A grading plan is an essential element of a set of construction documents. It’s a drawing that illustrates the topographical layout of a construction site and how the site will be excavated, filled, and graded to prepare it for necessary work to be done. First, an initial site survey will establish the current topography. This […]
What is a Grading Plan? Read More »
The term “site” refers to the construction area on a parcel of property, or portion of a parcel of property, where construction and work occur. This work might be anything from paving and landscaping to the construction of a skyscraper. Therefore, a site plan is a 2D orthographic drawing that represents the construction site from
What is a Site Plan? Read More »
When you think about mounting heights, it may seem obvious that the dimension would be taken from the floor level. But in construction, there could be several reference points from which a vertical dimension could be taken. That’s why A.F.F. is a commonly used acronym found on construction drawings. AFF is an acronym that stands
What Does AFF Mean in Construction? Read More »
Title blocks are essential for all sheets (aka pages) in a construction drawing set. They tell the viewer information about the project, such as: what the project is and where it’s located, who created the drawings, the date of the drawings, and more. Should a single sheet be separated from the rest of the drawing
Architectural Title Blocks: Standards and Conventions Read More »
What is poché? Poché is a style of presentation that involves filling the cut components of a plan or section with solid black (or closely spaced diagonal lines) to add depth and dimension to the drawings. This technique became popular during the Middle Ages when buildings were built with thick stone masonry walls, and the
What Does Poché Mean & How Does It Differ From a Hatch Read More »
Wall sections are fundamental drawings in any construction drawing set. They can quickly give the viewer or contractor an overview of the project’s construction, from footing to roof. What is a wall section? A wall section is a drawing that cuts a vertical “slice” through a building’s wall and only extends a short distance into
What is a Wall Section Drawing? Read More »
Section drawings are a critical part of any construction drawing set. They slice the building up at several scales to show the materials and assemblies being used, spatial relationships, and information that can’t be clearly indicated on the plans or elevations. I’ll break down the several types of section drawings below. What is a section
What are Section Drawings? Read More »
When you hear the term “elevation”, we typically thing of the distance above sea level. Elevations are also a type of technical drawings used in construction. They are 2D orthographic representations of a vertical plane of a building or element. Elevation plans are most typically drawn to show the exterior façade of a building. It
What are Architectural Elevations and What Do They Show? Read More »
You may not take time to look up when you enter a new room, but the ceilings of our buildings play an important role in how that space feels and operates. Lighting, color, material, and texture can make a space feel bright and airy, or warm and cozy. In addition, required devices like light fixtures,
What is a Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP)? Read More »
Foundations create stability and a base for our buildings. They are the first portion of the building to be constructed, so getting it right is essential to the construction of the remainder of the building. The key to designing a stable building starts with the foundation plan. What is a foundation? A foundation consists of
What is a Foundation Plan? Read More »
