HOUSE PLAN SPECS
Floor 1
1,800 sf
Entry Faces
North
South Glass
10%
Complexity
simple
Morning Glory 3
PLAN PRICING
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Study Plans
See larger, clearer, and more drawings than what are shown on the individual house plan pages.
The price can be credited to future orders of Construction Prints or CAD Files of any Sun Plan even if a completely different house plan is later purchased.(Some exceptions if customer requires Study Plan level of consulting.)
Study Plans can be ordered from the Pricing tab for each house plan.
Study Plans include:
- A mini set of design-oriented drawings set up for 11"x17".
- A choice between a Paper version sent by US Priority Mail or the PDF version sent via email.
- Unlimited printing with PDF's for sharing with family members.
- 6 to 9 pages of drawings depending upon the complexity of the home.
- Click here to see an example set for a 1.5 story home with daylight basement.
- Schematic site plan, floor plans (with room sizes and furniture), daylight basements if applicable, exterior elevations, a schematic section of the house to help visualize the interior, kitchen elevations and garage plans.
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Review Sets
Review Sets provide information to help decide whether the design will meet the budget. They are mainly for those who crave technical details, have construction experience or have a builder on board.
The price can be credited to future orders of Construction Prints or CAD Files of any Sun Plan even if a completely different house plan is later purchased. (Some exceptions if customer requires Review Set level of consulting.)
Review Sets can be ordered from the Pricing tab for each house plan..
Review Sets include:
- A mini set of construction drawings set up for 11"x17"
- Choice of PAPER sent by US Priority Mail or PDF version sent via email. (Select PDF to print extra copies or share electronically with other building professionals.)
- 10 to 16 pages of drawings depending upon the complexity of the home.(See each house plan description for the drawings that come with each design.)
- Dimensions and construction notes.
- Click here to see an example Review Set of a 1.5 story home with daylight basement.
- A copy of the Study Plan.
- An "Opinion of Probable Construction Cost" from Sun Plans if requested. Sun Plans evaluates the design and compares it to similar home designs for which other clients have provided construction costs. A range of construction cost is provided. (This is based on national information. Sun Plans does not have statistics by state, region or country.)
Review Sets may vary slightly from later orders of Construction Prints and CAD Files since drawings are continuously being updated to meet newer construction and in-house standards,
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Construction Prints
Large Construction Prints with clear, concise information make it easy for builders to follow yet they are flexible enough to adapt locally based on the price and availability of materials and subcontractors, various construction methods and home owner preferences. Together, every builder and home owner will change some aspects of the design before or during construction. If mutually agreeable (and approved by the building inspector and local engineer), these "field changes" can often be made with red notes on the Construction Prints. (For complex changes, please see CAD Files or Adapt-A-SunPlan Services.)
Construction Prints include:
- Six sets of Construction Prints on 24"x36" paper shipped via UPS ground or PDF computer files sent by email
- 10 to 16 pages of drawings depending upon the size and complexity of the home. (See individual house plan descriptions for specific drawings for each design.)
- Schematic site plan (cover sheet showing how to orient the house for passive solar gain)
- Foundation Plan (either slab-on-grade, crawlspace, below grade or daylight basement)
- First and second floor plans (many construction notes, window sizes, etc.)
- Exterior elevations (all four sides shown in hatched detail)
- Schematic Building section (cut-away through the home showing basic configuration)
- Kitchen elevations (all sides of the kitchen)
- Typical wall detail (showing the various building materials recommended)
- Schematic electrical (showing lights, switches and outlets)
- Schematic framing plans (showing floor framing, roof framing and beams)
- Garage or Carport
- Custom Energy Specs. (Read more.)
- Under the Tell Me More about the Review Set, you can see an example set of drawings; however, with Construction Prints, the plans are updated to the current in-house checklist, do not have the Not For Construction, and include the Custom Energy Specs.
- One hour of technical support with the architect by email or phone
Miscellaneous Details
- Order Construction Prints through the Pricing tab on any house plan.
