Weekend Cabin Retreat Project
Elevations
Sacramento City College
EDT 300
Kenneth Fitzpatrick, P.E.
EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
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Objectives
 List
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exterior elevation features.
 Show
elevation dimensions.
 Show
elevation symbols.
 Draw
typical exterior elevations.
EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevations
 An
elevation is an orthographic
projection (drawing) that shows one
side of the building.
 The
term "elevation" usually refers to
an exterior elevation.
 Various
interior elevations may be
drawn, but they are usually
considered to be details.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevations
 Elevations
 Show
the finished appearance of a given
side of the building.
 Show vertical height dimensions.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevations
 Four
elevations are customarily
drawn-one for each side of the house.
 More
than four elevations may be
required to describe some structures.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevation Drawings
 Elevation
drawings provide
 Height
information about basic features of
the house that cannot be shown very well
on other drawings.
 Exterior materials information such as
siding and roof covering.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevation Drawing Information
 Elevation
drawings should include:
 Identification
of the specific side the house
that the elevation represents.
 Grades.
 Finished floor and ceiling levels.
 Location of exterior wall corners.
 Windows and doors.
 Roof features.
 Vertical dimensions of important features.
 Porches, decks and patios.
 Material symbols.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevation Identification
 Identify
each elevation as to the
particular wall it represents.
 North
Elevation
 South Elevation
 East Elevation
 West Elevation
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevation Identification
 Two
methods commonly used for
identifying elevations
 Front,
Rear, Right Side, and Left Side
 North, South, East, and West
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevation Identification
 Front,
Rear, Right Side, and Left Side
designation is preferred by most
designers.
 There
is a possibility of confusion
when specifying directions.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Elevation Identification
 The
right and left side elevations are
determined by facing the front of
the building.
 The
right side elevation is then on the right
side. (!)
 Identify
each elevation below the
drawing to avoid confusion.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 The
reference point for most
elevations is the grade line.
 Study
the plot or site plan to
determine the existing grade along
each exterior wall of the house.
 If
the existing grade is not
satisfactory, a final grade line must
be indicated on each elevation
affected.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 Indicate
the desired elevation height
of the grade at each corner of the
house.
 Record
this information on
 The
Plot Plan
 The Elevation Drawing if the site is not
relatively level.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 Below
grade features should be drawn
in hidden lines.
 Foundation
walls.
 Footings.
 Window
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wells (areaways).
EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 Floor-to-ceiling
height is an important
feature of the elevation.
 Two
methods of representing this
height are commonly used.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 First
Method:
 Indicate
the finished floor-to-finished ceiling
distance.
 The
floor and ceiling are represented
using a center line symbol.
 First
floor finished floor to finished ceiling is
8'-O"
 Second floor finished floor to finished
ceiling is 7'-6" or 8'-O”.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings

Second Method:
 Show
the construction dimension.
 Measured from the top of the subfloor to the top of
the wall plate.

The construction dimension
 First
floor 8'-1 1/2"
 Second floor: 7'-7 1/2" or 8'- 1 1/2"
 Carpenters
usually prefer the this method
because it does not require them to do any
calculation.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 Garage
ceilings minimum
recommended height is 8'-O".
 Basements
must have a clear
headroom space of at least 6'-2”.
 All
beams and heating ducts must be
above this height.
 A full height ceiling is more desirable and
should be specified where practical.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Grade Lines, Floors, Ceilings
 Most
codes require that the top of
the foundation wall be at least 8"
above the grade.
 This is to protect the framing
members from moisture.
 The
garage floor may be slightly
higher than the grade, but should be
at least 4" lower than an interior
floor when the garage is attached to
the house.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Walls, Windows, and Doors
 All
visible wall corners are shown on
the elevation using object lines.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Walls, Windows, and Doors
 Exterior
windows and doors must be
included on the elevation.
 Project
from the floor plan for
window and door location.
 The
vertical height is shown only on
the elevation drawing.
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Walls, Windows, and Doors
 Place
tops of windows the same
height as the tops of doors.
 The
lower face of the head jamb is
considered the height of the opening.
 This
dimension is usually 6'-10" from
the top of the subfloor.
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Walls, Windows, and Doors
 Show
sufficient detail on windows and
doors to accurately indicate details.

