About the Box Bungalow models

Undue expense and red tape have been cut to keep the Box Bungalows user friendly and affordable. Most municipalities mandate that a permit is not required to put a building of less than 120 square feet on your property, though you’d want to check with your local building and zoning departments to be sure. While you’re at it, see if there are any setback requirements that govern where a structure can be set or how it can officially be used.

Our plans include a foundation on concrete footings, but the foundation choices are limitless.

Finishing the interior

Once you’ve got a shell, the interior fittings and finishes are entirely up to you. It can be used as a backyard bedroom, office, yoga retreat, or artist studio.

A sleeping loft can be set on the collar ties overhead with ease, or you may choose to put a bed down stairs. You can also consider a Murphy bed or other foldaway furniture. Including a lot of storage is a great way to open up the area as much as possible for a sense of volume. Built-ins are also a great way to maximize space.

Pictured above are 5 unique examples of how the interior can be laid out. The options are limitless.

Gifford Plans include 19 total pages:

Floor Plans
Floor plans for both the main floor and optional loft includes pertinent dimensions for walls, the door, and optional windows.

Exterior Elevations
These plans include 4 elevation drawings showing the front, back and both sides. Siding and facia boards are called out.

Electric Plans
These pages include both the main floor and loft and show locations for outlets, light switches and lights.

Transverse Section
Perhaps one of the most important pages on any set of plans, the transverse section cuts the house in half and shows details such as wall thickness, roofing material details, flooring details, roof pitch, ceiling heights, and insulation.

Foundation Plan
We include plans for poured pier or concrete block foundation, but this house may also be placed on a slab or other appropriate foundation. Floor framing for all the joists are also included, calling out treated lumber as needed.

Framing Plans
These plans show the framing for all 4 walls, both gables and lay out the exact location of each stud.

Roof Plan
Showing the birds-eye view of the house, you see the slopes and pitches clearly called out, as well as the amount of overhang, and individual rafter locations from above for both the roof and porch. Also included is the sheething plan for the roof which is designed so that soffits aren't needed.

Door Detail
The front door to this home is custom made from standard materials. We include plans to build the door.

What's not included

Interior Details
These homes are designed to be customized by you inside. These plans do not include any interior details.

Electric or Plumbing
These plans do not include electric or plumbing. We suggest working with a licensed electrician and plumber to make sure your house meets your specific needs.

Architect or Engineer seals
Some building departments require a licensed architect or engineer in your state to approve any structure. Please consult your building department.

Material List
The plans do call out types of finish material and list specific window sizes, however a material list showing framing materials and quantities is not included.

Other Notes:

Building Codes
In many municipalities the Box Bungalow meets the codes for a shed. Please consult your local building department to determine if this structure can be used for your intended use.

Square Footage
The square footage listed is an estimate. The square footage we list includes the bottom floor. It does not include the loft or porch.

Altering Plans
When you purchase a set of plans, it includes a license to build one structure. Unfortunately, at this time, we don’t offer alterations. We spend approximately hundreds of hours on our plans, and the details are incredibly specific. Alterations can easily run into thousands of dollars since one little change affects so many things