- After an order is placed, reply to the email received to advise of the requested information Sun Plans will need to prepare the Custom Energy Specs.
- Allow 5 business days for updating the design to the Sun Plans in-house checklist and preparation of the the Custom Energy Specs. (Shipping then takes another 3-7 days.)
- With PDF's, unlimited copies of the Construction Prints can be printed locally so long as they are used for building one home. PDF's are handy for sending to builders, mortgage companies, appraisers, home energy raters, and others who may be assisting with the planning and construction of the home such as the builder's subcontractors. Some building inspection departments require PDF.
Rick is in the lighting business and reviews construction prints in his work.
They are wonderful! If you saw most of the drawings and specifications I see, you would wonder how anything got built properly...It is just nice to see a true professional who does the job correctly and takes pride in her work. In my 34 years of working with Architects you are hands down the best I have had the privilege to work with. - Rick
A client sent a set of Construction Prints (designed for stick construction) to a SIP company to have them converted to SIPs. This is what they told the home owners:
I also wanted to take this opportunity to confirm your selection of Sun Plans Inc. We receive many sets of drawings each day that are interested in comparing SIPs. The drawings submitted by Sun Plans Inc. were high quality and very easy for us to work from. - Steve, SIPS of the South
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CAD Files
CAD files are the most flexible type of construction drawings since they can be modified and sent electronically. While the house design is intended to save the home owner energy, the CAD files are designed to save the energy of design professionals by making adaptations proceed faster should it be desired to have someone other than Sun Plans make the changes. The PDF files that are a part of the order allow for printing unlimited Construction Prints even if no changes are made. CAD files are intended to be used by professionals experienced in residential design.
CAD Files Include:
- CAD files of the Construction Drawings (see below for options)
- PDF file of the Construction Prints (see Construction Prints)
- PDF file of Custom Energy Specs
- PDF file of Copyright Release to allow the house to be modified and changed to build one house
- Under the Tell Me More about the Review Set, you can see an example set of drawings; however, with Construction Prints and CAD Files, the plans are updated to the current in-house checklist, do not have the Not For Construction, and include the Custom Energy Specs.
- One hour of technical support. This can include review by the Sun Plans' architect on proposed changes prior to preparing Custom Energy Specs. If the customer sends a list of proposed changes immediately after placing the order, the architect can review them for energy implications and try to address them in the Custom Energy Specs.
CAD File Details
- Order CAD files through the Pricing tab on any house plan.
- After an order is placed, reply to the email received to advise of the requested information Sun Plans will need to prepare the Custom Energy Specs.
- Allow 5 business days for to allow for updating the design to the Sun Plans in-house checklist and preparation of the the Custom Energy Specs.
- With the CAD files, many changes can be made to the design.
- With PDF's (part of the CAD file order), unlimited copies of the Construction Prints can be printed locally so long as they are used for building one home. PDF's are handy for sending to builders, mortgage companies, appraisers, home energy raters, and others who may be assisting with the planning and construction of the home such as the builder's subcontractors. Some building inspection departments require PDF.
- If consulting on changes is desired before the order is placed, then Adapt-A-SunPlan Consulting and Review Service is the process to take.
- The design professional may expand the house a couple of feet, change the exterior materials, move a bathroom, or rearrange interior walls and doors.
- The structural engineer may want to add engineering information such as rebar sizes and specific connections suitable for the local codes, soils, winds, snow or seismic activity.
- The builder may find it easier to perform take offs and layouts with this electronic version of construction prints.
- Home Energy Raters or HVAC subs creating duct work layouts can increase the speed and accuracy of their services.
Info for the Design Professional
- The CAD Files are designed to be used by an experienced residential design professional
- The standard method of preparing the CAD files is in AutoCAD 2000 DWG file type, with the files split into separate files. Approximately 95% of CAD file orders are prepared in this format. (Sun Plans can export to any version of AutoCAD between version 12 (released in 1992) and 2021, but 2000 is the default as that seems to be the most common one that design professionals can use including those with older versions of the software. It is not uncommon for other design professionals to use very old versions of AutoCAD.
