For most people, building a house can be a very challenging exercise, but you know what? The most valuable things in life requires effort and dedication and therefore building your own house is really not different! As a result, we have prepared a number of frequently asked questions which will assist you on your journey of finding that house plan that you’ve been dreaming about. Below you will find some frequently asked questions and answers for your review. Also note that should you have a question that is not not in the list below, or if you need extra details, please remember to email us or give us a call +27 11 704 0074.

What are the delivery charges for house plan orders concluded online?

Our house plans are delivered by in digital format (PDF or CAD) via email. As a result delivery is absolutely FREE.

Which payment methods are accepted in the Online Shop?

Our payments are handled by PayPal. That means all credit card and debit card payments are handled securely online by PayPal.

How long will delivery take?

Delivery takes place as soon as payment can be verified.This may take a few minutes upto several hours

How secure is shopping in the Online Shop? Is my data protected?

Yes, PayPal being the globally renowned payment gateway, all payment information is secured and guarded against any type of malicious use.

Plandeluxe.com utilizes a secure and comprehensive e-commerce system, which incorporates SSL encryption and tamper-proof digital objects that aid in preventing impersonation and hacking, while protecting your privacy. It has a secure firewall security system and offline encrypted storage facility that minimizes risk.

What is included in the house plans that will be delivered to me?

The email attachments shall include a set of ready-to-build house plans in the form of detailed, high-quality drawings. These drawings will consist of the following:

  • Detailed Floor Plans
  • These drawings show a bird's eye view of every floor layout displaying all rooms, walls, windows, doors, drainage, dimensions, details and notes of material items. It also features references to different components and sections located in other places on the building plans.

  • Side Elevations
  • These drawings show the sides of the house when viewed from all four sides - North, South, East and West.They also show the external treatment of the walls, finishes and exterior materials. The drawings provide details and notes on vertical dimensions and drainage components of the structure. Also elaborated are roofing notes and corbelling details. All other unique and specific details to the particular plan are also indicated here.

  • Cross-Sections
  • These drawings show a sliced view of the entire structure taken at specific points.Large-scale views show cuttings or sections of the foundations, ground level, floors, walls, staircases and roof details. Additional cross-sections may display important details that may be hidden otherwise in the structure?s deepest layers. Sections show the manner in which various components interconnect, forming a monolithic and solid outcome that then becomes a dwelling place. In certain cases, large scaled drawings may be required for the illustration of the interconnected nature of even the smallest components of the building, which will then translate to the builder and other building consultants what makes up the structure.

  • Electrical Plan
  • These drawings outline suggested positions for your electrical plugs, outlets, switches, lighting etc. Layouts are provided for every floor level, every room, the garage and exterior. Note that your electrician will be responsible for the designs and reticulation of all wiring, circuits and every engineering detail in the entire system.

  • Drainage Plan & Details
  • These drawings are included in their respective Floor plan and Elevation diagrams. Their notes and details are specified here as well.

  • Roof Plan
  • This drawing offers an overview of the configuration of the roof. Roof ridges, angles, valleys and overhangs are displayed. The details and specifications of the roofing materials to be used are detailed as well.

    What will not be included in the building plans package?

  • Site Plans
  • These display the house location in relation to the specific site, stand or plot. Natural contours are typically illustrated in such plans to show the contrast between the gradient of the proposed structure and the ground levels. These are inclusive of the position of service connections as prescribed for your particular site. Note that for a relatively small fee, a local draughtsman or architect may be hired to produce your Site Plan.

  • Engineering Certificates
  • In certain specific structural situations such as double storey houses, complex roofing and foundations or unstable soils, you will require an engineer?s certificate or seal before you submit the plans to the local authority. This document serves as proof that a licensed structural engineer was appointed by you the homeowner, for purposes of undertaking any specification or testing of appropriate measures to guarantee the integrity of the entire structural system.


    Where necessary, following purchase of the plans from Plandeluxe, you may then appoint your local engineer to undertake quality control and site visits during construction of your home. Remember that a final Certificate of Completion from your engineer will also be required upon completing building but prior to obtaining the Occupation Certificate that permits you to occupy the house. The Completion Certificate is issued by an engineer once they have satisfied themselves that the construction has been undertaken in accordance with their initial specifications.

