Understanding Drawings of a House Architectural Process

Author

Posted Nov 5, 2024

Reads 714

Real estate agent presenting house plans to clients in a modern kitchen setting.
Credit: pexels.com, Real estate agent presenting house plans to clients in a modern kitchen setting.

Drawings of a house architectural process can be overwhelming, but understanding the basics can make it more manageable. The process typically starts with a site analysis, which involves evaluating the property's topography, climate, and natural surroundings.

A well-designed house drawing should consider the site's unique characteristics. For instance, a house built on a sloping site may require a more complex foundation design.

A good architect will create a preliminary design, which is often presented in the form of a sketch or a simple drawing. This design will take into account the client's needs and preferences, as well as the site's constraints.

The preliminary design is then developed into a more detailed drawing, which includes the house's floor plan, elevations, and cross-sections. This is where the architect begins to think about the house's layout, materials, and overall aesthetic.

What Is an Architect?

An architect is a professional who creates detailed drawings of buildings, like architectural drawings. They are responsible for planning and designing structures, including houses. Architects create various types of drawings throughout a project, which helps owners and project planners understand how a building will look and function when it's finished.

Credit: youtube.com, Architectural Plans Explained

Architects play a crucial role in construction projects, providing necessary information and instructions for the construction crew to build the structure. They create detailed records of the inner workings of a building, which is essential for future maintenance.

An architect's main job is to create technical drawings that communicate detailed information about a building. These drawings are essential for the construction process and help ensure that the final product meets the desired specifications.

Design and Construction

Design and construction drawings are crucial in the process of creating a house. They serve as a blueprint for contractors to follow, ensuring a safe, compliant, and aligned construction process.

Architects use 3D design and rendering software like Cedreo to create detailed design drawings that showcase a home's interior. These drawings are essential for impressing clients and increasing conversions.

In a construction project, every contractor adheres to the architectural drawings, which include elevation and section views. These drawings serve as a guide for the construction crew and eliminate any unwanted surprises during construction.

Here are the main types of architectural drawings that are typically required:

  • Architectural Drawings
  • Structural Drawings
  • HVAC Drawings
  • Electrical & Plumbing Drawings
  • Firefighter Drawings
  • Miscellaneous Drawings

Design and Construction Types

Credit: youtube.com, Construction Types, Continued - Building Design and Construction Systems

Design and construction projects require a variety of drawings to ensure a smooth and successful process.

Architectural drawings are a crucial part of the construction process, serving as a blueprint for the construction crew. These drawings include elevation and section views, which are essential for contractors to carry out their work safely and in compliance with regulations.

Design drawings showcase the aesthetics and overall flow of a space, and can be created using 3D design and rendering software like Cedreo. These drawings are important for impressing clients and increasing conversions.

There are several types of design and construction drawings, which can be broadly categorized into architectural drawings, structural drawings, HVAC drawings, electrical and plumbing drawings, firefighter drawings, and miscellaneous drawings.

Here are the main types of architectural drawings:

  • Architectural Drawings
  • Structural Drawings
  • HVAC Drawings
  • Electrical & Plumbing Drawings
  • Firefighter Drawings
  • Miscellaneous Drawings

In total, there are 11 common types of architecture plan drawings, and 9 main types of architectural drawings.

Add Roof

Adding a roof to your design can be a bit complicated, especially with all the angles involved. Fortunately, programs like Cedreo make it easy to create a custom roof for each home.

Credit: youtube.com, Gabled Porch Build DIY Updated

Cedreo's roof tab has everything you need to create your roof, giving you the ability to make adjustments and customize it to your heart's content.

The roof slab layout is more prominently made in the AutoCAD architectural software, where it's used to provide a detailed account of floors, roof faces, and other surfaces that require precise edge information.

You can use Cedreo to create a roof that's both functional and visually appealing, without getting bogged down in complicated calculations.

Excavation

Excavation drawings are crucial in guiding construction teams, illustrating the measurements of a building's foundation and aiding in establishing the necessary depth of excavation and the dimensions required for the foundation.

Cedreo makes it easy to duplicate the size of the ground floor, allowing you to see where to add things like stairs when adding a basement or level.

Excavation drawings are needed to know the length, depth, and width of the building excavation, which talks about the extent of excavation, removal of soil, and the process of excavation.

