Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in your residential drafting services?

Our residential drafting services include custom home design, blueprint drafting, construction drawings, and permitting documents. Packages range from builders sets (basic floor plan and elevations) to full architectural plans with detailed specifications and engineering documentation. We offer flexibility to meet your project needs and budget.

Are your custom house plans permit-ready?

Yes, our full architectural plans packages include all documents needed for local building permits in Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Boerne, and Texas Hill Country jurisdictions. All residential drafting meets current building codes and is ready for submission to building departments.

What is an AIBD certified designer and how does it differ from an architect?

AIBD certification means our designer meets professional standards for residential design and drafting. While architects focus on large public buildings, AIBD certified designers specialize in custom home design and residential projects. We're NCBDC certified #44-528 and AIBD Professional Members with 40+ years of experience.

What custom home design services do you offer?

We provide comprehensive custom residential home design and architectural drafting services including: full-service custom residential home design, architectural drafting, construction plans, site analysis, remodel and addition design, permit-ready drawings, energy-efficient design consultation, and site-specific design solutions. We specialize in Texas Hill Country architectural styles and work with homeowners to create designs that blend modern lifestyle needs with timeless aesthetics.

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Do you handle home remodels and additions?

Yes, we provide comprehensive remodel and addition design services. Whether you're expanding your existing home, creating a major kitchen renovation, adding a new wing, or completely reimagining your space, we approach remodels with the same professional standards as new construction. Remodel projects require careful site analysis, structural assessment, and integration with existing conditions. Our remodel designs are fully engineered and permit-ready for contractors.

Can you modify existing house plans or create as-built drawings?

Yes, we provide residential drafting services for plan modifications and can create as-built drawings of existing homes for renovation planning, property documentation, or resale purposes. This helps you understand existing conditions before planning renovations or additions.

Do you design energy-efficient and green homes?

Yes, we specialize in energy-efficient and green home design. We incorporate passive solar design, optimal window placement, energy-efficient building envelopes, proper home orientation for climate control, and structural systems that improve long-term performance and occupant comfort. Our green design expertise includes SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels), spray foam insulation, water reclamation systems, and solar panel integration.

Learn more about green design →

Can you design homes on sloped, rocky, or irregular lots?

Yes, designing homes on challenging Hill Country terrain is one of our specialties. We have extensive experience with sloped, rocky, and irregularly-shaped lots. Our approach includes custom foundation solutions, stepped floor plans, thoughtful site orientation to maximize views while minimizing excavation costs, and strategic placement to work with the natural topography. These challenging sites often result in the most unique and beautiful custom homes. View our portfolio →

Do you handle structural engineering?

We coordinate directly with licensed Texas Registered Engineers to provide complete structural engineering services. This includes foundation plans, framing details, beam calculations, load specifications, and all engineering requirements needed for permitting and construction. Our partnership with professional engineers ensures your custom home design is not only beautiful and functional but structurally sound and fully code-compliant.

What areas in Texas do you serve?

We design homes throughout the Texas Hill Country region, including Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Bandera, Comfort, Ingram, Hunt, Harper, Mountain Home, Center Point, Johnson City, Stonewall, Pipe Creek, Lakehills, Medina, and Blanco. We serve a 75-mile radius from Kerrville and also provide remote/online design services for clients throughout Texas and beyond.

Do you have client references?

Yes, we provide references from our most recent clients. We will provide the names and telephone numbers of the last THREE clients we've worked with. This gives you the opportunity to speak directly with homeowners who have recently completed projects with our firm, allowing you to ask about their experience, design satisfaction, timeline adherence, and value for investment. Read our client reviews →

What have past clients said about Riverside Home Designs?

Our clients consistently praise our professional approach, creative solutions, and attention to detail. Common themes include appreciation for our design ideas, timely delivery, thorough explanations of the design process, cost-effective planning, and dependability. We have compiled numerous testimonials from satisfied clients across the Texas Hill Country region, all of whom have benefited from our 40+ years of custom home design experience.

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Do you work with contractors and builders?

Yes, we work regularly with professional contractors and builders throughout the Texas Hill Country. Our relationships with local builders help us understand construction costs, local labor availability, and material preferences. If you already have a contractor, we can coordinate directly with them. If you don't have a builder, we can provide recommendations of reputable contractors we've worked with successfully. Our construction documents are detailed and clear to minimize builder questions and reduce construction costs. View our recommended builders →

How much does custom home design cost?

Pricing depends on several factors including square footage, design complexity, engineering requirements, site-specific challenges, and custom design features. Most projects are billed on a flat per-square-foot basis, providing clear cost predictability for your project.