  • Local Building & Planning Department Approval
  • The purpose of your local authority is to control and regulate the constant development and densification of local residential areas and cities. This is undertaken via different building codes and zoning regulations. You are therefore required to submit your building plans to your specific local planning or building authority. While every local authority operates on similar National Building Regulations, each has certain particular local requirements that will have to be met before permission is granted for building the house.

    Therefore, in satisfying such requirements, the home owner needs to remain aware of the specific requirements and payable fees to the relevant local councils and authorities. Because such requirements considerably vary from one local authority to another, it is wise to approach your relevant local authority to ascertain their requirements. Also not included are the energy efficiency calculations, SANS 204 and the SANS 10400-XA requirements. It is the responsibility of the home owner to meet these requirements in keeping with the geographical zoning that is applicable to the location of the stand or site. Note that for a relatively small fee, you may appoint an energy efficiency consultant, or your local draughtsman or architect to undertake these requirements.

    Can I purchase a plan from Plandeluxe but have another person modify it?

    Yes. If not already supplied to you, simply request a copy of a CAD format of your plans from Plandeluxe, and we will email it to you in a DWG format. This will enable another draughtsman or architect may then carry out the necessary changes, thereby making your modification process relatively quicker and less expensive to undertake.

    Can Plandeluxe draw up customized building plans from scratch in accordance with my needs?

    Yes. Plandeluxe offers custom design services to customers who would like to have a once off house design specifically tailored to their needs.

    I have identified a house plan for my dream house on your site, but I would prefer some minor adjustments. Can this be done?

    Yes. All you need to do is to send us an email detailing the type of changes you want. Feel free to download images from our site and scribble the changes that you want. This will help us figure out whether the changes can be effected or not.We will also be able to work out a quote for effecting these changes. Please note that if the changes are minor like removing a door or window, Plandeluxe will usually not charge any money for such changes.

    Will a materials cost estimate or bill of quantity (BOQ) be included in the plans?

    No. Building prices vary enormously and depend on a variety of factors including prices charged for labor and material in your area and other conditions that exist in your local area. Due to this, our advice is to consult builders and hardware stores in your area. However, you may contract a Quantity Surveyor to provide you with a more accurate picture of the building costs for your home.

    Are the building plans available in a mirror-reversed format?

    For a small fee, Plandeluxe can mirror any plan to suit your requirements. Note also that your local draughtsman or architect may also undertake such conversions to mirror/reverse the building plans.

    How many sets of plans do I need to build a house?

    Usually about ten. In addition to copies for the contractor, plumber and electrician, you will need plan copies to obtain quotes. From the issued plans that you received from Plandeluxe, you may make as many copies as necessary, only for purposes of building your house.

    Why should I purchase plans from PlanDeluxe rather than hire my own draughtsman or architect?

    All the plans available on the PlanDeluxe.com site reflect a very high standard in architectural design, and are offered at a fraction of the cost typically charged by an architect or draughtsman. Once you compare our prices versus typical industry prices, you will see why you simply cannot afford to NOT purchase your plans at Plandeluxe.com. However, in the event that you should wish to hire a professional to provide full service, custom design your house to your unique needs and work as project manager you may appoint one of the Plandeluxe architects in your area by contacting us.

    Am I permitted to build this home on more than one site?

    No. Only the buyer of a house plan is only allowed to build a single house only one time unless otherwise stated in writing from PlanDeluxe.com. No home plans/house plans/ house floor plans/building plans/ brick wall house plans/ architectural designs/ blueprints/ 3D Renders/ drawings/content and images or part thereof can be reproduced and/or copied by any means and for any reason other than for purposes of building the house for which the plans have been bought and only once. We may offer a discounted price for the multiple uses of our plans, for which you will have to contact us to order a license.

    How am I affected by Copyright law?

    All Copyright is reserved to Plandeluxe.com under the terms of the South African Laws & Regulations and ALL International Treaty and Trade provisions. All home plans/house plans/ house floor plans/building plans/ brick wall house plans/ architectural designs/ blueprints/ 3D Renders/ drawings/content and images in this publication are the property of Plandeluxe.com. Any Copyright Infringement carries a minimum penalty of R 1,000,000.00 enforceable by the Laws of South Africa and ALL related International Treaties and Trade provisions.

