom house design services provide homeowners with a set of plans to build a custom home tailor-made for them.  That drawing set includes dimensioned floor plans, exterior elevations, utility plans (including electrical), roof plan, building outline plan, and select interior elevations.  This set of drawings can be used to acquire structural desgins from an engineer, construction price quotes, obtain permits, and build the home.

 

What is NOT included in Tuttle Design Firm's custom house design?

 

Tuttle Design Firm is not an engineering or architectural firm.  The house design does not include drawings specifying structural materials or framing and foundation designs.  We do, however, strongly recommend homeowners to have our house designs reviewed and structural designs completed prior to construction to ensure the structural integrity is maintained for the home.  Many builders have choice structural engineers to advise on such necessities, but homeowners may find and consult their own engineers.  

 

Does Tuttle Design Firm's custom house designs provide any interior or exterior finish selections?

 

Our drawings do not include interior finish call outs such as wood species, colors, textures, etc.  This allows the homeowner to make selections closer to date and can make changes without commitment or extra costs.   
On the other hand, since many construction assemblies are based on exterior facade materials, exterior general finishes ARE called out. (ie: brick, stone, cement siding, vinyl, etc)  We do leave the color selections, of these finishes, up to the homeowner to decide with the builder.

With this said, we are happy to add notes of specific selections at the homeowner's request.  We can also provide design services at an hourly rate to assist you in the selections during the building process. 

 

Can Tuttle Design Firm provide a price for construction of their design?

 

Due to the variation of construction costs regarding geographical location, market fluctuations, and different builder's fees, it is impossible for us to provide and accurate overall cost of construction. 

If the homeowner has chosen a builder, we are happy to work as a team, with the builder providing feedback on materials and design details to fit the specified budget.

 

I live in a different state than Tuttle Design Firm.  Can you still design my home?

 

Absolutely!  Most of our projects have been with clients out of state.  Meetings by telephone, sending texts, meetings on video calls, and sharing files by email have all proven to result in successful projects. 

 

How long does it take to get a custom house design?

 

The time it takes depends greatly with several factors: Tuttle Design Firm's current work load, the client's response time during preliminary design option reviews, the client's eagerness to get the house construction started, and the complexity of the design.  We have had projects that were completed in 2 weeks as well as 4+ years!  But an average project takes approximately 2 months.  We find out our client's desired timeline for design in the beginning and work digilently to meet those expectations.

 

Can Tuttle Design Firm provide a house design like the one I found online?

We do encourage our clients to use existing plans and pictures of houses to help communicate with us their design intent.  However, Tuttle Design Firm will not copy a house plan and/or design created by another designer or architect.  This practice violates copyright laws and common business ethics.  We will work diligently to create a design that is unique for each client, and that fits in their design intentions.