We offer three design package levels:

After an initial consultation, we provide a detailed Letter of Understanding that outlines all services, deliverables, fees, and project timeline so you know exactly what to expect.

View detailed information about what's included in each plan package →

What is included in each design package?

Our design packages vary in detail and scope based on your project needs. The Builders Set provides essential construction documents needed for basic construction. Full Architectural adds comprehensive architectural details, specifications, and finish materials. Full Architectural with Engineering includes complete structural engineering plans for complex projects.

For complete details on what is included in each package →

What file formats do you provide for construction drawings?

We provide PDF copies, printed blueprints, and CAD files. All residential drafting is completed professionally to ensure compatibility with your contractor's workflow and building department requirements.

What are production costs?

Production costs are separate from design fees and cover the actual expense of producing finished plan sets for construction and permitting. Design prices do not include plotting or reproduction costs. Once your design is finalized and approved, we charge $11.00 per page for full-size plotting on bond paper and $4.50 per page for standard copies. These production charges are billed separately as needed for construction submission, builder review, and permitting processes.

How do I hire Riverside Home Designs?

The process begins with an initial consultation where we interview you and view your lot or proposed building site. If you prefer to get started online, you can complete our comprehensive online design questionnaire, which helps us understand your design preferences, lifestyle needs, architectural style preferences, budget considerations, and specific project requirements.

After our consultation or reviewing your questionnaire, we provide a detailed Letter of Understanding outlining all services, deliverables, fees, and project timeline. Larger projects are divided into three payments, while smaller projects are divided into two payments. We then proceed through our collaborative design process, which includes regular communication, design presentations, revision rounds, and refinements as specified in your agreement.

What is your typical design project timeline?

A typical custom home design project takes 8-12 weeks from initial consultation to final, permit-ready design completion. The timeline depends on project complexity, number of revision rounds, engineering requirements, and permitting processes. Simple remodels may take 4-6 weeks, while complex multi-story custom homes with extensive engineering may take 14-16 weeks. We provide a detailed timeline in our Letter of Understanding so you know exactly what to expect for your specific project. Learn about our design process →

Why do plans show 'NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION'?

The 'NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION' notation on preliminary plans indicates that design work is still in progress and revisions are forthcoming. This protects all parties by clearly signaling that plans are not yet ready for construction and may contain critical errors or omissions that will be corrected.

Once the design work is completed, all revisions are approved, and you have signed off on the final design, we remove this notation. The removal of 'NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION' indicates the design is finalized and all information needed for construction is included. This also confirms that we have completed our internal 3D cross-reference check and are confident everything will work as planned during construction.

Do your plans meet local building codes?

Yes, absolutely. All Riverside Home Designs plans include comprehensive notation and callouts ensuring full compliance with or exceeding the building codes of the location where the home is constructed. We are AIBD Professional Members and NCBDC Certified professionals, credentials that ensure our work meets the highest professional standards and all applicable local, state, and international building codes.

Our design process includes code compliance review to ensure your custom home design can be constructed safely and legally in your specific jurisdiction.

What is AIBD Certification and why does it matter?

AIBD (American Institute of Building Design) certification means we meet rigorous professional standards for residential design expertise and ethics. As Professional Members of AIBD, we are committed to continuing education, code compliance, and high-quality design standards. AIBD certified designers specialize in custom residential homes, unlike architects who focus on larger public buildings. Our AIBD credentials ensure you're working with professionals dedicated to residential design excellence.

What is NCBDC Certification?

The National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) is the nationally recognized certification body for professional building designers. Our NCBDC Certification #44-528 demonstrates that we have met strict national standards for knowledge, experience, and professional conduct. NCBDC certified designers have proven expertise in residential building design, code compliance, and construction documentation. This certification is recognized across the United States and assures our clients that we maintain the highest professional standards.

Do you design energy-efficient and green homes?

Absolutely! We specialize in sustainable, energy-efficient home design. Our green designs meet Energy Star standards for superior energy efficiency and lower utility costs. We integrate advanced technologies like SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels), solar systems, and water reclamation. Our sustainable designs align with LEED principles and U.S. Green Building Council standards, promoting environmentally responsible building practices throughout the Texas Hill Country.

How do you ensure building code compliance?

Code compliance is built into every phase of our design process. All our plans include comprehensive notation ensuring compliance with ICC (International Code Council) standards and local building codes. We coordinate with licensed engineers for structural compliance and review our designs against current building codes for your specific jurisdiction. Our AIBD and NCBDC credentials, combined with our engineering partnerships, ensure your custom home design meets or exceeds all applicable building codes and is constructed safely and legally.