Specific climates experienced year-round, space limitations and the cost of materials influence home design options in the US and UK. Fundamental differences of UK and US home design occur within homes and include these:

Power outlets

UK – It is illegal to have a power outlet within 3 metres of a shower or bath.
US – Building codes require a power outlet to be within 3 feet of the bathroom sink.

AC

UK – 0.5% of homes are air-conditioned
US – 87% of homes are air-conditioned

Mailbox

UK – Letterboxes are built into the front door.
US – Mailboxes are built separately from the house.

Faucets

UK – There are typically separate faucets for hot and cold water.
US – There is a single faucet for hot and cold water.

Closets

UK – Houses don’t generally have built-in or walk-in closets.
US – Most houses have built-in or walk-in closets, a standard requirement

Home Sizes

UK – Houses are much smaller, averaging 1,063 sq. ft.
US – Houses average 2,330 sq. ft.

Type of Homes

UK – Semi-detached duplexes account for 27% of all homes, the single majority
US – Single-family detached homes account for 80% of all homes

Laundry

UK – All-in-one washers and driers are typical.
US – Most homes have separate washers and driers.

Garbage Disposal

UK – It is uncommon for sinks to have food disposal.
US – Houses have kitchen sinks with their own food disposal system.

Firms that provide residential design drawings, residential construction drawings, architectural CAD drafting, architectural CAD modelling and BIM modelling services to architects must conform to American AIA (American Institute of Architects) and British RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) standards, with a sound working knowledge of timber-frame, traditional and steel frame homes.

XS CAD, a UK/India-based firm, has several years’ experience in delivering BIM models and CD sets for leading global homebuilders.