Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering your plans from us is quite easy. Simply browse through the wide variety of plans available on our website and choose a plan that suits your needs. When you have a plan in mind, you can simply select the desired plan option from the image gallery. Rendering images of your selected plan will be displayed when a plan is selected, and you can then scroll down to view more information about your plan and to see the following four options available to purchase:

1. PDF ONLY
2. PDF FULLY CERTIFIED BUILDING PLANS
3. DWG Electronic format (Editable)
4. REVIT Electronic format (Editable)

When you have selected the type of plan you require, you can click the “ADD TO BASKET” button at the bottom right of the page. This will place your selected plan in your basket for easy Check Out. You can then scroll to the top of the page where there will be a basket icon with a number next to it, you can click on this button and a drop-down menu will appear giving you two options, 1. View Basket or 2. Checkout. You will be able to make more than one plan purchase and everything you Add to your basket will be displayed and calculated in the drop-down menu. When you are happy with your selection and you are ready to make the purchase, you can select the Checkout button. This will take you through to our order form, where you will need to fill in the required Billing and additional information & details. The following list of information is required from You: First Name, Last Name, Company name (optional), Country / Region, Street Address, Town / City, Province, Postcode / ZIP, Phone and Email Address. You will also have the option for Additional Information such as Order Notes, this will aid you should you select to request any changes or special circumstances for your plans that you want our help on.

When everything is correct and you are satisfied, you can click the “PLACE ORDER” button which will take you through to the PayFast page, where your order total will be displayed (this will be your entire amount should you have selected more than one plan or option). You will then be able to make a secured payment.

You are now done; we will analyse your order and get your plans ready for you.

Alternatively, you can use one of the methods listed below to contact us or to place an order should there be anything you want to discuss beforehand:

All queries on purchases and orders must have proof of payment/ bank deposit attached, for the total amount charged before plans are sent/emailed to you.

Should you want to make an EFT payment for your selected plans or confirmed changes to your plans, our banking details are as follows (Please use your order number as a reference):
 

The contents of your plans will vary according to the Plan Option you have chosen. The list is as follows:

1. OPTION 1: PDF ONLY
2. OPTION 2: PDF FULLY CERTIFIED BUILDING PLANS
3. OPTION 3: DWG Electronic format (Editable)
4. OPTION 4: REVIT Electronic format (Editable)

1. PDF ONLY

We will email you a set of plans in PDF document format.

(This is the best option for building outside of South Africa)

Title blocks and certifications are excluded from this option. If you need to submit your plans to a local building authority, you will need to get an architect to sign off on the plans.

These plans will include:

• Proforma Site with roof plan
• Floor Plans
• Water Reticulation Plan
• Elevations
• Sections
• Electrical Plan
• Window Schedule
• Door Schedule
• Area Schedule

2. PDF FULLY CERTIFIED BUILDING PLANS

You will need to send us the necessary details of your site so we can complete your site plan. We will email you a full set of municipal plans within 3-5 working days so you can submit to your local municipality. You will need to send us:

• SG Diagram of your Erf
  • A Surveyor General Diagram is the fundamental registerable document prepared by the land surveyor. This document consists of very essential property and land information.
  • This information includes the unique designation of the property; an illustration showing the property; the boundary description listing the corner beacons and the details of any curvilinear boundary; descriptions of the corner beacons; a table listing the numerical data of the boundaries and the size of the property.
  • Visit your local municipality town planning office or have professional town planner assist you with this document.
• Title deed or Draft Title Deed
  • The title deed is a document that proves legal ownership of a property in South Africa. Anyone who purchases a property will need to have the title deed transferred into their name as proof that they own the property.
  • Your transfer attorney or the bank will be able to assist you with this document.
• Drainage slip or Drainage connection point
  • You will need to supply us with a drainage connection slip that you will receive form your local municipality, or you will need to supply us with the position of your drainage connection on your property so we can complete the site plan and drainage.
  • Visit your local municipality building control office to collect your drainage connection slip.
• Contours
  • This information includes the unique designation of the property; an illustration showing the property; the boundary description listing the corner beacons and the details of any curvilinear boundary; descriptions of the corner beacons; a table listing the numerical data of the boundaries and the size of the property. This document will also indicate if there are any servitudes registered over the property.
  • Please note that there will be additional fees to adjust the house if the site slope more than 1m over the site.
  • Visit your local municipality building control office or appoint a Land-Surveyor to measure the contours of your site.
• Zoning Certificate and Annexures
  • The zoning certificate contains information relating to, amongst others, the existing zoning, the purpose for which the property may be used for, building lines, height, coverage and Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
  • Visit your local municipality town planning office or have professional town planner assist you with this document.
• Building in Estate with Architectural guidelines
  • If your stand is in an Estate with architectural guidelines you will need to send us the architectural guidelines so we can adjust the house to comply with architectural guidelines.
  • Please note that there will be additional fees to adjust the house according to the estate architectural guidelines.

