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A house plan is a set of construction or working drawings (sometimes called blueprints) that define all the construction specifications of a residential
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
such as the dimensions, materials, layouts, installation methods and techniques.


Drawing set

The principal information provided in a set of blueprint drawings is as follows: * Site plans are detailed drawings that show a home's position on its property, viewed from above. They illustrate how the home relates to the lot's boundaries and surroundings. Site plans should outline location of utility services, setback requirements, easements, location of driveways and walkways, and sometimes even topographical data that specifies the slope of the terrain. *A
floor plan In architecture and building engineering, a floor plan is a technical drawing to scale, showing a view from above, of the relationships between rooms, spaces, traffic patterns, and other physical features at one level of a structure. Dimensio ...
is an overhead view of the completed house. On the plan, you will see parallel lines that scale at whatever width the walls are required to be. Dimensions are usually drawn between the walls to specify room sizes and wall lengths. Floor plans will also indicate rooms, all the doors and windows and any built-in elements, such as
plumbing Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses piping, pipes, valves, piping and plumbing fitting, plumbing fixtures, Storage tank, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. HVAC, Heating and co ...
fixtures, cabinets, water heaters, furnaces, etc. Floor plans will include notes to specify finishes, construction methods, or symbols for electrical items. * Elevations are a non-perspective view of the home. These are drawn to scale so that measurements can be taken for any aspect necessary. Plans include front, rear and both side elevations. The elevations specify ridge heights, the positioning of the final fall of the land, exterior finishes, roof pitches and other details that are necessary to give the home its exterior architectural styling. *A section provides a cross-sectional view of a building, illustrating a "cut-through" at a specific location indicated on the floor plan. It reveals details about the construction process and showcases the intended appearance of internal finishes. Sections are used because they explain certain conditions in more detail. These conditions may include ceiling height, ceiling type (flat or vault), and window and door dimensions. * Foundation plan outlines the dimensions and precise locations of footings, providing a detailed guide for the building’s structural base. * Framing plan details the wall construction, specifying the size of the
lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...
to be used, typically usually 2x4 or 2x6. * The sub-floor plan provides construction details for this area, including the arrangement of services (such as
plumbing Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses piping, pipes, valves, piping and plumbing fitting, plumbing fixtures, Storage tank, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. HVAC, Heating and co ...
and framing structures). * Roof plans outline the type of roof and materials to use, its pitch and framing structure required. * Interior elevation drawings provides detailed views of interior walls that showcase their design and layout. * Detail drawings highlight specific features like built-in shelving, moldings, and
column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member ...
s, providing precise construction guidelines. * Schedules list specifications for various elements such as windows and doors, including dimensions and materials. * Structural layouts present the arrangement of critical load-bearing components to ensure stability. * Electrical and
telecoms Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...
drawings show locations of all the outlets, TV sockets, switches and fixtures. They also indicate which switches operate which lights and where the electric lines should be run. *
Plumbing Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses piping, pipes, valves, piping and plumbing fitting, plumbing fixtures, Storage tank, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. HVAC, Heating and co ...
schematic drawing illustrate the placement of
plumbing fixture A plumbing fixture is an exchangeable device which can be connected to a plumbing system to deliver and drain water. Common fixtures Supply The most common plumbing fixtures are: *Bathtubs * Bidets * Channel drains * Drinking fountains * Showe ...
s and the layout of
piping Within industry, piping is a system of pipes used to convey fluids (liquids and gases) from one location to another. The engineering discipline of piping design studies the efficient transport of fluid. Industrial process piping (and accomp ...
systems. * Subdivision plans (also known as an allotment plans or strata plans) show information regarding adjoining properties. This includes: ** Sketch plan: A basic layout of the lots and public infrastructure ** Preliminary plat: A more detailed plan that shows building footprints and measurements ** Final plat: The official document that creates the new lots ** Block sizes: The dimensions of the blocks of land ** Easements: Any other details about the land


