CHAPTER 18
Floor Plan Layout
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Residential plans are commonly drawn on 17" × 22", 18" × 24",
22" × 34", or 24" × 36" drawing sheets. Information about U.S.
National CAD Standard recommended sheet sizes is provided
in Chapter 7. The discussion in this chapter explains floor plan
layout techniques using 22" × 34" sheets. The layout methods can
be used with any sheet size large enough to fit the desired floor
plan. A complete main floor plan for the model house is shown
in Figure 18-1. This floor plan is shown without the electrical
layout and without the structural elements. Designing and drawing the electrical plan is discussed in Chapter 19, and calculating
and drawing the structural members is covered in Chapter 27
through Chapter 32. The step-by-step method used to draw the
floor plan in Figure 18-1 provides you with a general method
for laying out any floor plan. As you progress through the systematic discussion of the floor plan layout, refer back to previous
chapters to review specific floor plan symbols and dimensioning
practices. Keep in mind that the given layout techniques represent a suggested typical method used to establish a complete
floor plan. You can alter these layout steps to suit your individual
preference as your skills develop and your knowledge increases,
or as directed by your instructor or supervisor.
STEPS FOR LAYING
OUT A FLOOR PLAN
The step-by-step floor plan layout guidelines can be
used for manual drafting or computer-aided design and
drafting (CADD). The following steps give you commonly used methods for each application related to
completing the floor plan shown in Figure 18-1.
Consider the orientation of the house or building
on the sheet before you start drawing. There are two
standard ways to orient the building on the sheet. A
usual method is to draw the building on the sheet
with the main entry door at the bottom of the sheet,
as in Figure 18-1. It is common for the main entry
door to be on the front of the house. If the main entry
door is not on the front of the house, it is better to
orient the floor plan parallel to the sheet borders, and
with the longest length placed horizontally. Another
method is to place the building on the sheet with the
STEP 1
north direction pointing toward the top of the sheet.
This is possible only if the north orientation of the
building on the construction site is known. When
this is done, a north arrow is placed on the drawing in a convenient location, which is often near the
drawing title. Sometimes the north orientation pointing toward the top of the sheet does not allow for a
convenient positioning of the building parallel to the
borderlines. In this case, it is possible to orient the
building with the main entry door at the bottom and
a north arrow shown pointing in the proper compass
direction relative to the building on the construction
site. The floor plan shown in Figure 18-1 uses this
example. The north arrow is always placed on the
site plan, even if it is not on the floor plan. The site
plan that generally accompanies a complete set of
drawings can be referred to for compass orientation.
Determine the working area of the paper to
be used. The working area is the distance between
borders. The example 22" × 34" sheet, shown in
Figure 18-2, has a 29 3/4" horizontal by 20 1/2"
vertical working area. The working area can vary
depending on the design of your company or school
border and title block.
STEP 3 Determine the drawing area, which is approximately the area the floor plan plus dimensions
requires when completely drawn. Refer to the floor
plan shown in Figure 18-1 to see the dimensions
required on the model house. Residential floor plans
are drawn at a scale of 1/4" = 1'–0". The example
house to be drawn is 61' long and 36' wide. At a
scale of 1/4" = 1'–0" the perimeter of the house can
be drawn within a drawing area of 15 1/4" × 9" (61 ÷
4 = 15 1/4 by 36 ÷ 4 = 9) (see Figure 18-2). This
15 1/4" × 9" drawing area does not take into consideration space needed for objects and annotations that
extend past the perimeter of the house, including
dimensions, notes, and titles. You should consider
at least 2" on each side of the house for dimensions.
Looking at Figure 18-2, it appears there is enough
space for additional information, because the house
dimensions are much less than the working area.
STEP 2
379
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Architectural Drafting and Design
FIGURE 181 This is the complete floor plan for the model house used in the step-by-step examples provided throughout this textbook. Step 1: The main floor plan orientation has the main entry door at the bottom and a north arrow shown pointing in the proper compass direction relative to the building on the construction site. Add the title
block information as described in Chapter 4.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
381
CADD APPLICATIONS
The final CADD drawing is printed, plotted, or published
within a selected sheet size at a specific scale. Most
often, sheet size and drawing scale are known standards,
set according to drawing and office practices. CADD
offers significant flexibility when laying out a floor plan
according to sheet and scale requirements. Commands
and options are available that allow you to easily adjust
the drawing to accommodate a specific sheet size and
drawing scale.
