Builders cottage plans

[cedarglen]

I have purchased the universal two story plans. My original plan was to park a travel traier in the driveway and build the 2 story. My wife is now telling me that might be OK for a while, but maybe not. I am thinking of putting the travel trailer in the driveway and first building the Builders cottage, then building the universal 2 story with more patience. I have some questions about the Builders cottage plans.

1. My building department does not allow Pier and Post foundations, is there a detail for a poured concreet foundation? How about a Basement paln?
2. Do the floor joists span the whole 14' or are there supports and a beam like with the universal two story?
3. Can the loft be continued across the entire house? not necessarily for living space, but as an attic.

thank you
Charles

[jraabe]

Charles:

• You should use the Builder's Cottage plans in the Enchilada plans set. That has a concrete foundation for the 14x24 cottage.
• The floor joists span the full width (I call out both I-joists and standard joists, you can use either).
• There is no basement plan but the foundation installer could easily upgrade the concrete crawlspace to a basement. Check if you have to have an interior stair to the basement. Some jurisdictions require this and it takes a lot of space out of this little cottage. (The same area as for the basement plan in Universal cottage.)
• The loft floor can be extended as desired.