2. Chapter 13
Floor Plans

3. Introduction
The Floor Plan is the heart of a set of construction drawings.
All tradeworkers refer to the floor plan.
Usually the first drawing completed.
The basis for many other plans.
The Floor Plan is not a typical top view but a section drawing.

4. Introduction 4

5. Introduction 5

6. Required Information

7. Required Information Location of Exterior and Interior walls.
Size and location of windows and doors.
Location and size dimensions.
Location of stairs.
Room names.
Materials used (Material symbols).
Location of Permanent fixtures and built-in cabinets and appliances.
Walks, patios, and decks attached to the structure.

8. Location and Size of Walls
Draw walls accurately. Walls should be drawn to their actual thickness.
Since the Floor Plan is a section drawing proper hatch patterns should be used to indicate materials.

9. Wall Material Symbols

10. Location and Size of Windows and Doors
Centerlines are used to locate window and door openings in framed walls.
Centerlines not needed in masonry construction. Dimension to the side of the opening in a masonry walls.

11. Location and Size of Windows and Doors
Openings for windows are sash width. Window opening size = actual sash width.
Openings for doors are actual width. Door opening size = actual door width.
Door swings should be indicated.
Draw sills for windows and exterior doors. 11

12. Location and Size of Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are located in a frame wall with a centerline. A door swing is also shown.

13. Cabinets, Appliances, and Permanent Fixtures
Show kitchen cabinets, bath vanities, fixtures, and appliances.
Use standard symbols at proper scale.
Check local code for clearances.

14. Stairs, Chimneys, and Fireplaces
Only the basic size and location of stairs and chimneys needs to be recorded on the floor plan.
For stairs, show direction of flight, number of risers, and width of stairs.
For a chimney, show basic depth and width, opening design, and location.

15. Stairs, Chimneys, and Fireplaces
Information about a set of stairs that is usually included on the floor plan. 15

16. Walks, Patios, and Decks
Outside features attached to the structure are usually included on the floor plan.
Walks, patios, and decks are examples.
Indicate size and materials on plan.
These elements are considered as part of the total plan.

17. Room Names and Material Symbols
Room names help to communicate the plan to others.
Room names 3/16" high and placed in the center of the room.

18. Room Names and Material Symbols
Material symbols or material hatch patterns are used to denote each material.
Use a material symbol whenever the material should be identified. 18

19. Material Symbols

20. Material Symbols

21. Dimensioning
Dimensions on a Floor Plan show size and location of the features.
Proper placement of dimensions requires good judgment and planning.
Locate dimensions where one would logically look for them.
In architectural dimensioning, dimension lines are continuous lines with the dimension figure placed above the dimension line and parallel to the dimension line (Aligned dimension style).

22. Dimensioning
Be consistent with the type of termination symbol used for dimension lines.
Move dimension lines out from drawing.
Space dimension lines 1/2" apart.
Make leaders no longer than 2".
Dimensions are recorded in feet and inches.
Feet and inch marks may be omitted.
Dimensions less than 1' are usually indicated as 1/2", 2", 6", etc. 22

23. Dimensioning Dimension interior frame walls to the center of the wall.
Dimension exterior frame walls to the outside of the stud wall.
Dimension brick veneer walls to outside of stud wall. 23

24. Dimensioning Frame Walls

25. Dimensioning Dimension solid masonry walls to outside of wall
Overall dimensions provide total length and width of structure or major parts of structure

26. Dimensioning Solid Masonry Walls

27. Dimensioning
Overall dimensions are needed to provide the total length and width of the structure or major parts of the structure.
Add up partial dimensions to be sure they equal the overall dimensions.

28. Dimensioning
Notes are often necessary to present information that cannot be represented by dimensions or symbols.
Notes should be read from the bottom of the sheet. 28