Traditional manual drafting setup tasks such as
selecting drawing orientation and identifying the
working and drawing areas are not as critical when using
CADD. A CADD drawing can be rotated as needed to
properly orient the view on the sheet. If necessary, a
north arrow symbol is inserted and rotated to the exact
north direction.
As with manual drafting, the working area of a CADD
drawing is relative to the sheet size. However, CADD
allows you to select a different sheet size if the plot
When the plan does not fit within the working area,
increase the sheet size or reduce the scale. Confirm
this decision with your instructor or company.
The floor plan scale is not normally reduced,
because residential floor plans are usually drawn at
1/4" = 1'–0". Commercial applications sometimes
allow for a 1/8" = 1'–0" or 3/16" = 1'–0" floor plan
scale. Floor plans drawn in metric commonly use a
1:50 scale.
Figure 18-2 shows the drawing area centered
within the working area. Centering a drawing is
important for beginning drafters, because it is frustrating to start a drawing and find there is not enough
space to complete your work. Experienced drafters
usually make quick calculations to determine where
the drawing should be located. In actual practice, the
drawing does not have to be perfectly centered, but
a well-balanced drawing is important. Several factors
contribute to a well-balanced drawing:
●
●
●
●
●
●
Actual size of the required drawing.
Scale of the drawing.
Amount of detail.
Size of drawing sheet.
Dimensions needed.
Amount of general and local notes and schedules
required.
does not fit within the working area. Alternatively, if
appropriate, you can easily modify the drawing scale to
fit the plot on the original sheet. Care in centering the
drawing on the sheet is not as important with CADD,
because the drawing can be moved at any time. Most
CADD applications use a virtual drawing area that is
infinite in size. This allows you to draw a floor plan at
actual size, or full scale, and then scale the drawing to
fit a specific sheet for plotting. When using this system,
you can focus on the floor plan layout, without having to
concentrate on scaling objects.
CADD has transformed the traditional process
of setting up and laying out a drawing, by offering
significant flexibility. Still, effective layout planning
and preparation is critical. Determine the proper
drawing orientation, sheet size, working area, scale,
and drawing area before you begin drawing to increase
productivity and limit costly and time-consuming
mistakes. ■
Lay out all exterior walls 6" (150 mm) wide
within the drawing area. Draw all garage walls during
this step. The garage should be separated from the
rest of the house with 6" (150 mm) wide walls. In the
example house, 4" (100 mm) wide exterior garage
walls are drawn (see Figure 18-3).
STEP 5 Lay out all interior partitions 4" (100 mm)
wide as shown in Figure 18-3. Draw all water closet
plumbing walls 6" (150 mm) wide. Most multistory
houses require at least one heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning (HVAC) chase to be provided.
There can also be at least one chase for plumbing and electrical as needed. A chase is a structure
built around and enclosing electrical, mechanical,
or plumbing materials, or for enclosing a chimney.
The model house has an HVAC chase framed in the
kitchen pantry that continues through the bedroom
2 closet above. The chase extends all the way from
below the main floor through the second floor,
and into the attic above. A chase is drawn with an
“X” across the diagonals of the opening, which is
referred to as opening indicators. Dimensions are
provided for you to locate and draw the chase at this
time. An architect, architectural designer, or experienced architectural drafter can accurately establish
chase locations. This practice is also often drawn
after the mechanical engineers or subcontractors
STEP 4
5 3/4"
382
9"
APPROXIMATE DRAWING AREA
15 1/4"
7 1/4"
FIGURE 182 Step 2: Determine the working area of the selected sheet. Step 3: Calculate the approximate drawing area centered within the working area.
Architectural Drafting and Design
5 3/4"
7 1/4"
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
383
STEP 5
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 5
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 5
STEP 4
STEP 4
FIGURE 183 Step 4: Lay out exterior walls. Step 5: Lay out interior partitions. Notice the HVAC chase framed inside the
kitchen pantry.
have designed the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing
systems. The model house does not have a plumbing
or electrical chase. Chase requirements are described
further in Chapter 21.
STEP 6 Draw the fireplace shown in Figure 18-4. The
single-face fireplace is 5' wide with a 36" wide opening and an 18" × 5' hearth. Include a 30" × 18" barbecue as shown. Locating the fireplace is important
at this time, because its placement determines the
locations of the windows in the family room and
the door in the dining room. The fireplace location
and size dimensions in Figure 18-1 are for reference,
because the actual fireplace location and size dimensions are provided on the foundation plan, described
in Chapter 35. Although no other features exist in
the model plan, this is the time to add any other
objects that divide rooms and objects that affect the
location of doors and windows.
