No need to be an architect to read a construction plan: with a few simple tips, you will learn in no time how to understand everything about a construction plan !
What is a construction plan for?
A construction plan is first of all a representation of the space seen from above, as if the roof had been removed from the building. It is used to understand the surface areas, the layout of rooms and when used correctly, serves to better understand the space.
Different plan sizes and scale for printing
Depending on the type of project and its complexity, the plan notebook can be produced in different formats. It can be produced in a more standard dimension, i.e. 11''x17'' up to a 24'x 36'' format. The plan format chosen by the professional will be adapted to fluid reading. It is important, if you eventually wish to print it, to define the desired format in advance so that your technologist can make your plan at the right scale.
With the evolution of technology and new efficient devices, subcontractors can now work from digital documents such as a PDF. This type of document is easy to modify in addition to being quickly accessible to everyone. It is therefore in this format that your plans will be given to you with Plan Maison Québec.
Whether digitally or on paper, reading plans is always the same and remains an important step in the construction process.
How to use a construction plan?
Reading the courses and asking yourself the right questions is always very useful. To go further, here are some tips on the most important aspects of a plan, using one of our models as an example.
1 - The cartridge
On all the pages of your plan book is 'the title block'. Also called 'the cartridge' this is mainly found on the right side part or at the bottom of each page. For any type of project, it will be important to read the information contained in this framework.
This portion of the sheet contains several important information about the project as well as the company:
- The name of the project
- Customer name
- Company information
- Copyright notes
- The revision date
- The title of the plan
- The scale of the drawing
- Creation date
- The plan number
- The sheet number.
2 - The ladder
Back to high school geometry class. The scale is used to give the measurements of the plan and is expressed in imperial or metric.
When you discuss the building with an architect and/or a contractor, you will probably hear about “one-two-hundred”, “one-hundred” or “one-hundred” plans. one-fifty.” These terms are just other ways of talking about scale: on a 1:100 plan for example, one centimeter on paper represents one hundred centimeters, or one meter, in reality. The smaller the number following 1, the closer the scale of the plan is to reality (1:1). The same principle applies to the imperial system. You will hear about 1/4 scale plans. On the plan, this translates into the following formula: 1/4''=1'-0''. That is to say that 1/4'' shown in the drawing represents 1'-0'' in reality.
3 - Orientation
At first glance, it may seem pointless to know where north is in relation to the building, but think again; Orientation is your most valuable tool for knowing your home’s sun exposure! Here is the golden rule to know: the south facades are the sunniest, while the north facades receive the least sun. Additionally, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; useful information which allows you to know which rooms will be sunny throughout the day. A south-facing exposure will therefore be ideal for the living rooms (living room/kitchen), and the bedrooms will be better located to the north.
4 - The entrance
One of the easiest elements to find on a map is the entrance, which is sometimes represented by a solid black arrow. The location of the entrance is located, when possible, on the front facade of the house which is oriented at the bottom of the page on the plan. Identifying the entrance helps you understand how you approach the building: what do you see when you enter the house? A long, dark hallway? An open, bright space with a beautiful view?
5 - Walls, windows and doors
On a plan, walls are most often represented by thicker lines, solid or empty. Exterior walls are represented by wider lines, while interior partitions are thinner. We can sometimes find thicker walls inside: in most cases these are load-bearing walls, containing the structure.
Windows are drawn as discontinuities in the wall, thinner and less dark than the walls. Those that open by sliding are represented by several offset lines, like here, for the patio door in the kitchen.
Finally, the doors are symbolized by quarter circles which represent the direction in which they open. When looking at plans, ask yourself the right questions to avoid unpleasant surprises! Can I open the door completely if I put the desk in a certain location? Is the hallway blocked by the closet and bedroom doors?