Credit: youtube.com, Amazing Modern Basement Construction Technology - Amazing Ingenious House Construction Workers

The great benefit of excavation drawings is that your construction team will know what materials need to be removed, what methods to use, and what specific tools they need to have to accomplish the excavation process.

Different processes used for excavation comprise trenching, wall shafts, tunneling, and others, which require careful planning and execution.

Types of Drawings

There are various types of drawings involved in creating a house architectural plan. You might need 11 types of architecture drawings, which include a detailed set of architecture plan drawings.

Architectural drawings can be categorized into different sets, such as Architectural Drawings, Structural Drawings, HVAC Drawings, Electrical & Plumbing Drawings, Firefighter Drawings, and Miscellaneous Drawings.

Here's a breakdown of the main types of architectural drawings:

  • Architectural Drawings
  • Structural Drawings
  • HVAC Drawings
  • Electrical & Plumbing Drawings
  • Firefighter Drawings
  • Miscellaneous Drawings

These drawings will help you understand the different aspects of your house architectural plan, from the building's exterior to its internal systems.

Types of Architecture

In the world of architecture, drawings play a crucial role in bringing a project to life. There are 11 common types of drawings you might need to get started.

Credit: youtube.com, Architecture A to Z [Guide to Popular Concepts]

A detailed set of architecture plan drawings is essential for a completed project. This includes various types of drawings that help architects and builders visualize and communicate their ideas.

The first step in creating these drawings is to understand the different types of architecture drawings. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Floor plans show the layout of a building's interior, including rooms, doors, and windows.

2. Elevations depict the building's exterior from different angles, highlighting its height, width, and depth.

3. Cross-sections illustrate the building's vertical structure, showing the relationship between floors and ceilings.

4. Site plans display the building's location on the site, including surrounding features like roads and landscaping.

5. Roof plans show the shape and design of the roof, including its slope, pitch, and materials.

6. Electrical plans outline the electrical system, including outlets, switches, and wiring.

7. Plumbing plans detail the plumbing system, including pipes, fixtures, and appliances.

8. HVAC plans show the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

9. Structural plans illustrate the building's framework, including beams, columns, and foundations.

10. Landscape plans display the outdoor spaces, including gardens, walkways, and other features.

11. Architectural details show the intricate elements of a building, such as moldings, trim, and ornate features.

The Importance of

Credit: youtube.com, Why is Drawing Important?

Architectural drawings are crucial for transforming design concepts into well-structured design proposals. They effectively communicate ideas and concepts to stakeholders.

Architects use these technical drawings to capture the overall aesthetic of both interior and exterior aspects of a building and offer precise measurements. This is especially important for construction and permitting stages.

There are two very important stages that need architectural drawings: construction and permitting. These stages are critical for bringing a building project to life.

Construction Document Sheet Numbers

Construction document sheet numbers play a crucial role in keeping your construction project organized.

Different offices may have different rules about the order of disciplines in the drawing set. The Uniform Drawing System (UDS) suggests a specific order to avoid confusion among the many trades that use the construction documents.

Most projects won't use all the disciplines listed, and some may need additional ones specific to the project.

Architecture Sheet

An architectural sheet, also known as an elevation drawing, is a crucial part of any construction project. It's a vertical plane view of a building, showing its exterior from the front, back, and sides.

Credit: youtube.com, Types of Architectural Drawings

Elevation drawings can be created from a frontal viewpoint, capturing the building's exterior as seen from its front, back, and sides. They're useful for architects to understand the facing of the building, including the direction of the sun and wind.

A 2D elevation drawing can be created using software like Cedreo, which allows you to import existing floor plans and draw walls with updated measurements. You can also add labels for rooms, doors, and windows.

Elevation drawings are used to show important details about a building's facade, including exterior surface materials, window and door finishings, measurements, and more. They're essential for contractors to follow during the construction phase, ensuring a process that's safe, compliant with regulations, and aligned with the design and preferences of clients.

Here are the common types of elevation drawings:

  • Front elevation: shows the building's exterior from the front
  • Side elevation: shows the building's exterior from the side
  • Back elevation: shows the building's exterior from the back

By creating accurate elevation drawings, architects can effectively communicate their design concepts to clients and contractors, ensuring a successful construction project.

