About Build to Size
Most plans online come in a handful of sizes. Your yard does not. Build to Size draws the plan at the size you measured, counts every board, and prices it before you drive to the lumberyard.
How a plan gets drawn
Every plan on this site comes out of one framing engine. You give it the numbers (a shed's width and depth, a flock size, a stair's total rise) and it places every member the way a framer would: studs at 16 inches on center, rafters sized for the snow you choose, headers over the door, jack and king studs beside it. The 3D model, the drawings, the cut list and the materials list are all read from that one set of members, so they cannot disagree with each other.
The cut list is then packed into the board lengths stores actually sell, with a saw kerf between cuts, and priced at typical Home Depot and Lowe's shelf prices.
Where the rules come from
- Shed framing follows common light-frame practice and conservative rafter span tables by snow load.
- Stairs follow the residential code limits (IRC R311.7.5) and the American Wood Council's deck guide (DCA 6) for stringer throat and span.
- Coop sizes use the space-per-hen rules backyard keepers and extension services give: about 4 sq ft inside and 10 sq ft of run per hen.
- Birdhouse dimensions follow the Cornell Lab's NestWatch guidance for each species.
What it does not do
Build to Size does not replace your building department. Codes, setbacks and snow loads differ by town, and some towns want stamped drawings for larger buildings. Use the plan to price and build; check the rules where you live before you dig.
How it is paid for
Every plan is free to use on screen. The full plan set, with every drawing at page size and the lists ready to print or hand over at the counter, costs $19. Some pages link to tools and kits on Amazon; as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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