Custom-home design
Structural choices that matter in a custom home
Most homeowners do not need to choose beam sizes. They do need to make the layout decisions that drive the structure before the architect and engineer finish the plans.
Reviewed against official sources · August 2026Resolve the big spans early
- Large open rooms and disappearing walls.
- Window walls, corner glass, and wide door openings.
- Cantilevers, floating stairs, and large roof overhangs.
- Heavy finishes, rooftop equipment, hot tubs, and specialty features.
Align the floors
Stacking walls and keeping load paths simple usually reduces steel, depth, cost, and conflicts with ducts or ceiling heights. If an offset is central to the design, ask the engineer to price and detail it early rather than discovering it during permit corrections.
Coordinate architecture, structure, and energy
A beam that works structurally can still conflict with insulation, windows, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Bellevue’s architectural plan requirements also expect the code, structural, and energy information to agree.
Review Bellevue’s architectural plan requirements with your design team.
Action plan
Ask for these answers before design development ends
- 1
Mark every large opening, cantilever, floating stair, double-height space, heavy feature, and low-headroom zone on one coordination plan.
- 2
Ask the engineer to identify major steel, transfer beams, lateral walls, hold-downs, and foundation steps while the layout can still change.
- 3
Overlay ducts, plumbing, lighting, and insulation at the difficult beams and roof transitions.
- 4
Obtain a cost check for structural features that are optional rather than discovering their price in the final bid.
- 5
Confirm architectural and structural drawings use identical grids, openings, elevations, and revision dates before permit upload.
Official resources