6 - The stairs
Stair drawing conventions can vary depending on architectural firms: some just draw an arrow on the staircase which shows the direction of travel, others write “E.H.” or “E.B.” to identify “up” and “down”. When you read plans, you may ask yourself this: where does my staircase begin and end? Is it a fire escape or a main staircase?
7 - The furniture
What is the purpose of furniture in a plan? After all, if you buy an unfurnished condo, you will arrange the space however you want! That said, the sofas, armchairs, tables and beds drawn on the plans are there for information purposes only, that is to say they are a layout suggestion which allows you to better understand the scale of the plan. Use it to estimate the space you have. Can the bedroom accommodate a king bed, or is it made for a single bed? Can we put the dining table in the living room to have more space?
8 - Part names
Room names are useful when viewing the plan because they help clearly define the function of each space in a building. Also, you will be able to notice under this title, the size of the room in question. This information is relevant in order to better project oneself into the space and for its layout.
Exterior elevation plans
An exterior elevation is a facade drawing representing each individual view of a building. This drawing will generally be at the same scale as the floor plans. Whether for a renovation or for a new construction, you will have in your plan book the exterior elevations of the building, from 2 to 4 drawings, varying according to the needs of the project. These drawings make it possible to transmit information relating to the technologist's architectural concept. In its documents you will find information relating to total roof heights, floor levels, roof slopes, architectural elements (doors, windows, terrace, etc.), suggested exterior coverings, type of foundation and more .
9 - Elevation title
This information is mainly located at the bottom left of the page. The title of the elevation allows us to orient ourselves to know which facade of the building is illustrated in the drawing. The number at the top of the bubble identifies the drawing number on the plan. The number at the bottom refers to the page where this information is represented. Then, you will also find the scale at which the elevation is drawn, information which is also in the title block.
10 - Floor levels
We find the floor levels on the right lateral side or even on the left lateral side of the drawing. Illustrated by half-spheres containing a height and a line topped with a title, they make it possible to identify the heights relating to the foundation, ground, floor, ceiling and roof levels. They also provide information on the overall structure, the total height of the building, important details which will be requested by the municipality for the granting of a construction or renovation permit.
11 - Roof slope
The roof slope is represented by a triangle or two perpendicular lines located near the edge of the roof slopes. This information is essential for the manufacturer. It represents how steep or not the slope is. This symbol indicates two numbers, a climb and a run. The roof slope on this drawing is 12/12. Which means that for 12" of rise, there are 12" race. The denominator of any roof slope is always 12. Recurring roof slopes are 4/12; 6/12;12/12. The roof slopes shown on each elevation correspond to the information you will also find on the roof plan.
12 - Architectural element
The openings (doors and windows) drawn on the elevations match the discontinuous lines of the exterior walls on the plans. The style of the house will determine the characteristics of its architectural details. The trims, mullions or even the particular shapes of each of its elements, chosen by the client, will be illustrated on the elevations of each facade of the building. The dotted line triangles in certain portions of windows or on the doors indicate the direction in which they open. Elements that are more difficult to represent on the plan, such as dormer windows for example, will be represented on the elevations and on the roof plan.
13 - Exterior covering
The different exterior coverings are represented on the elevations by hatching specific to each of them. These allow the builder, as well as customers, to visualize the location of materials and thus create a more realistic 2D view. On the elevation shown above, the concrete is represented by tiny dots, the main covering is illustrated by horizontal lines while the roof is presented with a second type of irregular horizontal hatching. Finally, this type of detail is sometimes essential for the acceptance of the project by the city.
14 - Foundation type
It is based on the characteristics of the building, the land and its location that we can select the appropriate type of foundation for construction or even renovation. There are several categories:
- Foundation on structural slab
- Foundation on floating slab
- Excavated foundation
- Unexcavated frost wall
The elevation makes it possible to illustrate, on the one hand, the type of foundation used, and on the other hand to specify the levels of the various more complex structures which may be suitable has a certain project. The designer will indicate with arrows the important notes relating to this structure.
