Discover simple and direct answers to your frequently asked questions about Buildable Engine
No. This tool is designed to help you show up prepared, explore options responsibly, and communicate more clearly with professionals — not replace them. Many homeowners use it before hiring, or alongside an architect or contractor to validate ideas and avoid costly mistakes.
No. The tool is built for homeowners first. Technical rules are handled by the system, and guidance is provided along the way. If you want more help, Core includes designer feedback and support.
Our support team can be reached by email, phone, and through social channels for help using Buildable Engine. We also offer consultation packages for 1:1 expert-level design advice for home design and renovation planning.
Buildable engine is used by professionals as well as homeowners, and we are happy to try and present you with options for a team that can work with you to bring your project to life.
Yes — and that’s encouraged. You can share layouts, validation results, and exports so professionals can quickly understand what you’re exploring and give better feedback. Many users share access with their architect, designer, or GC to align early and reduce back-and-forth later.
Not to worry! That’s the point of the tool. You can safely explore ideas, see where they break, and understand why — without risking real money, permits, or construction delays.
By helping you:· Catch layout or compliance issues early· Avoid redesign cycles· Reduce back-and-forth with professionals· Compare options before committingMost users find the cost pays for itself by preventing one mistake or unnecessary revision.
Buildable Engine has flexible plans and pricing. We offer both self-serve and assisted plans depending on how much guidance you want. Pricing is designed to be accessible early in a project—before costly design or construction decisions are locked in. Full details are available on our pricing page.
Both! You can upload existing floor plans to analyze them for issues, explore alternatives, or make targeted changes without starting from scratch. This is especially useful for renovations, feasibility checks, or early design validation.
Buildable Engine is designed for residential new builds and renovations, including layout exploration and early feasibility analysis. It works best in the early and mid-design phases, before construction documents are finalized. Our current engine supports single floor plans, but we are working every day to expand capabilities. If your project goes beyond current automated capabilities—such as a multi-story projects—we offer optional 1:1 support to help guide layout decisions, interpret constraints, and plan next steps.
Unlimited! All of our plans include unlimited access to our plan generator. While the exact number of possible plans for your space will depend upon the constraints and requirements of your project, there is no limit to the number of plans you can request from the system.
Buildable Engine generates layouts using a rules-based system designed to reflect real building and accessibility constraints, not generic templates. The plans are intended to be buildable and auditable, meaning they can be reviewed, refined, and approved by licensed professionals. Final permitting and construction should always include professional sign-off.
The system applies real design rules, geometry constraints, and validation checks — the same types of considerations professionals use early in projects. While some of our rules are custom to the Buildable Engine technology, many of or rules are applied directly from building code documents. When a rule is triggered, we flag the issue and explain what failed, why it matters, and where it occurs in the layout.
Buildable Engine currently supports checks aligned with IBC, IRC, and ADA guidelines, focusing on layout-level requirements like egress, clearances, accessibility, and circulation. Coverage varies by rule and project type, and we continue to expand depth and jurisdictional support.
Our rule library is actively maintained and informed by current code references and professional review. We also track user feedback and real-world edge cases to continuously improve accuracy and clarity. However, code interpretations vary, and we always recommend finalizing project plans for permitting with the help of a licensed professional.
Most of our rules are written in ways that anyone can understand and feature a rule name as well as a description. When descriptions seem a bit technical, our support team is here to help clarify them--both the meaning and impact of the violation.
When a violation is identified, we clearly explain the issue and its potential impact. In many cases, Buildable Engine also proposes layout-level adjustments to help resolve the problem and keep your design moving forward. In some cases, Buildable Engine can apply these for you at the click of a button.
Buildable Engine is meant to be based on real architectural and geometric constraints. That said, our plans are not stamped construction documents. It’s meant to catch issues early, surface conflicts, and guide smarter decisions before money is spent. If you are looking for help turning buildable engine plans into stamped documentation, please reach out to support@buildableengine.com
Buildable Engine is built with privacy, security, and responsible data use in mind. Plans, layouts, and project information you upload are used to provide the Buildable Engine service and to improve our product, features, and underlying models. We do not sell your data or share it with advertisers.
