Can Presidents Choice plans be scaled up

[Misty]

I was wondering. if it would be possible to use the plans, for one of the presidents choice domes, and make it bigger, by just changing the scale. For example lets say the Calisto II has a scale of 3/8" = 1' ( i don't know what it really is) for a 50 foot dome. Can I just change the scale to 5/16" = 1' to make a 60 foot dome?

[Kevin Goebel]

If you mean you would like the same layout as a Presidential Plan, but with more space, I think the presidential plan layout could be used to create a new set of plans with the same room shapes.

If you mean, buy a Presidential Plan and just have your builder "stretch" it with math, I'm pretty sure the answer would be NO. The plans include some things, such as the layout for rebar - which has spacing based on the amount of shotcrete it will support over a specific area. You would need the rebar layout changed to properly support the larger dome. Unless you selectively change the scale, you would wind up with enlarged door and window openings. You would also have to make note of the changes of lengths for all wiring and plumbing. You would probably have to have the plans redrawn to correct scale anyways, to be accepted by a lot of city/county/parish building inspectors. Unless you're plan on building it yourself, consider that some contractors might not want the liablibilty of working from off-scale plans either.

You might want to ask Monolithic Domes if the cost of having a Presidential Plan scaled up would be less than having a custom plan done from scratch.

Kevin Goebel

[Cloud Hidden]

No designer I know would allow that. Almost everyone directs that their drawings are invalid if scaled. It also violated copyrights, which is the least of the issues. Kevin points out things like doors and windows that wouldn't make sense. Other things include hallways that would become larger than necessary, walls that would be the wrong size, kitchens that don't match the cabinetry, spacing between receptacles that don't measure up to code, and so on. A 4" wall thickness would measure to 5", for example. Would you buy 2x5's (?) or just tell the builder to adjust?

When I draw plans, whenever possible, I try to design in efficient increments, so that full sheets of plywood, or full tiles, or whatever can be used. The houses I design using ICF's in conjunction with air formed roofs are dimensioned, whenever possible, to use whole blocks, because cuts add labor. Scaling the drawing screws up any of the designer's intentional planning.

The proper way to handle this is to talk to the original designer and tell them you want that plan but larger, and they'll need to talk you through the cost and design implications of doing so.

[Misty]

Thanks for the quick reply.

That was actually the response i was expecting I would get, but I still though i would ask, just to satisfy my curiosity.