If windows are hinged, show the
swing using the proper symbol.
 If
the windows or doors have brick
mold or other trim then show this on
the elevation.
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Walls, Windows, and Doors
 Show
the window and door
identification symbols on the
elevation plan and floor plan.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Roof Features
 Showing
roof features on an elevation
drawing is important.
 The
roof style and pitch are shown.
 The
chimney height and size are
shown.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Roof Features
 The
roof pitch may be indicated using
the fractional pitch or slope triangle.
 The slope triangle is usually
preferred.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Roof Features - Chimney
 Chimneys
that intersect the roof
require more than one view to
determine the points where they pass
through the roof.
 Draw the view where the roof slope is
shown first.
 This view will indicate where the
chimney passes through the roof.
 These points may then be projected
to other views.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Roof Features - Chimney
 The
chimney height above the highest
roof point must be dimensioned.
A
minimum height of the chimney
above the ridge is usually 2'-O".
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Roof Features - Chimney
 Chimney
flashing, roof covering
material, and gable ventilators are
also shown on the elevation.
 Use
proper symbols and adequate
dimensions and notes on the drawings.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Dimensions, Notes, and Symbols
 Dimensions
on the elevation drawing
are mainly vertical height dimensions.
 Dimension:
 Thickness
of the footing.
 Distance from the footing to the grade.
 Finished floor-to-finished ceiling distances.
 Overhang width.
 Height of the top of windows and doors.
 Height of chimney above the roof.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Dimensions, Notes, and Symbols
 Other
dimensions may be required:
 Deck
railing.
 Retaining walls.
 Planters.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Dimensions, Notes, and Symbols
 Include
notes where additional
information is needed.
 Some typical elevation drawing notes:
 Grade
information.
 Exterior wall material notation.
 Roof covering material identification.
 Fascia material.
 flashing material.
 Other
notes may be required for
specific situations.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Dimensions, Notes, and Symbols
 Symbols
are commonly used on
elevations.
 The
roof pitch symbol is always shown
 The exterior wall covering is usually
symbolized.
 Show
material symbols extensively on
the front elevation; show sparingly on
the remaining views.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawings
 The
floor plan shows the width and
depth of a house plan and the
features of the interior.
 The
elevations show the width and
height of the house and its exterior
features.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawings
 The
floor plan is usually designed
first.
 The
elevations are then projected
and designed from the floor plan.
 Following
these procedural steps will
insure an accurate and fast layout for
the elevation design.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawing Elevations
EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
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Drawing Elevations - Step 1
 Tape
the finished floor plan to the
top of the drawing board, above a
blank drawing format for the
elevation drawings.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawing Elevations - Step 2
 Lay
out all the horizontal heights for:
 The
finish grade.
 Floor line.
 Depth and thickness of footings.
 Window and door heights.
 Ceiling line.
 Eaves line.
 Ridge line/board.
 Top of chimney.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawing Elevations - Step 3
 Project
plan of:
the length from the floor
 Walls.
 Windows.
 Doors.
 Chimney.
 The
lengths of these items have
already been determined on the floor
plan.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawing Elevations - Step 4
 Darken
in each feature.
 Remove construction lines.
 Complete the roof design
 Add details such as:
 Trim
details
 Gable ventilators
 Window wells
 Dimensions.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawing Elevations - Step 5
 Add
dimensions, notes and symbols.
 Draw
material symbols list as the last
item since it may interfere with other
information.
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EDT 300 - Cabin Design Project - Elevations
Drawing Elevations - Step 6
 Check
the drawing to make sure all
features are shown.
 Repeat
these steps for every
elevation.
 Draw
two elevations on one sheet if
space permits.
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