The plans are nothing more than copies of the final plans prepared for the approval of the owners. Very detailed, these documents contain a great deal of information. Typically, a plan package includes a set of drawings called elevations, which illustrate exterior and interior walls. But that is not all. The package contains other drawings. One is of his construction site and another drawing illustrates the foundation of the house. The reflected ceiling plan reveals where the light fixtures will be placed.
In addition, each plan incorporates a bill of materials with sizes and quantities of all the components needed to construct the building features. This information allows the contractor to compile construction costs. There is an additional category of plans, floor plans, that people are probably more familiar with. Here’s an insider’s guide to reading your dream home blueprints.
1. The scale and dimensions are clearly indicated.
The scale of the plans can be 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch to the foot. Whatever the scale, it will be noted in one of the bottom corners of the plan. All house plans are drawn to the same scale. Dimensions are in feet and inches. In most cases, the length and width of all exterior walls are shown as well as the dimensions of each room. With this information in hand, you can easily determine which rooms are the best size for various family activities. You can also plan the arrangement of furniture.
2. The outer walls are represented by thick parallel lines and the inner walls are represented by thinner lines.
Wall placement, particularly the decisions you make regarding interior partitions, greatly affect the design of your home. And, if you can understand the exact location when you first receive the plans, you’ll likely make fewer changes as the process evolves, reducing unnecessary and unforeseen expenses for your project.
3. Rooms are clearly labeled by function: kitchen, living room, dining room, etc.
The elements incorporated within the rooms are also presented in a logical way. For example, as you study the documents, fireplaces, cabinets, and built-ins become apparent. Also evident is the placement of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, counters, sinks, cabinets, and kitchen appliances.
4. It is easy to determine configurations of ceilings and two-story rooms.
A series of parallel stripes across a room denotes a ceiling beam; an arrow accompanied by the word “tilted” marks the ceiling of a cathedral. A double height room is easy to spot. The plan of the lower level is marked “open to the top” and the upper level is marked “open to the bottom”.
5. The doors are represented by a straight line.
When studying the floor plan plan, pretend you are walking through the actual house. Visualize two-dimensional plans in a three-dimensional way. This technique helps you transform data and symbols into something more real. A good place to start is at the entrance. From there, you can clearly see the general organization of the interior of the house. In today’s designed homes, bedrooms are located in one of three zones dedicated to living (family room, dining room, and living room), working (kitchen, laundry, and utility rooms), or sleeping (corresponding bedrooms and bathrooms). . They appear as if they are open with a thinner curved line showing the space needed for them to close.
French doors have two straight lines and two curves. Two sets of superimposed straight lines is the symbol of the sliding glass doors. The parallel solid lines inside the walls are windows. Like the doors, the overlapping lines indicate sliding window units. As you study the placement of windows and doors, you can determine if they will allow for good ventilation and natural light inside, as well as take full advantage of outside views and provide enough access to the outside.
6. On the plans for a two-story house, you’ll find a staircase, revealed by a group of parallel lines.
The number of lines is equal to the number of steps. The lines are accompanied by arrows. Those labeled “up” mean that the staircase leads to a higher level; conversely, those labeled “down” lead to a lower level.
7. The letters in the pictures serve as keys to the information listed in the margins.
For example, on the floor plan drawing, a series of letters in a circle beginning with “A” refer to selected door types. This “door schedule,” as it is called, coordinates the location of each door, as well as the style and size. A closet door, for example, has a letter inside a circle in the appropriate place on the plan. When reading the plan, the corresponding margin notation may read something like “2′-0″ Solid Core Pocket Door, Paint Grade Veneer.”
8. Openings in the window plan have a number inside a circle.
This mark refers to the list of window styles and sizes cited in the window calendar in the margin of the drawing. As an example, a bathroom window may carry the designation of “1” in a circle. Looking at the window schedule, the 1 in a circle may appear to be a “3’0″ x 2’10” awning window.
9. The same approach applies to electrical symbols.
Here are some common examples: A capital “S” represents a wall switch that controls a ceiling light. A capital “S” with a subscript “3” refers to a three-way wall switch. A capital “J” in a box marks the location of a junction box. A capital “L” in a circle is the site of an outdoor lamp. A triangle indicates the location of a telephone jack.
10. Large letters with carets (>) pointing toward each wall refer to an elevation or drawing of the wall as it will appear when built.
An exterior elevation is illustrated with large type and a 90 degree angled side line.
11. The location of appliances and accessories is easy to determine.
The symbol for a kitchen or stove is four circles inside a square. Bird’s-eye drawings are used to represent the refrigerator, kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, toilets, and showers. In the kitchen, a series of dashes accompanied by the notation “DW” mark the location of an undercounter dishwasher. Look carefully to see that the fixtures have been placed where you want them. Once again, visualize yourself inside the house, preparing meals (or doing the dishes).
12. Tile floors are also easy to spot.
It is illustrated with an extension of small squares in the bathroom or in front of the drawing of a fireplace.
13. The elevations represent what the walls of the house will look like when they are built.
Interior wall elevations include drawings of fireplaces, cabinets and shelves, windows, doors, and other desired built-ins. Exterior elevations indicate the location of windows, doors, and other items such as roof eaves.
14. Accompanying the elevations there may be some drawings that outline the construction details.
You will often find drawings that describe the configuration of the outside corners. Or, you can be provided with footing pads and column bases, indicating depths and widths.
15. Sections provide a transparent representation of the house.
You can visually see how various elements of the house will line up when construction is complete. This is useful for viewing porticoes and other façade details, as well as exterior decks, arcades, and any other decorative aspect. If this seems too overwhelming, don’t try to absorb all the information the blueprints provide in one sitting. Study them calmly, allowing the house to gradually reveal itself to you over time. Then, when you have a firm idea of how your new log home will look and function, you’ll be much more confident in your leap of faith to start building.