Elevation

An architectural drawing showing the exterior face of a house from one direction (front, rear, left, right), depicting roof pitch, window placement, siding materials, and overall proportions.

Why it matters

Elevations are how you see what the house will look like from the curb. Most plan providers supply four elevations (front, rear, two sides). The roof pitch and material choices on the elevation drive a lot of the build cost: a 12/12 pitch costs more to frame and roof than an 8/12, and slate or metal roofing costs 3-5x more than asphalt shingles.

For design-conscious buyers, the elevations also reveal style coherence: do the windows align across stories, does the roofline make sense, are the proportions balanced.

Best practices

Look at all four elevations before buying, not just the front. The rear elevation is what you see from your backyard every day for the next 30 years. Verify that the elevation drawings match the floor plan (window placement, room ceiling heights, door locations). Ask the provider for renderings if you want photorealistic previews.

Frequently asked

Can I change exterior materials shown on the elevation?

Yes, the elevation specifies what to build but you can substitute siding, roofing, and trim materials at construction time without modifying the plan itself. The structural elements (window sizes, door locations, roof pitch) are harder to change.