Getting blueprints + Reno question

[Ducay]

Title pretty much sums it up.

Looking at purchasing a place and I want to take a look at the home's plan first. (See if my reno plans are feesible).
Google yielded no results

[Kybosh]

I'm pretty sure you go to city hall for this. That's where you go to submit your reno plans so it's probably the same place.

[Ducay]

Can I get it even if Im not the current homeowner?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Can I get it even if Im not the current homeowner?

That I don't know. I seem to recall that you can see them but you might not be able to get a copy.

[You Need a Thneed]

I doubt the city will have them, much less give them to you. Talk to the owner first, then talk to the builder (if you know which builder built it).

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I doubt the city will have them, much less give them to you. Talk to the owner first, then talk to the builder (if you know which builder built it).

Pretty sure the city keeps plans for every building

[You Need a Thneed]

^Every commercial building I think they do. I sort of doubt that there are individual plans for every house.

[STeeLy]

Edit: Title change, original reply does not apply.

[Ducay]

So I called 3-1-1, you submit a request through them. Then the permits/development office pulls the records and then they call you once they're ready for you to look at.

So ya, they keep all records. Now I just gotta wait for them to call

[moncton golden flames]

the city typically keeps a set of plans from the building permit application of the house. they store these plans in a 'library' that will cost you around $50 to have them pulled for you. on top of that, if there is any copyright on the plans, you will need to get written permission from the original designer to allow the city to make a copy for you. all that said, you may have to be the home owner to do any of this.

what kind of reno plans do you have in mind? how old is the house you are looking at buying? you may not need the plans to know what is feasible, but they wouldn't hurt either.

[Ducay]

Looking at taking down a wall that seperates the kitchen from the dining / living areas.

The wall is about 4 1/2 inches wide (including drywall), so Im wondering if maybe there are any pipes or vents that run through the wall to the upper level.

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

the city typically keeps a set of plans from the building permit application of the house. they store these plans in a 'library' that will cost you around $50 to have them pulled for you. on top of that, if there is any copyright on the plans, you will need to get written permission from the original designer to allow the city to make a copy for you. all that said, you may have to be the home owner to do any of this.

what kind of reno plans do you have in mind? how old is the house you are looking at buying? you may not need the plans to know what is feasible, but they wouldn't hurt either.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I doubt the city will have them, much less give them to you. Talk to the owner first, then talk to the builder (if you know which builder built it).

Incorrect, the city should have a copy.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Looking at taking down a wall that seperates the kitchen from the dining / living areas.

The wall is about 4 1/2 inches wide (including drywall), so Im wondering if maybe there are any pipes or vents that run through the wall to the upper level.

I dont think the prints would show you if there was something inside the wall you are talking about, but a 1.5" or 2" plumbing vent can be ran in a 2x4 wall. You won't know until you take a sledge hammer to it.

[Ducay]

So the blueprints wouldn't indicate plumbing or hvac lines?

What about detailing which are load bearing walls

[fredr123]

I sat there to view plans for someone one time. I was sketching the plans and taking down dimensions for a couple rooms and got the stink eye from the clerk who told me I couldn't copy anything.

From what I recall, the drawings were more of the architectural type. They had dimensions and elevations but I don't recall seeing anything mechanical in there.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Ducay

So the blueprints wouldn't indicate plumbing or hvac lines?

What about detailing which are load bearing walls

No, you will get a floorplan layout, foundation plan, cross section and elevations. The plumbing/hvac stuff will not be shown on your drawing, as these things are left to the discretion of the particular tradesman.

You will probably be able to figure out which walls are load bearing by looking at the cross section/roof truss layout however.......or if you are not sure, the plan reviewer at the city could probably point these things out to you.

[Ducay]

So if its got big ol' roof trusses, would only the outer walls be load bearing?

The wall in question is on the main floor, and IIRC, it runs parallel to room trusses

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Looking at taking down a wall that seperates the kitchen from the dining / living areas.

The wall is about 4 1/2 inches wide (including drywall), so Im wondering if maybe there are any pipes or vents that run through the wall to the upper level.

typically, house plans do not show the location of such mechanical/electrical components, especially older plans.

it must be a 2 storey home if you're worried about mechanical going up thru the wall. does the mechanical room lie below the wall you are looking at removing? are there any cold air returns or heating vents located above the wall you want to remove? any bathrooms that share that wall?

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by Ducay

So if its got big ol' roof trusses, would only the outer walls be load bearing?

The wall in question is on the main floor, and IIRC, it runs parallel to room trusses

if the wall runs parralel to the truss direction, it is not a load bearing wall, only hvac & plumbing to worry about.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Ducay

So if its got big ol' roof trusses, would only the outer walls be load bearing?

The wall in question is on the main floor, and IIRC, it runs parallel to room trusses

Well trusses nowadays typically span the width of the whole house, so yeah only your exterior walls would be load bearing. Having said that, I have no idea how old your house is, what style it is, or the design etc., so take this with a grain of salt.

If the wall you want to take down is parallel to your roof joists/trusses, then you should be okay doing the modifications you want.