Layout Steps for Floor Plan
Caution and Review:
  1. Cleanliness: Keep hands and table clean. Store drawings in a clean place. Do not move tools and hands over drawing any more than is absolutely necessary. Use scrap paper under hand to keep skin oil from smudging drawing.
  2. Line work: Use construction lines first. Use the appropriate hardness and width lead when darkening lines.
  3. Darkening or shading walls is not done untill all other activities are completed. See Step 18.
FiguresSteps and Notes
Figure 16-2 Step 1:
  1. Determine working area on paper
    Figure 16-2 Step 2:
    1. Determine drawing area on paper
    Figure 16-2 Step 3:
    1. Center the drawing
    2. Draw the perimeter of the building. This can be a light construction line. Note how light construction lines extend beyond the final object line.
    Figure 16-3 Step 4:
    1. Note that all measurements on the drawing are made to the outside edge of outside walls.
    2. Represent the outer walls by drawing a parallel construction line 6" (to scale) inside the perimeter line.
    3. Outside walls for heated areas are usually drawn 6" thick; walls for unheated areas such as a garage are sometimes drawn 4" thick.
    4. If you were using CADD the thickness of walls would be drawn the actual thickness.
    Figure 16-3 Step 5:
    1. Inside walls are often drawn 4" thick.
    2. Note that all measurements to an inside wall are made to the centerline of the wall. A center line is not drawn, however.
    3. Locate the center points of each inside wall.
      4. Use your scale to measure 2" each side of the wall centerlines. Use construction lines to draw in the inside walls.
    Figure 16-4 Step 6:
    1. Block out (measure) all doors and windows in their proper locations.
    2. Using construction lines, draw in lines which show each end of each door and window.
    Figure 16-5 Step 7:
    1. Using construction lines, draw in all cabinets.
    Figure 16-5 Step 8:
    1. Using construction lines, draw in all appliances and utilities.
    Figure 16-5 Step 9:
    1. Using construction lines, draw in all plumbing fixtures, sinks and toilets.
    Figure 16-5 Step 10:
    1. Using construction lines, draw in any fireplaces, barbecues, chimneys, etc.
    Figure 16-5 Step 11:
    1. Using construction lines, draw in stair representations.
    2. Typical tread width is 10-1/2".
    Figure 16-6 Step 12:
    1. Check the accuracy of all of your lines.
    2. As you do the following steps, draw all lines and symbols from top to bottom, and from left to right (if right handed) or right to left (if left handed). This is done to limit travel over darkened lines and prevent smudging
    3. Darken all construction lines.
    4. Add all door and window symbols.
    Figure 16-7 Step 13:
    1. Using construction lines, lay out all exterior dimensions. Do not place dimension numerals at this time.
    2. Place an overall dimension on all sides of the house.
    3. The second row of dimensions should go from the exterior face to exterior face of major jogs.
    4. Dimension to the exterior face of walls between the garage and the residence. This is done because the foundation materials are usually different for the house and garage.
    5. A dimension should be placed between the center of each interior wall and the center of each door and window. The only exception is for the wide garage door.
      6. Darken extension and dimension lines as they are drawn.
    Figure 16-7 Step 14:
    1. Using construction lines, lay out all interior dimensions as needed. Do not place dimension numerals at this time.
    Figure 16-8 Step 15:
    1. Prepare very light 1/8" high guidelines within 1/16" of each dimension line. The dimensions should be centered above each dimension line.
    2. Dimension numerals should read from the bottom on horizontal dimensions and from the right side of the sheet on vertical dimensions.
    3. Letter all dimension numerals within the guidelines.
    4. As you letter, place a clean sheet of paper under your hand to prevent smudging of the drawing.
    5. Add arrowheads or slashes at the ends of dimension lines as preferred.
    6. Add geometric shapes for identifying each window and door. In the example a hexagon is used for doors and a circle is used for windows in Figure 16-7. Numbers and letters will be added after window and door schedules are completed.
    Figure 16-8 Step 16:
    1. Draw 1/8" guide lines for lettering all local notes.
    2. Letter the notes.
    Figure 16-9 Step 17:
    1. Draw 3/16" guidelines for labeling rooms and 1/8" guidelines for room sizes.
    2. Letter the rooms and sizes.
    3. Letter MAIN FLOOR PLAN and the Scale centered under the drawing as shown in Figure 16-9.
    4. Draw a symbol for NORTH in a location similar to that of Figure 16-9,
    Figure 16-9 Step 18:
    1. Add any material symbols such as tile or stone. Wood grain may be used to represent hand rails, guard rails and partial walls.
    2. Shade exterior and interior walls ON THE BACK OF THE DRAWING sheet. Do not shade without scratch paper underneath the drawing.
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    March 22, 2006