    Can I visit your offices to consult with one of your professionals and review my requirements?

    Yes, consultation is strictly by appointment. Should you wish to consult or meet one of our professionals prior to buying a plan; a consultation fee will be levied. Otherwise our online quoting process remains FREE OF CHARGE.

    What is a PDF version of the house plans?

    A PDF file features the electronic copy of either the Full scale or Study version of your building plans. PDF is the acronym for Portable Document Format. The PDF file is a digital file format that is popularly utilized today for the easy transfer of files that contain text, drawings, font and pictures into a single digital file format which is very easy to use, download, store, attach onto emails and print additional copies of your building plans. To read the PDF file, you will require the PDF Reader software that is available to download free of charge from Adobe on this link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/. Note that you may not alter a PDF House Plan package after purchase. To make post-purchase modifications to your plans you require a CAD electronic copy of the building plans.

    What is a CAD or AutoCAD Version?

    A CAD/AutoCAD/DWG/DXF file features the electronic copy of your building plans in the format in which they were created. CAD files can only be opened on PCs that have already installed the CAD system. Such a file format is ideal in situations where the customer has purchased plans that they like but would prefer to make certain modifications to their plans before they build or submit them to the local authorities. You may hire any local Architect or Draughtsman who uses the CAD system to make such changes.

    What are the meanings of the abbreviations on the floor plans?

    Some of the common abbreviations appearing on our floor plans include:

  • Bedr. - Bedroom
  • BIC. - Built-In-Cupboards
  • D/Garage.- Double Garage
  • Din.- Dining Room
  • ENTR.- Entrance
  • Lin. - Linen Cupboard
  • Prep. Bowl- Preparation Bowl
  • SHW or SH.- Shower
  • Scul.- Scullery
  • WC. - Water Closet
  • WHB.- Wash Hand Basin
  • WIC. - Walk-In Closet
  • How do you calculate the Square Meter (m2) or Footage (ft2)?

    The footage or square meter of the plan is calculated on the covered (slab or roofed) habitable living area which includes Double Volumes. This also includes any finished garages, basement areas, patios and porches (but excludes balconies or any open or uncovered spaces).

    What are the delivery charges for house plan orders concluded online?

    Our house plans are delivered by in digital format (PDF or CAD) via email. As a result delivery is absolutely FREE.

    Which payment methods are accepted in the Online Shop?

    Our payments are handled by PayPal. That means all credit card and debit card payments are handled securely online by PayPal.

    How long will delivery take?

    Delivery takes place as soon as payment can be verified.This may take a few minutes upto several hours

    How secure is shopping in the Online Shop? Is my data protected?

    Yes, PayPal being the globally renowned payment gateway, all payment information is secured and guarded against any type of malicious use.

    Plandeluxe.com utilizes a secure and comprehensive e-commerce system, which incorporates SSL encryption and tamper-proof digital objects that aid in preventing impersonation and hacking, while protecting your privacy. It has a secure firewall security system and offline encrypted storage facility that minimizes risk.

    What is included in the house plans that will be delivered to me?

    The email attachments shall include a set of ready-to-build house plans in the form of detailed, high-quality drawings. These drawings will consist of the following:

  • Detailed Floor Plans
  • These drawings show a bird's eye view of every floor layout displaying all rooms, walls, windows, doors, drainage, dimensions, details and notes of material items. It also features references to different components and sections located in other places on the building plans.

  • Side Elevations
  • These drawings show the sides of the house when viewed from all four sides - North, South, East and West.They also show the external treatment of the walls, finishes and exterior materials. The drawings provide details and notes on vertical dimensions and drainage components of the structure. Also elaborated are roofing notes and corbelling details. All other unique and specific details to the particular plan are also indicated here.

  • Cross-Sections
  • These drawings show a sliced view of the entire structure taken at specific points.Large-scale views show cuttings or sections of the foundations, ground level, floors, walls, staircases and roof details. Additional cross-sections may display important details that may be hidden otherwise in the structure?s deepest layers. Sections show the manner in which various components interconnect, forming a monolithic and solid outcome that then becomes a dwelling place. In certain cases, large scaled drawings may be required for the illustration of the interconnected nature of even the smallest components of the building, which will then translate to the builder and other building consultants what makes up the structure.

