Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our FAQ page, where you can find answers to the most common questions about house construction and design.

Our aim is to provide you with the knowledge and insights you need, whether you’re planning to build your dream home or simply looking for inspiration on design and architecture.

This section covers a wide range of topics, from the initial planning stages to the final touches that make a house a home.

Question How much does it cost to build a Take Airy house
Answer

We approach designing all our house to balance features, square footage, and cost. Nothing is truly custom in our cabins, which keeps the building cost low. All the windows and doors are available as standard catalog items from major manufacturers. The cabinetry is designed to make use of readily available catalog items from big retailers like Ikea. We designed this purposefully to enable you to achieve a beautiful, modern outcome without breaking the bank and without the headaches of ordering custom components.

We encourage our customers to plan for a construction cost of at least $244.50 per square foot (the national average), including labor. So, a 168 square foot cabin will cost roughly $37,548 to build (168*244.50=41,076). This cost assumes the use of labor, and that you’ll be working with a team of carpenters, plumbers, and electricians to build your cabin. While it could be less expensive than this if you put some sweat equity into the project, and do some of the work yourself, $244.50/sqft is a good benchmark to start your planning process with. This cost does not include Land and Land prep (driveway, clearing, well and septic), and FFE (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment). Keep in mind that if you work with a more premium builder or use more premium materials this number could go up.<

Question Can I work with a local designer/engineer to customize my plans?
Answer
Yes, Take Airy’s Complete Package includes .dwg files for CAD programs, which can be modified and customized with the help of a local designer, architect, or engineer.
Question Can I change my foundation?
Answer

Almost all Take Airy cabins integrate a pier foundation because it's cost effective and practical for remote locations and a wide range of soil conditions.

However, a Take Airy structure can be placed on other systems including slabs, insulated concrete forms or a basement/crawlspace. All foundation plans must be reviewed by a local engineer to meet site specific conditions.

Question Do your plans come with an Engineering/Architectural Stamp?
Answer
Many states require plans to be stamped by a licensed professional as part of the permit approval process. Our catalog is designed by our talented team of designers reviewed by professional engineers, but is not stamped by us. If your municipality requires a stamp, you will need to engage a local engineer or architect to have it reviewed and stamped.
Question Are Take Airy building plans up to code?
Answer

All of our plans are compliant to the International Residential Code (IRC)—The 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. IRC is the rulebook that informs all international, state, and local building codes.

Building codes vary by state, and county, we encourage you to consult with your municipality as you approach building your cabin. They'll be able to review the plans, the conditions where you intend to build, and verify that your plans meet local building requirements.

Take Airy structures are designed accommodate specific wind, snow and siesmic loads indicated in both our starter and complete plans.

Question Can you recommend a builder to help me build my house?
Answer

We don't currently connect our customers to specific builders. However, we’re thinking through how to offer a certified builder program. If you’re a builder who is interested in becoming certified with us, please email [email protected]

Our plans can be read by every builder. We also offer additional assets such as materials lists, fixtures, finishes, and furnishings guides in our Complete Packages to make it easy for you, as the homeowner, to make your build look exactly like the photos you see on our site.

Question What file types do the plans come in?
Answer
  • Starter Plans (.pdf)
  • Complete Plans (.pdf)
  • Materials Markup / Takeoff (.pdf)
  • Materials / Buying Guide (.pdf)
  • Materials List / Project Worksheet (.xls)
  • 3D Model (.bimx)
  • CAD files (.dwg)

Having file issues?

Shoot us an email at [email protected] and we'll help you troubleshoot.

Question Where can I put a Take Airy house?
Answer

You can build a Take Airy house nearly anywhere on Earth! We’ve designed the cabins to withstand gale force winds on the side of the mountain top, and they do equally well in a backyard in New Jersey.

As you approach building your cabin, consult with your local building department to ensure that your build is compliant to all local zoning and code requirements.

Question What type of license do the Take Airy building plans grant me?
Answer

Take Airy building plans provide a non-transferable license to the purchaser to build one, single cabin depicted in the plans in a residential context. What this means is that one plan purchase allows you to build one cabin of this type. If you’d like to build two of this same cabin, you will need to purchase two licenses. This license supports residential implementations for use with short term rentals, however, this standard license does not extend to commercial entities like hotels or real estate developers.

For licensing fees related to real estate developments and hospitality implementations please contact [email protected]