how do you read architectural plans

How to read architect drawings?

How to lay out a building footprint?

What is a title block?

What is a redline drawing?

What is the first requirement for constructing a building project?

What is site utility plan?

How to lay out a building?

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How do you read a design plan?

4:4121:41How To: Reading Construction Blueprints & Plans | #1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor hooking. Building over to there now what that's gonna do by pulling 31-foot floor from corner toMoreFor hooking. Building over to there now what that's gonna do by pulling 31-foot floor from corner to corner on both sides is gonna make sure that we are perfectly parallel.

How do you read measurements on architectural drawings?

Room dimensions are presented in width by the length. For example, a room that has a dimension of 12' x 16' means it's 12 feet wide (from side to side) by 16 feet long (from top to bottom). Rooms aren't always square, so make sure you understand fully how the room feels.

How do you read building drawings?

4 Tips for Reading BlueprintsBegin with the title block. The title block is the first piece of information you'll see in construction site plans. ... Study the plan legend. ... Find the blueprint's scale and orientation. ... Look for notes from the architect.

What are the 4 parts of architectural plans?

What Are the Various Components of a Set of Architectural Plans?Floor Plan. One of the most commonly known architectural plans is the floor plan. ... Site Plan. A site plan not only includes details about the building but about the whole site it will be built on. ... Elevation. ... Section. ... Perspective. ... Detailed View.

What comes first length or width in construction?

The first measurement is usually the length. Length, width, height, as usual, in this order.

What are the 5 major architectural drawings?

What is an architectural drawing?Structural drawings.Engineering drawings.Shop drawings.Technical drawings.HVAC drawings.Electrical and plumbing drawings.

How do you read elevations on plans?

0:126:36Blueprint Reading (Part 4): ELEVATIONS, SECTION & DETAILSYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLooking at it straight on it's always from right left rear. And front the elevations are good toMoreLooking at it straight on it's always from right left rear. And front the elevations are good to have because.

What do symbols on blueprints mean?

What do symbols on blueprint mean? Blueprint Symbols are generally used to indicate function, objects, or systems in the floor plan or any kind of engineering drawing. It could be present in structural drawing, architectural drawing, electrical drawing, machine, etc.

How do you read a foundation drawing?

1:2414:06How to read foundation Drawing? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs you can see guys footing. Size is four point five by four point five feet. Okay. So depth ofMoreAs you can see guys footing. Size is four point five by four point five feet. Okay. So depth of foundation you can see depth of footing that is three feet to the ground level.

What are the 7 types of architecture?

7 Types of Architectural PlansFloor Plans. Floor plans are essential to any interior design or architecture project. ... Site Plans. ... Reflective Ceiling Plan. ... Millwork Drawings. ... Exterior Elevations. ... Interior Elevations. ... Landscape Plans.

What do architectural plans show?

Architectural plans include working drawings, schedules, and other sheets shown in the list below. Many architectural plan sheets are horizontal (section) views of the building. The most common plan sheets include floor plans, foundation plans, and roof plans.

What is included in a full set of architectural drawings?

The different architectural drawings that provide detailed project information may include, but are not limited to, the following:Site Plan. ... Floor Plan. ... Elevations. ... Foundation Plans. ... Section Drawings. ... Roof Framing Plan. ... Landscaping Plan. ... Finishing Drawing.More items...

How do you read a 1/2 scale architect?

2:2810:09How to read a 1/2" scale on an Architectural Scale - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's your six inch mark right because 12 inches equals one foot half of that is six inches half ofMoreThat's your six inch mark right because 12 inches equals one foot half of that is six inches half of six is three okay so from the zero to here is your three.

How do you read scale measurements?

A scale is shown as a ratio, for example 1:100. A drawing at a scale of 1:100 means that the object is 100 times smaller than in real life scale 1:1. You could also say, 1 unit in the drawing is equal to 100 units in real life.

What does a scale of 1 50 mean?

In a drawing at scale 1:50, there is 1 unit for every 50 unit in real life, at scale 1:100 there is 1 unit for every 100 units in real life and at scale 1:200 there is 1 unit for every 200 units in real life. And so on.

How do you read a 3/8 architectural scale?

