Understand a Construction Plan
A construction plan is a scaled drawing showing how a project should be constructed, and what it will look like upon completion. For a small home renovation, the construction plan may consist of only a single drawing, while larger projects may require hundreds of drawings and supporting documents. Those who are not involved in the building industry often believe that the information on these plans is too difficult to decipher, but this is not usually the case. By understanding the construction plans, one is more likely to get the project completed on-time, and in accordance with their specifications.
Instructions
1. Start with the title page. This is the first sheet of the set, and shows the symbol legend as well as general notes. By knowing what the various symbols used on the drawings represent, you'll take a great deal of the mystery out of the plans and begin to understand what you're looking at. Read all the general notes and information on this page as well, because these notes will often effect all the drawings in the set.
2. Understand how the drawings are organized. For plans with multiple pages, the title sheet will be followed by the architectural drawings, then the mechanical and electrical plans. The architectural section provides information on walls, flooring, and basic building elements that are fairly easy to interpret. While most information on the mechanical and electrical plans can be understood, it is easier to view this information once you are familiar with the architectural elements. A single page construction plan will show all of these components on one sheet, but you can still review it easily by focusing first on the architectural components in Steps 3 and 4.
3. Review the floor plans. These are the first few pages of the architectural set. They show the basic shape of the building, along with the location of the walls. Often, dimensions are given to show the length and width of various walls and rooms. If no dimensions are shown, refer to the drawing's scale. This is often shown at the bottom of the page as 1/8th scale. This means that every 1/8" inch is equal to 1 foot of living space.
4. Examine the elevations. These show what the interior and exterior walls of the building will look like from top to bottom, and are some of the easiest drawings for novices to understand. They will often show the location of doors, windows, cabinets, and other furniture. Use dimensions on the plans or drawing scale to understand the size and location of various elements.
5. Check for a finish plan. This drawing shows the finish materials that will be used throughout the building. It includes flooring, paint, ceilings, and exterior cladding. If this information is not shown on the plans, it should be presented to the homeowner early on in the project for review. Finish selections that are not recorded on the building plans should be shown in writing on some form of support document.
6. Review the mechanical drawings. While more complicated systems may be fairly difficult to understand, basic elements can easily be reviewed. Look for locations of major equipment, such as hot water heaters and air conditioners, and make sure these are in satisfactory locations. Duct work will be shown as a round or rectangular shape running from the heating and cooling to locations throughout the house. The spot where each of these ducts passes into a room shows where air will be blown into the room. Mechanical plans also show the location of sinks, showers, and other fixtures, as well as the path plumbing lines will take to those fixtures.
7. Examine electrical drawings. All power will originate at the main electrical panel. Wires shown running from the panel will connect to various electrical items in the building. The numbers shown next to these wires indicate which breaker or circuit it is connected to. Using the symbols legend, you can determine where receptacles, light switches, and lights will be placed.
8. Read supplementary documents. On small projects, this may simply be the contractor's proposal or contract. It will often contain details not shown on the plans, including schedule, materials, or construction terms. In the majority of projects, the contract is considered to be part of the plans, so it should be read carefully, even for homeowners who know and trust their builder. With larger projects, check for specifications or supplementary documents. These elements are as much a part of the plans as any drawing, and are easy for most people to understand.
Tags: construction plan, plans should, will often, drawing scale, electrical plans, general notes, into room