Column Layout

Credit: youtube.com, Learn to decide the position of Columns in a column layout | Structural planning | Civil Tutor

Column layout is a crucial part of a building's design and pattern, reinforcing the structure's columns throughout.

This plan is divided floor-wise, making it easier to visualize the exact size and distance between every column of the building.

Column layout drawings are a contractor's best friend, as they help make sense of the whole building layout.

Plinth beams are another type of beam structure that reinforces the support system of a building, working in tandem with the column layout to provide stability.

Software and Tools

You can create architectural drawings using various software and tools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, some popular programs used for creating architectural drawings include AutoCAD and SketchUp.

AutoCAD has been the gold standard for CAD software for a long time, but it can be tedious to use, especially for home designs. On the other hand, SketchUp is a 3D modeling program that some use to create architectural drawings, but it requires experience with 3D modeling.

Credit: youtube.com, Architectural Drawing Tutorial | My process + settings

Some programs, like Cedreo, allow you to produce professional images with virtually no previous design experience, making them a great option for those new to architectural drawing. Computer-generated drawings, created with specialized software, can also produce photorealistic images that give clients a preview of the finished project.

Here's a brief comparison of some popular architectural drawing software:

Computer-Generated

Computer-generated drawings are a game-changer in the world of architecture, allowing you to create 3D plans and renderings with the help of specialized software. This process is way faster and more efficient than drawing every single view by hand.

With computer-generated drawings, you can input architectural design parameters and let the computer do the rest, resulting in photorealistic images that give clients a preview of the finished project. This is especially impressive for clients who can see exactly what their project will look like before it's even built.

Some computer-generated drawing programs require a lot of manual adjustments and 3D modeling expertise, but others like Cedreo make it possible to produce professional images with virtually no previous design experience. This is a huge advantage for architects and designers who want to save time and effort.

Computer-generated drawings come in two main formats: 2D and 3D. The process of creating a 3D object using computer-generated drawings is often referred to as "rendering" or "modeling", while 2D design is commonly referred to as "drafting."

Computer Aided Design

Credit: youtube.com, 5 FREE CAD Programs to Design Any Project

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is a powerful tool in the world of architectural drawings. CAD drawings are used to create detailed, accurate illustrations of architectural projects, showcasing dimensions, textures, and materials.

These drawings can be either 2D or 3D, with 2D design commonly referred to as "drafting" and 3D design involving "rendering" or "modeling." CAD programs like AutoCAD have been the gold standard for CAD software for a long time, offering a wide range of tools for creating detailed drawings of anything.

However, CAD programs like AutoCAD can be tedious to use, especially for creating home designs, and have a steep learning curve. On the other hand, 3D modeling programs like SketchUp can be used to create architectural drawings, but require experience with 3D modeling and can be expensive with additional plugins.

Here are some key features of CAD drawings:

  • CAD drawings show dimensions, textures, and materials
  • Can be 2D or 3D
  • Used for large and complex structures with custom features

CAD drawings are perfect for showing cross-sections and intricate details of virtually any design element, but can take a lot of time to create and have a steep learning curve. Despite this, CAD drawings are an essential tool for architects and designers, serving as a means of effectively communicating ideas and concepts.

House Plans and Layout

Credit: youtube.com, Tips for High Performance Home Floorplan: Designing Out Condensation, Odors, Discomfort, and Hassle

House plans and layout are crucial components of a house's architectural drawings. You can create a detailed roof slab layout using AutoCAD architectural software.

The roof slab layout provides a precise account of floors, roof faces, and surfaces that require edge information. This helps ensure accuracy in construction.

To add additional levels or a basement to your house plan, use the levels tool in Cedreo. Select "add basement" or "add level" to create a duplicate of the ground floor, making it easy to visualize where to add features like stairs.

Add Basement or Levels

Adding a basement or extra levels to your house plan is a breeze. Cedreo makes it easy to duplicate the size of the ground floor by going to the levels tool in the layout step and selecting "add basement" or "add level".

This creates a duplicate of the ground floor, making it simple to see where to add things like stairs. The layout is instantly updated to show the new level.

Just create an opening to connect the levels, and you're ready to add stairs or other features.

Roof Layout

Credit: youtube.com, How To: Reading Construction Blueprints & Plans | #1

A roof beam is a triangular structure that strengthens the building's overall structure, typically made from wood, steel, or concrete.