0:584:393/8" Scale - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRemember look at the way the numbers are placed. Okay you see where the zero sits kind of low. OkayMoreRemember look at the way the numbers are placed. Okay you see where the zero sits kind of low. Okay those numbers relate to the three quarter inch scale the numbers that sit high are going to be the

HOW TO READ ARCHITECT'S DOCUMENTS | Architects Creating Homes

If you are like many clients of Architects, particularly those for whom you are having a house designed, you probably have questions about how to read the Architect’s documents and what is located in them.

The Basics: How to Read Architectural Plans - Watchdog

Certifications. Specialties: Owner’s Representation, Master Planning and Programing, Site Selection/Analysis, Budget/Schedule Administration, Project Coordination, Work Letter Analysis, Closeout Management, Vendor Procurement, Contract Negotiations/Admin, Capital Budget Planning, Process Management, Construction Admin, Multi-site Rollout Management

Introduction

A rchitectural drawings are technical drawings which represents the architecture design of a building. These are made by an architect (specialized 5 years course) or under the supervision of architect by draftsmen. As a layman it is difficult to read the architectural drawings because they are quite technical.

Background

Earlier these drawings used to be hand made on paper and tracing sheets which required lot of efforts as well as labor work. But from last few decades after technology boomed, now these are made on computers and laptops. This change has taken the architecture design on next level because it has simplified the drafting of complex shapes and sizes.

Size of Architectural Drawing

The size of architectural drawing is based on its size of the sheet (paper on which drawing is printed). There are many sheet sizes available starting from A0 to A4. The size of sheet depends upon user of drawing.

Scale of Architectural Drawing

The scale is used to reduce size of the drawing in order to fit it on the sheet paper in comparison to actual one. It is a mathematical ratio between measurements on drawing in the same proportions. Scales generally are in the multiples of 5 or 10 as it makes calculations easy. Bigger the scale smaller will be size of the drawing.

Architectural drawing standard views

These different views will help to know how to read architectural drawings for beginners. There are different types of defined standard views which are the result of orthographic projections used for making of architectural drawings of building. Following are the types of standard views:

What is the most commonly used sheet size for architectural drawings?

The most commonly used sheet sizes for architectural drawings are the A and B series based on the ISO 216 International Standard – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_216.

What is a plan view?

Technically a plan is a horizontal section cut through a building conventionally at 1.2m above floor level showing walls, windows and door openings and other features that are traversed at that level. The plan view includes anything that could be seen below that level. Objects above the plan level (e.g. roof overhangs) can be represented as dashed lines.

How are drawings drafted?

Conventionally, drawings were manually drafted on drawing boards using ink pens on various types of paper that allowed for ease of reproduction . The sheet size was determined by the size of the drawing to be illustrated, and drafting conventions that typically defined the scale of the particular drawing content that was best suited for the legibility of the drawing.

How to view CAD drawings on computer?

With the advent of computer aided drafting (CAD), drawings can be viewed at any scale on a computer screen by simply using a mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out , however sheet sizes are still important when exporting these drawings as hard copy prints for external use.

What is the drawing process called?

Depending on the purpose of the drawing, various types of presentation techniques are used. The early design process is typically referred to as sketch design, and as the name implies, the drawings used are generally hand drawn sketches illustrating indicative building layouts and building forms.

How is scale determined in a site plan?

The scale of a site plan is determined by the size of the site and the ability to fit it onto a specific sheet size.

What is a hardline drawing?

Once the design has been largely resolved, the drawings become more precise or “hardline” technical drawings , representing accurate dimensions and illustrating how the building is to be constructed. These act as the foundation for other specialist consultants to provide their design input, contractors to price the work, and the builder to construct the project.

What is Included in a Set of Construction Plans?

Most include a cover page, time block, key notes, general notes, revision block, drawing scale and a legend.

What is the most important part of a construction plan?

When learning how to read construction plans, one of the most important components is the legend. The legend is used to define the symbols used in the construction plans (blueprint). In some cases, similar symbols can have different meanings depending on the line of work being performed. Your company might also have their own symbols ...

Why is it important to understand construction drawings?

Construction drawings vary from simple to very complex, so understanding how to interpret the drawings is crucial for completing the project efficiently and accurately. The ability to read construction plans will not only increase your value to your current employer but is a staple to anyone serious about advancing their career as ...

