Are you just starting out on your architectural journey or simply need to refresh your memory? No need to worry because you’re not the only one struggling. Reading floor plans is no easy feat to achieve. It can be a tad bit confusing if you’re looking at a blueprint without prior experience. This article is perfect to jog your memory as it covers the A-Z of reading and interpreting floor plans.
But first let’s explore the 3 types of views you’ll be encountering in a blue print.
Overview
Reading Floor Plans: 3 types of Views
It’s all about perspective and this applies in architecture as well!
While sketching a blueprint, architectures generally use 3 types of views to show the fundamental structure of the building.
Plan view:
A depiction on a horizontal plane that shows an aerial view of a structure is called a plan view. Each floor of the building has its own separate plan view drawing.
Elevation view:
It is the depiction on a vertical plane. This shows how the structure appears when viewed from the front, back, left, or right side. There are elevation drawings for both the inside and the exterior.
Section view:
A section view is a depiction on a vertical plane that shows the inside of a specific portion of a building by cutting through solid space. Elements like sheathing, wall studs, and insulation are visible in a cross-section view.
Now that we’ve got our views straight, let’s explore the tricks to decode all floor plans.
1. Start From The Top
It’s imperative we start from the very top and yes you guessed it right! The Title. Beginning with the title block will allow you to familiarize with the vital information. The information will contain details such as:
- Project name
- Project number
- Drawing date
- Location information
- Contact information of architect
- Government approvals
This will enable you with all the information you need to get started.
2. Memorize The Floor Plans Legend
The legend holds all the symbols used in the drawing. Exploring the different symbols beforehand will make it easier for you to interpret the floor plan once you try to read it. Its good to go through the legend even if you’re a seasoned architect because symbols vary from project to project. Some use industry standard symbols while others may use symbols specific to their project.
3. The Scale & Orientation
A typical drawing scale, for instance, equates a quarter-inch in the drawing to one foot in the finished product. There will be significant issues when materials arrive in the wrong sizes if anyone working on the project employs the wrong scale. You should also check for a north arrow or a compass symbol that indicates the drawings’ direction in addition to the architect’s scale. The scale should be shown on each individual design page, and the orientation of the blueprint is normally located next to the plan legend.
4. Room Sizes on Floor Plans
The units for room size measurements are always in feet and inches.
The length is used to present room dimensions in width. For instance, a room’s dimensions of 13′ x 18′ indicate that it is 13 feet wide and 18 feet long. Rooms may vary in shape and aren’t always square, be sure you fully get how the space feels. Consider a space and compare it to your present home as a wonderful technique to imagine.
5. Ceiling Heights
An area feels more airy with higher ceilings (while keeping proportionate to the width of the room). Depending on the style of the home, main floor and upper story ceiling heights commonly range from 8 feet to over 13 feet.
Other ceiling features might be depicted on your plans. It would be a good idea to talk with your home builder about what that implies but they are typically denoted by a dashed line.
Takeaway
On instances people focus too much on the big parts and forget to see the basics. It’s important to always double check if the plan is in metric system or inches. It’s also vital to see the plan legend for symbols and if the architect has left some notes that might help clarify the plan.
By following this guide you’ll be able to read all floor plans without any hassle. You can also contact 1to1 plans for an in depth session where you can visualize your plans by walking on a 2D LED walkable screen that will provide you an experience like no other. With moveable walls and furniture provided in the studio, you can move around the objects to visualize how the house will look once construction is finished.
So, book a session now to achieve the experience of a lifetime!