- Can't use any of these CAD File types, but still want the local design professional to copy and redraw the design with changes? The Copyright Release that comes only with CAD Files allow for this. (Please see Copyright.)
- Special requests for all-in-one CAD files, DXF or AEC (DataCAD) files can be honored if advised within one business day of the order.
- Split CAD Files are divided into separate files - cover sheet, foundation, first floor, second floor, elevations, section, kitchen, wall detail, and detached garage as applicable. More than one of the printed sheet may be in each file. For instance, the fp1elect and fp1framing will also be in the fp1 file, but these are recommended to be printed separately as shown in the PDF files that come with the CAD Files.
- More questions? Have the design professional contact us.
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Mirror Reverse
Similar to the Mirror Reverse feature for each house plan, mirror reversing Construction Prints and CAD Files flips the house plan on the north-south axis. However, the Mirror Reverse custom service also reverses the text and numbers so that they are no longer backwards. The drawings will be "right reading". It takes some time to check for overlapping text and numbers, but it is a worthwhile service considering the errors that can be made by the builders and their subs if they otherwise tried to reverse the home during construction.
In rectangular plans designed with one long wall designed to face south, the south and north sides will still face the same compass direction, but the east and west walls are reversed. In angled plans designed to sit at a 45 degree angle to south, the mirror line is from the northern-most corner to the southern-most corner which is a diagonal line across the house. What was the northwest wall would then become the northeast wall, and what was the southwest wall would then become the southeast wall.
Instances of when reversing might help include when the home owners want the entry on the east rather than the west. Or maybe a bedroom on the west is desired instead of the east-facing bedroom if light is not wanted from the sunrise. There are hundreds of reasons for mirror reversing a house along the north-south axis. Sometimes the architect suggests it during the Review and Consulting phase of any custom services based on the home owners' site or other particulars.
A local design professional can also do the reversing with the CAD Files.
Mirror Reverse is a not available for the lower-priced Study Plans and Review Sets.
The north-facing Morning Glory 3 has a bright sunset side porch and a north-facing entry with a garage on the northwest. The design has less heated and cooled space compared to the original Morning Glory so therefore lower operating costs as well. The new side porch allows for outdoor covered dining and shades the west side of the home from the hot afternoon sun. With the master bedroom on the east, the sun will brighten the main sleeping room. The dining, living room and two bedrooms all have southern views and direct winter sun while the kitchen receives indirect southern sunlight keeping it cooler. The house lines are simple, but the front porch is inviting with a cozy seating area.
The photos from Bob and Linda of their home with the bright western porch show how the Morning Glory 3, which is based on a reversed Morning Glory, features evening glory!: They shared: "We're impressed with how the house maintains a steady indoor temperature with very little added heat..."
Floor Plan
From the spacious north foyer large enough to be a gallery, there is a view all the way through the house. Around the corner, the dining area has a sunroom-like feel with windows on two sides. The wood stove hearth is at the center of the primary living area.
Tucker further around the corner and a bit out of sight is the large kitchen with its breakfast bar and island. It has separate ovens, a sink under large windows, and plenty of counter space for two cooks. The large working pantry expands the kitchen work area even further with a full counter on one side and a row of floor-to-ceiling shelves on the other.
The master bedroom is on the private end for maximum acoustical privacy from the kitchen and living area. The master bath is separated from the bedroom by the master closet which also helps minimize sound disturbances from the sleeping area. The master bath features a large shower and a private toilet nook.
The additional two bedrooms are centrally located allowing for maximum flexibility with endless uses in the convenient central location. Bathroom 2 can also be used for guests.
Tucker further around the corner and a bit out of sight is the large kitchen with its breakfast bar and island. It has separate ovens, a sink under large windows, and plenty of counter space for two cooks. The large working pantry expands the kitchen work area even further with a full counter on one side and a row of floor-to-ceiling shelves on the other.
