What our foundation plan design includes
A foundation plan answers three questions: what bears on the ground, how big it needs to be, and how it is reinforced and connected to the building. The answers depend on the loads from the structure above and on the soil – which is why we always ask for a soil or geotechnical report, or the presumptive soil values your code allows.
We prepare foundations for slab-on-grade, stem wall and crawlspace, basement and pier-and-beam systems, and Australian waffle pod and raft slabs. Drawings show dimensions, reinforcement, hold-downs and anchor bolts, step footings, and details at thickenings and openings. Supporting calculations are provided for the engineer who checks and seals the design.
Foundation plans often go with residential drafting sets and structural load calculations. Sloping sites may also need retaining wall design.
Deliverables you receive
- Foundation plan with footing, slab and pier layout
- Footing and slab schedules with reinforcement
- Sections and details (thickenings, steps, openings)
- Anchor bolt and hold-down layout
- Supporting calculations for engineer review
- DWG and PDF drawings ready for the engineer's seal
What we need from you
- Architectural plans and structural loads (or framing plan)
- Soil / geotechnical report or site classification
- Local code edition and design criteria (snow, wind, seismic)
- Site survey with levels for stepped footings
Who orders this service
- Home builders and contractors
- Building designers and drafters
- Homeowners and owner-builders
- Structural engineers needing drafting support
Software and file formats
AutoCAD or Revit drawings with PDF; calculations as PDF reports or spreadsheets.
Foundation Plan Design standards in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia
We set up every project on the standard of the country where it will be built or manufactured. These are the references we work to most often:
| Country | Standards and codes we draft foundation plan design to |
|---|---|
| USA | IRC Chapter 4 foundations, ACI 318 and ACI 332 (residential concrete), IBC Chapter 18 soils and foundations |
| UK | Approved Document A, BS 8004 foundations, Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997) geotechnical design, NHBC Standards Chapter 4 |
| Canada | NBC 2020 Part 9 Section 9.15 footings and foundations, Part 4 for engineered foundations, CSA A23.3 |
| Australia | AS 2870 residential slabs and footings (site classes A–P), AS 3600 concrete structures |
Engineering responsibility: we prepare drawings, models and calculations as a drafting and design-support team. Where the law in your state, province or council requires it, the final design must be reviewed, signed and sealed by the licensed engineer or architect of record for the project. We work to their markups and do not stamp drawings ourselves.
How our foundation plan design process works
- 1Send your files
Upload sketches, PDFs, markups, photos, scans or a model through the quote form. Tell us the standard (US, UK, Canada or Australia) and the deadline.
- 2Fixed quote in hours
We review the scope and reply with a fixed price, the deliverables list and a delivery date. Nothing starts until you approve it.
- 3Drafting & modeling
Your project is drawn in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, SolidWorks or the software you use, on your title block, layers and templates.
- 4QA check
A second drafter checks dimensions, annotations, layer standards, sheet numbering and cross-references against your input before anything is sent.
- 5Delivery & revisions
You receive native files plus PDFs. Comments come back as markups and we revise them quickly until the set matches the brief.
Turnaround and pricing
A house foundation plan with calculations is typically prepared in 3–5 business days after the soil information is received. Every job is priced as a fixed quote after we review your files, so you know the cost and the delivery date before work starts. See how our pricing works, or send your files through the quote form for a quick estimate.
Related services
Foundation Plan Design projects often need structural load calculation, retaining wall structural design and residential drafting services as well. You can order them together on one quote, or browse every option in our structural engineering services.