  • Electrical Plan
  • These drawings outline suggested positions for your electrical plugs, outlets, switches, lighting etc. Layouts are provided for every floor level, every room, the garage and exterior. Note that your electrician will be responsible for the designs and reticulation of all wiring, circuits and every engineering detail in the entire system.

  • Drainage Plan & Details
  • These drawings are included in their respective Floor plan and Elevation diagrams. Their notes and details are specified here as well.

  • Roof Plan
  • This drawing offers an overview of the configuration of the roof. Roof ridges, angles, valleys and overhangs are displayed. The details and specifications of the roofing materials to be used are detailed as well.

    What will not be included in the building plans package?

  • Site Plans
  • These display the house location in relation to the specific site, stand or plot. Natural contours are typically illustrated in such plans to show the contrast between the gradient of the proposed structure and the ground levels. These are inclusive of the position of service connections as prescribed for your particular site. Note that for a relatively small fee, a local draughtsman or architect may be hired to produce your Site Plan.

  • Engineering Certificates
  • In certain specific structural situations such as double storey houses, complex roofing and foundations or unstable soils, you will require an engineer?s certificate or seal before you submit the plans to the local authority. This document serves as proof that a licensed structural engineer was appointed by you the homeowner, for purposes of undertaking any specification or testing of appropriate measures to guarantee the integrity of the entire structural system.


    Where necessary, following purchase of the plans from Plandeluxe, you may then appoint your local engineer to undertake quality control and site visits during construction of your home. Remember that a final Certificate of Completion from your engineer will also be required upon completing building but prior to obtaining the Occupation Certificate that permits you to occupy the house. The Completion Certificate is issued by an engineer once they have satisfied themselves that the construction has been undertaken in accordance with their initial specifications.

  • Local Building & Planning Department Approval
  • The purpose of your local authority is to control and regulate the constant development and densification of local residential areas and cities. This is undertaken via different building codes and zoning regulations. You are therefore required to submit your building plans to your specific local planning or building authority. While every local authority operates on similar National Building Regulations, each has certain particular local requirements that will have to be met before permission is granted for building the house.

    Therefore, in satisfying such requirements, the home owner needs to remain aware of the specific requirements and payable fees to the relevant local councils and authorities. Because such requirements considerably vary from one local authority to another, it is wise to approach your relevant local authority to ascertain their requirements. Also not included are the energy efficiency calculations, SANS 204 and the SANS 10400-XA requirements. It is the responsibility of the home owner to meet these requirements in keeping with the geographical zoning that is applicable to the location of the stand or site. Note that for a relatively small fee, you may appoint an energy efficiency consultant, or your local draughtsman or architect to undertake these requirements.

    Can I purchase a plan from Plandeluxe but have another person modify it?

    Yes. If not already supplied to you, simply request a copy of a CAD format of your plans from Plandeluxe, and we will email it to you in a DWG format. This will enable another draughtsman or architect may then carry out the necessary changes, thereby making your modification process relatively quicker and less expensive to undertake.

    Can Plandeluxe draw up customized building plans from scratch in accordance with my needs?

    Yes. Plandeluxe offers custom design services to customers who would like to have a once off house design specifically tailored to their needs.

    I have identified a house plan for my dream house on your site, but I would prefer some minor adjustments. Can this be done?

    Yes. All you need to do is to send us an email detailing the type of changes you want. Feel free to download images from our site and scribble the changes that you want. This will help us figure out whether the changes can be effected or not.We will also be able to work out a quote for effecting these changes. Please note that if the changes are minor like removing a door or window, Plandeluxe will usually not charge any money for such changes.

    Will a materials cost estimate or bill of quantity (BOQ) be included in the plans?

    No. Building prices vary enormously and depend on a variety of factors including prices charged for labor and material in your area and other conditions that exist in your local area. Due to this, our advice is to consult builders and hardware stores in your area. However, you may contract a Quantity Surveyor to provide you with a more accurate picture of the building costs for your home.