The roof slab layout is used to provide a detailed account of floors, roof faces, and other surfaces that require precise edge information.

In architectural drawings, roof beams and slabs are essential components that must be accurately represented.

To create a roof in architectural drawings, you can use software like AutoCAD or Cedreo, which offer features like roof slab layout and customizable roof designs.

The roof is a critical structural element that protects a building from the elements, and its design can greatly impact the overall aesthetic of a house.

Plinth Beam Layout

The plinth beam layout is a crucial part of any house plan, and it's essential to understand how it's designed.

The plinth beam layout drawings show the position, length, and sectional design of the plinth beams, which are made floor-wise.

A well-designed plinth beam layout ensures a solid foundation for your house, providing support and stability to the entire structure.

Plinth beam drawings are typically made floor-wise, which means each floor has its own unique layout and design.

Having a clear and detailed plinth beam layout can save you time and money during the construction process, as it helps builders and contractors understand the exact requirements of the project.

Location

Credit: youtube.com, Creating a Floor Plan Layout – How to Approach Designing Floor Plans and Space Planning

Location drawings are a general category that includes all drawings showing the composition of your project, which can be useful for future work.

These drawings are also known as general arrangement drawings, and they cover a wide area, requiring the architect to check out the whole area where the building is to be constructed.

Location planning drawings further cover a wide area, showing the relationship between different types of building planning drawings and development.

They represent the objects and show the relationship between different types of building planning drawings and development, making them an essential part of the house planning process.

Architecture Styles and Scales

Architecture styles and scales are closely related, and understanding the different scales is crucial when creating drawings of a house.

In architectural drafting standards, the scale helps you understand the relation between the size of something on the drawing and the size of that same object in real life.

Credit: youtube.com, Introduction to House Architectural Styles

To choose the right scale, consider the size of what you're drawing and the size of paper you're going to use to print it.

Here are some common scales used in architectural drawings:

Architecture Styles

There are three main architectural drawing styles.

One of the most common styles is the isometric style, which involves drawing buildings in a three-dimensional perspective.

Another popular style is the orthographic style, which involves drawing buildings from a two-dimensional perspective, often using multiple views to show different sides of the building.

The third style mentioned is the axonometric style, which involves drawing buildings in a three-dimensional perspective, but with equal measurements on all sides, making it easier to read and understand.

Common Scales

Understanding scales is essential in architectural drawings. A scale helps you comprehend the relation between the size of something on the drawing and the actual size of that object in real life.

For large site plans, a scale of 1:500 is commonly used. This scale is ideal for understanding the overall layout of a large site.

Credit: youtube.com, Architect's Scale vs Engineer's Scales | Engineer Supply

Here are some common scales used in architectural drafting:

A site plan's scale is typically 1:200, while a floor plan is usually drawn at a 1:100 scale.

Houses with Pitched Roofs

Houses with Pitched Roofs are a staple in many architectural styles. They can be found in various scales, from small cottages to grand estates.

A pitched roof can be created using a program like Cedreo, which makes it easy to design a custom roof for each home. With the ability to create complex angles, you can achieve a unique look that suits your style.

The roof is one of the most essential structural elements of nearly every construction. It's the element that allows a space to feel protected and defines the interior in both vertical and horizontal senses.

Pitched roofs can become walls, lending identity and flair to a building. This is evident in 13 houses where the roof completes the façade, making it a character-giving feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find architectural drawings of a building?

Contact the building's contractor or the original architect to obtain or locate architectural drawings. They may have copies or know who does

What 5 drawings are included in a set of house plans?

A standard house plan set typically includes 5 essential drawings: Exterior Elevations, Floor Plan(s), Building Sections, Roof Plan, and Foundation Plan. These detailed drawings provide a comprehensive overview of your home's design and construction.

What are architectural drawings called?

Architectural drawings are commonly referred to as blueprints, a term that originated from an early printing process. This term is still widely used today, even though the actual prints are no longer blue.

What do architects use to draw house plans?

Architects commonly use Autodesk AutoCAD to create 2D house plans, floor plans, and elevations. This software streamlines the drawing process with pre-built objects like walls, doors, and windows.

Brett Cain

Senior Writer

Brett Cain is an experienced blogger with a passion for writing. He has been creating content for over 10 years, and his work has been featured on various platforms. Brett's writing style is concise and engaging, making his articles easy to read and understand.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.