Question 1

What States can CDS build in?

Accepted Answer

We can build across the United States.  
We do not build outside of the US.

Question 2

Do you maintain licenses in all 50 states?

Accepted Answer

No, we do not maintain the needed licenses in all 50 states;  however, CDS is able to offer services either through reciprocity, NCARB and/or through a subsidiary company licensed in your state and we are able to obtain other required business and construction licenses through the normal channels.

Question 3

We are having trouble getting started on our building program. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You know you need to build. The big question is: “Where do we go from here and how do we get there?”

In response to this, we started an on-site consulting service . 
To take advantage of this service, we need at least 30 days notice. 
There is a 100% money back guarantee.

Please call for availability and cost.

Question 4

Can we afford to build?

Accepted Answer

That's never an easy question to answer, but it's the most important question you can ask!

Beginning a building project without being completely sure you can afford it is a recipe for disaster. Sometimes, enthusiasm and confidence motivate Church leaders to start a project before they have a clear idea of what is involved and it can do serious damage to the congregation's morale and viability.

We recommend beginning the building process with a thoughtful plan that details the goals and scope of the project, includes realistic budgets for every aspect, and specifies how funding will be secured.

Our team has extensive experience at helping churches like yours develop those plans.

Question 5

How much do the sets of drawings cost?

Accepted Answer

Part of what Church Development Services does is act as a good Steward both as a faith based company and as someone who wants your project to succeed.  We can sell you plans, but we need to make buyers aware that selling plans without being involved on the process can add unnecessary costs to your project as the plans may not fit the acquired land, may need too many adjustments to be in regulation for your location and many other factors that go into a Church development project.

On average plans can cost $6.00 and up PSF (estimated).  (It is ok to make changes to the plans as long as changes remain within the footprint and there are no structural changes)

Your purchased plans include:
Three (3) sets of sealed prints plus one (1) electronic set of plans in PDF format which include:
Floor Plans
All Four (4) exterior elevations
Foundation plan
All construction details
Window schedule and details
Room finishes
Kitchen & bath details
Mechanical, Electrical and plumbing plans
Specifications (a separate book is not included - all specifications are included on the plans)
Plans are sealed by a licensed architect in your state and read to obtain a building permit.

If you are interested in purchasing plans, I would recommend you first visit our affiliate company,  Digital Church Plans and purchase the Pre- Planning Tool Kit which offers a ton of information on the Church building process and can save you time and money.

Question 6

What will the completed drawings include?

Accepted Answer

Three (3) sets of sealed prints, plus one (1) electronic set of plans in PDF format which include:
Floor Plans
All four (4) exterior elevations
Foundation plan
All construction details
Window schedule and details
Door schedule and details
Room finishes
Kitchen and bath details
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans
Specifications (a separate book is not included - all specifications are included in the plans)
Plans are sealed by a licensed architect in your state and read to obtain a building permit.

Question 7

Can you provide custom-designed plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes!
Our custom-designed plans, while more expensive than standard plans, are available at significant savings to standard market rates. Please call for estimates in your area.

Question 8

We like your plans but they are either too small, too large, or do not completely meet our needs. Can we change this?

Accepted Answer

Plans can be enlarged or reduced and/or customized to meet your particular requirements. The changes are most often at no additional cost. Every plan we have ever done has been unique in some way. Changes have been made to meet the needs of the church, the local building codes, and/or the building site. The key to not incurring additional cost is to keep the plan as close to the standard plan as possible. Increasing the size of the plan will increase the cost by the amount of square feet added.

Question 9

Are the plans and specifications in compliance with our local codes?

Accepted Answer

Yes...Absolutely!  Our architects research the specific requirements for your area, and modify the plans and specifications as necessary at no additional cost.  The plans are guaranteed to meet or exceed the local building codes.  Changes required by the local building department in order to get a building permit are provided at no additional cost. Our information comes from our experience of working with over 500 churches and 30 years of building and developing church properties.

Question 10

Can we get bids, pull permits, and build with your plans?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely!  Our plans include three (3) sets of sealed prints plus (1) set of reproducible plans which include floor plans, all four (4) exterior elevations, a foundation plan, all construction details, a window schedule and details, room finishes, kitchen and bath details, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing diagrams and specifications.

Question 11

What will civil engineering cost?

Accepted Answer

Costs depend upon the region of the country and the scope of the work.  Rough budget figure is 30K

Question 12

What will it cost me to build?

Accepted Answer

This is dependent on many variables, so an exact number is difficult to determine.

Please complete our Church Planning Study so we can reach out and discuss the project.  That is the best way for us to see if we can help you with the project and what the range of cost could be.

Question 13

How much acreage/parking will I need for our project?

Accepted Answer

Depends on where the Church is located and what zoning it comes under.  
As a general rule of thumb and easy math, 1 Acre for every 100 seats and 1 parking space for every 2.5 seats

Question 14

What is the Pre-Planning Tool Kit?

Accepted Answer

The CDS Pre-Planning Tool Kit (PPTK) is an amazing 40+ page collection of information sourced from the top Church developers minds over many decades of experience.  This tool kit is immensely valuable when at the early planning stages of your build.

Present it to your planning committee to help you come up with the best next steps.

What's included in the PPTK?
Floor Plans - Good for space planning
Elevations - In traditional and contemporary designs
Renderings - Full color 3D designs that help cast vision
Financial Worksheets - Sources & Uses / Cash Flow
Church Planning Survey - For space planning
Mistakes to Avoid
Church Planning Study

More information on the PPTK

Question 15

What is the Resource Guide?

Accepted Answer

Our resource guide is an 80 page download that contains 50 representative church plans of a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles.

The Resource Guide contains:

Sanctuaries which accommodate anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 people
Churches with half- and full-court gymnasiums (Gymatoriums)
Multi-purpose buildings
Traditional and contemporary church designs
Plans for rectangular, square, and even octagonal buildings
Christian schools and Christian education

More information?

Question 16

How much acreage/parking will I need?

Accepted Answer

This depends on where the church is located and what zoning it comes under.

Parking:  In urban settings you will find a rations as high as 1 parking space for 10-15 seats in the Sanctuary.  In most areas the requirement ranges from 1 parking space for every 3-5 seats in the Sanctuary.   In most projects what should be anticipated is 1 parking space for every 2.5 seats.

Acreage:   General rule is 1 acre for every 100 seats
What are the green space requirements for the area?  
How much of the property will they allow to have built on as a % of total land mass?  
What are the SWM requirements?

Question 17

What happens if, during construction, a question arises with the plans?

Accepted Answer

Most questions are easily handled over the phone whether the job is local or out of town, especially in this day of fax machines, cell phones and e-mail. If necessary, we will visit the site at our own expense.

Question 18

Do you pull the building permits?

Accepted Answer

If Church Development Services is constructing your building, we will pull the building permits.

Question 19

How do we know if the contractor is building correctly?

Accepted Answer

Engineers, architects, and building inspectors are available nationwide to perform periodic inspections or you may ask us to make interim or final inspections. Even if you pay a fee for this service, the total cost will be far less than the fee normally charged by architects for providing the exact same service.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DESIGN AND BUILD YOUR CHURCH

ChurchDevelopmentServices

Frequently Asked Questions