We will email you a full document pack that will include the following:

• Site Plan
• With correct Property dimensions
• Building lines
• Site Drainage and drainage connection
• Contours
• Floor Plans
• Water Reticulation Plan
• Elevations
• Sections
• Electrical Plan
• Window Schedule
• Door Schedule
• Area Schedule
• Schedules of Rights
• Erf Size and Description
• Coverage Calculations
• FAR (Floor Area Ratio) Calculations
• Energy Efficiency Calculations Document
• SANS 10400 Form 1

What is not included:

• SANS 10400 Form 2 (You will need to appoint a structural engineer for the design of your Foundations and Slabs), the Engineer will supply you with a SANS 10400 Form 2
• You will need to submit the plans to your local municipality.
• You will need to submit the plans to HOA if your stand is in Estate.

Addition Fees will be charged for:

• Stand sloping more than 1m and we are required to adjust the levels in the house according to the contours.
• Your stand is in estate with architectural guidelines, and we need to adjust the house according to the estate architectural guidelines.

3. DWG Electronic format (Editable)

You will receive a .dwg file of the project that will include all the plans:

• Proforma Site with roof plan
• Floor Plans
• Water Reticulation Plan
• Elevations
• Sections
• Electrical Plan
• Window Schedule
• Door Schedule
• Area Schedule

Title blocks are excluded from this option. If you need to submit your plans to a local building authority, you will need to get a SACAP registered architect or draftsmen to complete your site plan and sign off on the plans for municipal submission.

With this option you can do any desired changes to the house before you submit the plans to the local municipality.

4. REVIT Electronic format (Editable)

You will receive a .rvt file of the project that will include an 3D model of the project:

• Proforma Site with roof plan
• Floor Plans
• Water Reticulation Plan
• Elevations
• Sections
• Electrical Plan
• Window Schedule
• Door Schedule
• Area Schedule
• 3D Revit model

Title blocks are excluded from this option. If you need to submit your plans to a local building authority, you will need to get a SACAP registered architect or draftsmen to complete your site plan and sign off on the plans for municipal submission.

With this option you can do any desired changes to the house before you submit the plans to the local municipality.

Please note that the Revit file will be send to you in the latest Autodesk Revit format available.

SITE PLANS (If you choose Option 2 on the plan package this will be included)

These plans indicate the location of the house in relation to your specific site (plot or stand). This will include the position of service connections that are prescribed for your specific site. These connection points can be acquired from your local building authority for a fee.

A Registered Architect or Draughtsman can be appointed to produce a Site Plan for your desired site and purchased plans for you, for a relatively small fee.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING CERTIFICATES

In some specific situations like with Double-story houses, unstable soils, or complex foundations and roofing, an engineer’s certificate is required before submitting the plans to your local building authority. This document contains proof that a licensed structural engineer has been appointed by the homeowner to undertake any testing or specification of appropriate measures to ensure the integrity of the entire structural system of your house.

Where necessary and after you have purchased your plans from Architect Plan, you will then need to appoint a local structural engineer of your choice, who will also undertake any site visits and quality control during the construction of your house. Also, remember that a final engineer’s Certificate of Completion will be required once building is completed and before an Occupation Certificate can be acquired. This is the Certificate that allows you to occupy your New Home. This Completion Certificate is issued by the engineer once he has satisfied himself that the construction was undertaken in accordance with his initial specifications without variation.

QUANTITY SURVEYOR (BUILDING COST ESTIMATES)

Building prices can vary enormously and all depends on various factors such as, prices charged for material and labour in your building area as well as any other conditions that exist in the area of your construction. Because of these reasons explained above, our best advice would be to enquire with local builders and hardware stores in your area before construction starts. However, a more accurate indication of building costs for your chosen house can always be obtained by contracting a Quantity Surveyor of your choice. As a result of this, Architect Plan does not provide these services.

LOCAL BUILDING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT’S APPROVAL

Local Building Authorities are there to regulate and control the ever densification and development of cities and local residential areas. As a result, you will be required to submit your plans to your specific Local building and/or planning department’s offices. Energy efficiency calculations, SANS 204, and SANS 10400-XA requirements are also not included (unless you Choose option 2 on the plan packages). It is the responsibility of the customer to fulfil these requirements in line with the geographical zoning applicable to the location of the site/stand. An energy consultant (competent person), Registered Architect, or Draughtsman can be appointed to undertake these requirements for a relatively small fee.

No, please refer to what is not included with your purchase above. These services and requests can be provided by a Quantity Surveyor. As a result, Architect Plan does not provide any such service.

Unfortunately, No. We do not provide any sort of municipal or local building authority submissions to our clients. You can either submit your plans or use local runners to do it on your behalf. Architect Plan will provide all the necessary submission forms as well as remote support, if required, to enable you to obtain municipal approval of your selected house plans.

No, this is an online store and service only. Please Use one of the Contact methods listed on our website to consult with us online.

All plan modifications or alterations must first be discussed and assessed by us, for practicality prior to any cost being worked out. Architect Plan will issue a fee proposal (Quote) based on the extent of work that is necessary to complete the required alterations to the plans. Architect Plan does not charge for very minor alterations. However, please note, our fees for plan modifications and alterations at a larger scale, will be calculated based on an hourly rate.

