Timber frame houseplans 

Think of the frame of a house to be like a skeleton.   by Steven Briesemeister

Framing & House Plans

Some people hire a building contractor to build a home from scratch while others prefer to build their own home from the ground up. In order to do this, a foundation must be poured followed by the framing. The framing of your home will dictate it's size, shape, window placement, roof slope and basically everything else about your new house. Needless to say, this is a very important job. Luckily, there are plenty of house plans and building kits out there for the do-it-yourselfer who likes to be involved every step of the way.

Framing Materials Available In Home Kits

Many lumber supply stores sell packaged home kits, which include everything needed for the home, including lumber for framing, siding, insulation and all hardware. If you prefer to source the material yourself, consider purchasing a detailed house plan including a product list. The product list should indicate exactly what products are needed and how many will be used to complete the job. Most building plans also come with step-by-step instructions on home building, detailed drawings and much more. A professional home plan package starts at several hundred dollars and goes up from there. When choosing a house plan, you will want to make sure that it's professionally done. Otherwise, the house may end up with a lot of structural problems if the plan was not completely accurate.

Framing According To Building Codes & Regulations

Before beginning, or deciding on, any framing construction, check with your local county courthouse for building codes and regulations. If you are doing the work yourself, then you will have to apply for all of the necessary building permits. They must also be approved before any construction begins. If you hire a contractor, he/she should be responsible for all building permits, but make sure this is discussed before you decide on a contractor. Make sure that each of the contractor's responsibilities are lined out in a written agreement. Building permits are an important part of the building process and you don't want to leave it up to someone else. If you do, then you could be held responsible for fines and additional fees if construction begins without the proper permits.

About the Author

With 30 years experience in the Home Improvement field, Steven Briesemeister has written hundreds of DIY articles for homeowners and contractors. For more articles, please visit us on the web at: http://www.roofer911.com/roofing_articles.htm or submit your article or site at: http://www.addyoursite.org