Materials Selection Sheets

When you purchase home design plans from a designer or an architect, you will receive a suggested list of building materials for your new home. Generally included in the home plans is a list of items such as suggested framing materials, foundation materials, header and sill materials, stud types and sizes, roofing and flooring materials. Also, most of the time a set of home plans will come with a list of these materials accompanied by the quantity necessary to make your dream home a reality.

Home plans generally are accompanied by many sections of construction specifications for your contractor. The specifications will include information used by the contractor to build your new home. There will be information on the materials required for each rendition of the façade provided within the purchased plans.

Also, there will be an estimate of the construction costs according to the materials specification sheet.

The term sheet is often a misnomer. Rarely will a list of all materials suggested for use in the building of a new home from a set of plans fit onto one letter sized piece of paper. Expect this document to require many pages, upwards of twenty in complex designs or large homes.

Although to you, the homeowner, these specifications may seem confusing, your builder will be able to read and explain the details of the document. This process will enable you to determine if you wish to stick with the proposed list of materials. Many home owners choose not to stay strictly with the proposed materials – and they will choose to decrease the quality of some features in order to enhance the quality of materials used for other parts of the construction of their home.

This is not uncommon. Roofing, foundation and exterior façade are some areas in which many home owners choose to increase the quality of materials suggested by the home plan designer.

Keep in mind that the materials selection sheet must include every material used in the construction of your new home. It will detail the estimated number of wires necessary to provide electricity. It will also contain an estimate for the number of nails, screws and other fasteners. Do not be alarmed upon seeing the size and extent of the document, and be sure to contact the architect or designer of your plans should any concerns arise after discussing the materials selection with your contractor or builder.

This home building article by:
Michelle McClory with BuildingPlans.com

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