Yes. However, please note that once you have chosen and purchased the house plan that you prefer, you may require some minor amendments to be made to the plans by us at Architect Plan. Architect Plan will issue you with a quotation for these changes or alterations. To find out if this will be possible on your plan, you will need to send us an email requesting the plan amendments and to request a quotation.

If you choose to use another Competent person to make changes for you, Please choose Option 3 or 4 to buy the DWG or Revit file. This will enable any design professional of your choice to carry out the changes and alterations on your plans. The DWG/Revit files will make the alterations to your house plan relatively cheaper to undertake. This file will be emailed to you in a .dwg or .rvt format depends on what format you choose.

Also, note that our detailed plans are sold with a CAD(.dwg or .rvt) format of the plans which enables any other registered professional to make moderate to substantial changes to the plans. As a result, you may consider appointing a Registered architect or draughtsman to carry out the changes for you. This will also provide an added advantage as the appointed person may also assist you with the submission of your plans to your local building authority. The Fee that will be required for the appointment of the Registered Professional can be discussed directly with them.

Please note, as from 1 July 2006, ALL persons practicing architecture in South Africa or submitting house plans/ building plans/ architectural designs/ house floor plans/ blueprints/ drawings, or anything related to architecture to a Local Building Authority must be registered with SACAP.

Square meters for your plans are calculated on covered (roofed or slab) habitable living areas, which including Double Volumes, should it be more than one floor. This will also include any finished basement areas, garages, pergolas, and closed or covered patios, but will exclude balconies or any open uncovered spaces. In short, areas as calculated for All habitable spaces under a roof structure.

A PDF file contains an electronic copy of either the Review or Full-scale version of the House Plans. PDF stands for Portable Document Format and is a digital file format mostly used to easily transfer files containing text, pictures, drawings, and fonts into a single digital file. The PDF file format is quite simple to use and can be easily downloaded, stored, and attached to emails via a computer (PC). This also makes printing of any required additional copies of the plans easier for the client. Note, to view PDF files and documents, a PDF Reader software is required. These programs and software can be downloaded for free directly from Google.

Please note, a PDF House Plan package cannot be altered after purchase. For making post-purchase alterations or changes to your plans, you will require a dwg or Revit version of the selected house plans.

A DWG/ /Revit file contains an electronic copy of the House Plans from Architect Plan in the format in which it was created. This file format is ideal in cases where a customer has purchased a plan that they require to be modified by a registered design professional. This enables the Purchaser of the Plans from Architect Plan, to take the dwg or Revit file to any local Registered Architect or Draughtsman who utilizes a CAD system for them to make the desired changes. These CAD files may however not be used or reproduced by the above-mentioned Registered Architect or Draughtsman as they remain the property of Architect Plan and may only be used Once! Please Note, a CAD file can only be opened with a computer that has a CAD system already installed.

No. The purchase of a house plan is licensed to be used and built Only Once at any given time or place unless Architect Plan states otherwise in writing. No house plan, design, or any part thereof can be copied, reused, or reproduced by any means and for any reason other than to build One house for which the plans have been purchased and paid for. Architect Plan can however offer discounted prices for multiple uses of the same plans, but you will have to contact us and obtain written consent and to order a license for the multiple uses of your desired plans.

All Copyright is reserved to and by Architect Plan. All and any house plans/ building plans/ architectural designs/ house floor plans/ blueprints/ drawings/ images and content in any publication or print is the sole property of Architect Plan. Copyright is reserved to and by Architect Plan under the terms of South African Laws & Regulations and in accordance with all International Treaty and Trade provisions. Only the purchaser of a house plan is allowed to build One House Only, and Only One time, unless otherwise stated in writing from Architect Plan. No house plans/building plans/architectural designs/ house floor plans/ blueprints/ drawings/ images or part thereof can be copied, reused, or reproduced by any means and for any reason other than to build One house for which the plans have been purchased and paid for. All rights reserved. Any Infringement of the Copyright as stated by the Copyright Law of South Africa carries a Minimum penalty of R 1 000 000.00 and is enforceable by the South African Laws and ALL related International Treaties and Trade provisions.

Architect Plan makes use of PayFast’s payment gateway. PayFast is a comprehensive and secure e-commerce systems available, incorporating SSL encryption and tamper-proof digital objects to assist in the prevention of hacking and impersonation. A secure firewall security system and an offline encrypted storage facility to minimise risk and provide peace of mind.

PayFast also offers fraud protection with the implementation of 3D secure: a technology developed by MasterCard and VISA as a means to reduce online credit card fraud.

If you still don’t feel comfortable using your credit card online, you can make an Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) using the banking details provided.

Yes, Architect Plan is a verified online merchant with PayFast and we do accept payments for plans through (EFT) Electronic Fund Transfer.

Local authorities differ in their requirements regarding the format in which building plans must be submitted. Most require only paper copies, while some may still require a more permanent or plastic copy. Please contact your local municipality building control office to request the number of copies to be submitted in colour, black and white and the type of paper you need to print them.

Customers should also note that most local authorities have a plan scrutiny fee payable. These scrutiny fee structures vary amongst the different authorities but are usually based on the floor area of the building and/or on the number of sanitary fittings in the building.