    Are the building plans available in a mirror-reversed format?

    For a small fee, Plandeluxe can mirror any plan to suit your requirements. Note also that your local draughtsman or architect may also undertake such conversions to mirror/reverse the building plans.

    How many sets of plans do I need to build a house?

    Usually about ten. In addition to copies for the contractor, plumber and electrician, you will need plan copies to obtain quotes. From the issued plans that you received from Plandeluxe, you may make as many copies as necessary, only for purposes of building your house.

    Why should I purchase plans from PlanDeluxe rather than hire my own draughtsman or architect?

    All the plans available on the PlanDeluxe.com site reflect a very high standard in architectural design, and are offered at a fraction of the cost typically charged by an architect or draughtsman. Once you compare our prices versus typical industry prices, you will see why you simply cannot afford to NOT purchase your plans at Plandeluxe.com. However, in the event that you should wish to hire a professional to provide full service, custom design your house to your unique needs and work as project manager you may appoint one of the Plandeluxe architects in your area by contacting us.

    Am I permitted to build this home on more than one site?

    No. Only the buyer of a house plan is only allowed to build a single house only one time unless otherwise stated in writing from PlanDeluxe.com. No home plans/house plans/ house floor plans/building plans/ brick wall house plans/ architectural designs/ blueprints/ 3D Renders/ drawings/content and images or part thereof can be reproduced and/or copied by any means and for any reason other than for purposes of building the house for which the plans have been bought and only once. We may offer a discounted price for the multiple uses of our plans, for which you will have to contact us to order a license.

    How am I affected by Copyright law?

    All Copyright is reserved to Plandeluxe.com under the terms of the South African Laws & Regulations and ALL International Treaty and Trade provisions. All home plans/house plans/ house floor plans/building plans/ brick wall house plans/ architectural designs/ blueprints/ 3D Renders/ drawings/content and images in this publication are the property of Plandeluxe.com. Any Copyright Infringement carries a minimum penalty of R 1,000,000.00 enforceable by the Laws of South Africa and ALL related International Treaties and Trade provisions.

    Can I visit your offices to consult with one of your professionals and review my requirements?

    Yes, consultation is strictly by appointment. Should you wish to consult or meet one of our professionals prior to buying a plan; a consultation fee will be levied. Otherwise our online quoting process remains FREE OF CHARGE.

    What is a PDF version of the house plans?

    A PDF file features the electronic copy of either the Full scale or Study version of your building plans. PDF is the acronym for Portable Document Format. The PDF file is a digital file format that is popularly utilized today for the easy transfer of files that contain text, drawings, font and pictures into a single digital file format which is very easy to use, download, store, attach onto emails and print additional copies of your building plans. To read the PDF file, you will require the PDF Reader software that is available to download free of charge from Adobe on this link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/. Note that you may not alter a PDF House Plan package after purchase. To make post-purchase modifications to your plans you require a CAD electronic copy of the building plans.

    What is a CAD or AutoCAD Version?

    A CAD/AutoCAD/DWG/DXF file features the electronic copy of your building plans in the format in which they were created. CAD files can only be opened on PCs that have already installed the CAD system. Such a file format is ideal in situations where the customer has purchased plans that they like but would prefer to make certain modifications to their plans before they build or submit them to the local authorities. You may hire any local Architect or Draughtsman who uses the CAD system to make such changes.

    What are the meanings of the abbreviations on the floor plans?

    Some of the common abbreviations appearing on our floor plans include:

  • Bedr. - Bedroom
  • BIC. - Built-In-Cupboards
  • D/Garage.- Double Garage
  • Din.- Dining Room
  • ENTR.- Entrance
  • Lin. - Linen Cupboard
  • Prep. Bowl- Preparation Bowl
  • SHW or SH.- Shower
  • Scul.- Scullery
  • WC. - Water Closet
  • WHB.- Wash Hand Basin
  • WIC. - Walk-In Closet
  • How do you calculate the Square Meter (m2) or Footage (ft2)?

    The footage or square meter of the plan is calculated on the covered (slab or roofed) habitable living area which includes Double Volumes. This also includes any finished garages, basement areas, patios and porches (but excludes balconies or any open or uncovered spaces).