Lines and symbols

House plans use the following lines and symbols to convey the relationship between objects: * Dimension lines, which consist of a solid line with a mark at either end; space between the two marks equals the distance noted next to the line. *
Wall A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area; carries a load; provides security, shelter, or soundproofing; or serves a decorative purpose. There are various types of walls, including border barriers between countries, brick wal ...
, indicated by thick solid lines between rooms. * Partial
height Height is measure of vertical distance, either vertical extent (how "tall" something or someone is) or vertical position (how "high" a point is). For an example of vertical extent, "This basketball player is 7 foot 1 inches in height." For an e ...
wall, a low wall that doesn't extend all the way up to the ceiling. * Thin solid lines are used for built-in structures (such as cabinets, bookshelves, or plumbing fixtures). * Thin dotted lines indicate overhead features, such as wall cabinets in a kitchen or a special ceiling treatment or an
arch An arch is a curved vertical structure spanning an open space underneath it. Arches may support the load above them, or they may perform a purely decorative role. As a decorative element, the arch dates back to the 4th millennium BC, but stru ...
way in the living room. * North arrow would be a symbol—usually a simple arrow or a compass rose—used to indicate the direction of true north on the floor plan. * Doors: ** Door swing ** Bifold doors ** Passage (hinged)
door A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide securit ...
s ** Sliding glass door ** French
door A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide securit ...
*
Window A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent ma ...
, small breaks between exterior walls often indicate a window *
Toilet A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human waste (urine and feces) and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not. They can be designed for a sitting p ...
, often indicated as a circle adjacent to a rectangle in the bathroom *
Bathtub A bathtub, also known simply as a bath or tub, is a container for holding water in which a person or another animal may Bathing, bathe. Most modern bathtubs are made of thermoformed Acrylic resin, acrylic, porcelain enamel, porcelain-enameled s ...
, often indicated as a large oval or rectangle when indicating a tub/shower combination *
Shower A shower is a place in which a person bathes under a spray of typically warm or hot water. Indoors, there is a drain in the floor. Most showers are set up to have adjustable temperature, spray pressure and showerhead nozzle angle. The si ...
, a rectangular or square shape with an X running through it * Bathroom
sink A sink (also known as ''basin'' in the UK) is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have a tap (faucet) that supplies hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for fas ...
, a rectangle with an oval and a dot in the center if it is a single vanity. * Kitchen
sink A sink (also known as ''basin'' in the UK) is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have a tap (faucet) that supplies hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for fas ...
, typically shown as a rectangle with a dividing line (if double-basin) and placed within a counter outline, representing the primary location for dishwashing and food preparation. * Kitchen range, illustrated as a square or rectangle with four small circles (representing burners) on top, indicating the stove and oven unit in the kitchen. *
Refrigerator A refrigerator, commonly shortened to fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermal insulation, thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to ...
, a small square with 'ref.' worded on it to signify the location placement of the refrigerator * Washer/ Dryer, depicted as adjacent labeled squares or rectangles, sometimes with a “W” and “D” inside, representing the location of laundry appliances. * Tree, represented by a circular shape with radiating lines or branching patterns, symbolizing large outdoor vegetation in landscape plans. *
Shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...
, shown as a smaller, denser circular or cloud-like shape, representing low-growing, bushy plants in exterior or garden layouts.


Spaces and rooms

House plans generally include the following features, depending on the size and type of house: *
Bedroom A bedroom or bedchamber is a room situated within a residential or accommodation unit characterized by its usage for sleeping. A typical Western world, western bedroom contains as bedroom furniture one or two beds, a clothes closet, and bedsid ...
* Bathroom * Kitchen * Hall *Laundry room *Living room (as known as a great room or family room)


Open floor plan

An open floor plan emphasizes large, unobstructed spaces by minimizing or eliminating interior walls between the main living areas—typically the kitchen, dining, and living rooms. This layout creates a more spacious feel and promotes better interaction and flow among family members and guests. The design is made possible by modern building technologies such as curtain wall technology, engineered lumber and
truss A truss is an assembly of ''members'' such as Beam (structure), beams, connected by ''nodes'', that creates a rigid structure. In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so ...
systems, which allow for greater clear spans without the need for supporting walls. Open floor plans are especially popular for their flexibility, natural light, and ease of movement, making homes feel more modern and connected.


References


External links

{{Room Drawing Technical drawing
Plan A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with details of timing and resources, used to achieve an Goal, objective to do something. It is commonly understood as a modal logic, temporal set (mathematics), set of intended actions through wh ...