What is a blueprint in construction?

Construction plans (blueprints) are 2-dimensional architectural drawings that explain the details of a project. They provide a unique visual representation of what exactly needs to be built. Information such as dimensions, parts, placement, and materials for each project can all be found in construction drawings to assure ...

What does it mean when a drawing is part of a set?

If the drawing is part of a set, that information will also be included. This allows for easy filing and organization. Every block or cell contains an important piece of data. If there is a blank in the title block, the drawing is not ready for release.

Why are construction plans required?

From residential construction jobs to large commercial projects, construction plans are required to estimate your costs for materials and labor, obtain your permits, establish a construction schedule, and complete the project in a timely manner. Every project is unique, therefore how you interpret the information is critical.

Why are digital plans so popular?

With the continued advancement of technology throughout the construction industry, digital plans are becoming increasingly popular due to ease of making edits and sharing plans among construction team members.

What is a drawing set for a house?

The pages of a house plan, known as a "drawing set," tell a contractor everything he or she needs to know to properly stick your dream home on top of a bare piece of land. Not only do these plans define a home's footprint and how it will eventually look to the naked eye, but they also describe a home's inner plumbing and electrical specs and even the materials and finishes that will complete your home.

How many feet is a house plan?

There are no absolute scales used for all house plans, but commonly the minimum scale for a site plan is 1 inch equals 20 feet.

What did the architects find when they drew black lines on a document?

When architects drew black lines on an original document, clamped that doc to paper coated in iron gallate and set it out in the sun, the black lines would block the sunlight.

What is house plan?

House plans include numerous sections that outline the way your home will be built. See more home construction pictures . If you're not a builder or an architect, reading house plans can seem like cracking code. After all, the pages are filled with cryptic symbols just waiting to be "read.". But unless you're familiar with ...

What is a house specification sheet?

Your specifications sheet describes fixtures, appliances, materials and other homeowner preferences. Even if you buy premade house plans, you may still have significant wiggle room to change its specs. Consider picking wallpaper, stains, paints, fixtures, hardware and other materials [source: Byoh.com ].

What is structural plan?

Structural plan -- plans for your house's important connections including trusses and second floor framing

What is an elevation view?

Exterior elevations -- a view of each of your house's four sides, showing exact measurements for each side, along with the materials and details.

How to read architect drawings?

To read an architect's drawings, start by looking at the plan index, which should include a key for reading any abbreviations used as well as a scale bar so you know the size of the structures in the drawings. Then, use the info in the index to help you examine the floor plans and other drawings.

How to lay out a building footprint?

To do this, you will have to locate the element of construction you are reviewing to implement a portion of your work. If you are laying out the location of the building, you will first look at the site plan for location of existing buildings, structures, or property lines so you have a reference point to begin measuring to your building footprint. Some plans simply give a coordinate grid position using northings and eastings, and you will need a "total station" surveyor's transit to locate these points. Here is what you'll need to do to lay out a building footprint from the plans:

What is a title block?

The "title block" or "information block." This will feature things like the date the drawings were created, the name of the project, the drawing page number (A101, E101, etc.), the architect's company logo, etc.

What is a redline drawing?

When doing actual construction from architect's plans, keep one set on-site to record changes with a red ink pen or pencil. These are called "redline drawings". When a job has been fully constructed, redlines are usually provided back to the drafter. These drawings are called "Record Drawings" (RDs) or "As-Builts".

What is the first requirement for constructing a building project?

The first requirement in constructing a building project is to understand architectural drawings, which are also called blueprints, or plans. If you want to know how to read these drawings and understand exactly what they mean, just follow these steps. Steps.

What is site utility plan?

The site utility plans. These sheets will indicate the location of existing underground utilities, so that they can be protected during excavation and construction.

How to lay out a building?

Lay out your building on the site by either the above referenced plan or the measurements given on the site plan. Measure to locations, preferably corners, on one side of the building, and check for any "checkpoints" to verify the accuracy of your layout. If you cannot absolutely establish an exact building line, you may have to suppose the location is correct and continue. This is widely accepted in cases where the site is very large, allowing for tolerance, but on a crowded lot or site, the location must be exact.