The master bedroom is on the private end for maximum acoustical privacy from the kitchen and living area. The master bath is separated from the bedroom by the master closet which also helps minimize sound disturbances from the sleeping area. The master bath features a large shower and a private toilet nook.
The additional two bedrooms are centrally located allowing for maximum flexibility with endless uses in the convenient central location. Bathroom 2 can also be used for guests.
Attached Garage
The attached two-car garage has extra room on the south end for storage. The doors on the east side allow the home to fit on small lots and away from strong northwest winter winds.
Construction Info
Eight-foot high ceilings make for an economical build, but the kitchen, dining, and living room ceilings are vaulted with scissor trusses that peak close to 12 feet in the middle. The stud-framed walls are 6 inches thick but can vary in thickness and R-value to accommodate various types of insulation appropriate to the climate where the home will be constructed. The truss framed roof allows for an economical type of vented roof with ceiling insulation such as thick, loose-fill cellulose with jacked-up truss ends. Stone, tile, or brick pavers as well as polished concrete in the southern rooms add character and thermal mass by soaking up the sun's rays striking the floors in winter.
Modification Ideas
Since these ideas may affect energy performance and structural integrity, they should only be undertaken with professional assistance.
- To add stairs for a basement, reduce the pantry size or widen the entry area
- Reduce the pantry size and add a study nook or seating area near the wood stove, or a half bath
- Add space for a soaking tub and yoga nook with a quaint sunroom type of space on the east side of the master bedroom
- Detach the garage and move it to the west with a breezeway between it and the house
- Reduce south glass for warmer climates. Thermal mass can then also be reduced
Construction Prints, etc.
For this plan, the following are included with orders for Construction Prints and CAD Files:
- Schematic Site Plan
- Slab On Grade Foundation Plan
- Floor Plan with Garage
- Exterior Elevations
- Building Section
- Kitchen Elevations
- Typical Wall Detail
- Schematic Electrical
- Schematic Framing Plan
Comments and Photos
The 3D images are intended to show the general form of the exterior. Colors and materials are easy to change. Interior design materials and colors for all Sun Plans designs are chosen by the home owner.
"We are happily building our Morning Glory 3 house and now we are in a pickle.
We have told the contractors that we want flush mounted LEDs for the hall, pantry, bathrooms, and the Kitchen. So we saw they had put in Halo can lights. The pressure is that the electrical inspection is tomorrow."
Even though the Sun Plans designs specify surface mounted LED ceiling lights, the above situation is a common occurrence. Luckily Bob and Linda caught this in time and based on the advice from Sun Plans had the lights changed out to prevent all of the ceiling/insulation penetrations that they would have otherwise had and fortunately this was noticed just in time.
Bob and Linda provided some construction photos as well as images right after they moved in. The pecan color stained wood siding and green roof show how different a home can look with changes in exterior materials either during the adaptation process or with the builder during construction.
They also opened up the kitchen and dining a bit more by shortening the peninsula, and making it open below. Their movable island allows for flexibility in the kitchen.
Although the home was planned to have polished concrete floors, some of the concrete was damaged during construction so was covered with tile instead.
"...brought us a variety of weather conditions with temperatures ranging from lows in the upper 20's to highs in the upper 80's. We're impressed with how the house maintains a steady indoor temperature with very little added heat...We especially appreciate how light all the rooms are with the large windows. The north bedroom is the exception, as it seems rather dark with the window under the porch roof. We like the concrete floor, which doesn't seem at all cold in bare feet...It is a great house." Satisfied clients, Bob and Linda
Their comment about how the north bedroom seems a bit dark highlights how porches in general can negatively affect a space and must be carefully considered in the design stage. On the south side, they negatively block winter solar gain, on the east and west sides they block east and west sun which can be especially helpful in the summer when there is more sunlight hours on the sides of the home, and on the north porches block what little light the north sides receives throughout the year. Designing outdoor spaces including porches can take as much thought as designing interior spaces.