CADD APPLICATIONS
Floor plan walls can be drawn to their exact size when
using CADD. This was explained in detail in Chapter 16
and Chapter 17. For example, exterior walls are
drawn 7" wide using 2 × 6 (1 1/2" × 5 1/2") studs + 1/2"
drywall + 1/2" sheathing + 1/2" siding. Interior
partitions are drawn 4 1/2" wide when using 2 × 4
(1 1/2" × 3 1/2") studs + 1/2" drywall on each side of
the studs. Material thicknesses vary. For example,
5/8" drywall is used in the inside of the garage
between the garage and the house, and under the
stairs for fire resistance. Confirm the measurements
of materials before you begin drawing.
All floor plan objects and annotations, including
walls, should be drawn on the appropriate layer. This
was discussed in Chapter 7. The American Institute of
Architects (AIA) CAD Layer Guidelines recommend using
the A-WALL-FULL layer name for full-height architectural
walls. If necessary, the secondary minor group –EXTR
can be added to classify exterior walls, and –INTR can
be added to group interior walls. Draw any necessary
construction work or other non-plot information using a
layer that can be turned off before plotting. For example,
construction lines on architectural floor plans are drawn
using an A-ANNO-NPLT layer. ■
384
Architectural Drafting and Design
CADD APPLICATIONS
You can create your own CADD fireplace symbols
for insertion or use a custom architectural program.
Programs of this type typically have automatic fireplace
and chimney utilities that allow you to create fireplaces
with multiple design options, such as opening, hearth,
mantels, and single-story or multistory designs. Floor plan
fireplace design options are discussed in Chapter 16,
and fireplace construction and layout is described
in Chapter 40. The fireplace can be placed on an
architectural fixed-equipment layer such as A-EQPM-FIXD
or if the fireplace is masonry, it can go on a modified floor
layer for masonry symbols such as A-FLOR-MSNW. ■
Draw the stair representation, providing several
10 1/2" wide treads to a long break line with the necessary handrails or guardrails (see Figure 18-4). The
stair location is important to confirm that the total
run fits in the available space. Refer to the stair calculations and representation information provided in
Chapter 16.
STEP 8 Block out all doors, windows, and openings in
their proper locations. Be sure door, window, and
other openings are centered within the desired areas,
if appropriate, or correctly offset from walls (see
Figure 18-4).
STEP 9
STEP 7
Draw doors and windows as shown in
Figure 18-5.
STEP 10 Draw the steps required to access the house
and other floor-level changes (see Figure 18-5).
Draw the step into the sunken living room. This
step is represented as one line drawn at the openings to the living room. Two steps are required
to access the house from the garage, the outside
patio, and the front porch. Draw a single 12"
tread to represent one step. The second step is
made directly into the house. The number of steps
needed to go from the house to the garage depends
STEP 8
STEP 8
STEP 8
STEP 6
STEP 8
STEP 8
STEP 8
STEP 8
STEP 7
STEP 8
STEP 8
FIGURE 184 Step 6: Draw the fireplace. Step 7: Draw the stair representation, providing several 10 1/2" wide treads
to a long break line with the necessary handrails or guardrails. Step 8: Block out all doors, windows, and openings in
their proper locations.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
385
CADD APPLICATIONS
Standard CADD programs can be used to draw stairs by
drawing one tread line and then making multiple copies
with a command such as ARRAY, or you can create your
own stair symbols for insertion. Custom architectural
programs are available that automatically calculate and
draw straight, L-shaped, U-shaped, and circular or spiral
stairs based on dimensional information and specifications
that you enter. Stair design is discussed in Chapter 16, and
stair construction and layout is described in Chapter 39.
Stairs can be placed on an architectural floor plan
layer using the layer name A-FLOR-STRS. Handrails and
guardrails can be on their own layer, A-FLOR-HRAL. ■
STEP 10
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 10
STEP 11
STEP 10
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 9
STEP 10
STEP 9
FIGURE 185 Step 9: Draw all door and window symbols. Step 10: Draw the steps required to access the house
and other floor-level changes. Step 11: Draw lines representing changes in ceiling elevation, such as the lines
indicating the drop ceiling in the kitchen.
CADD APPLICATIONS
When using CADD, you need to either create door and
window symbols for insertion or use a customized
architectural program that provides for automatic
door and window insertion. If you insert your own
doors and windows, you may need to use a command
such as TRIM to remove unwanted wall lines where
doors and windows are located. This process may take
place during Step 8, depending on whether your door
and window symbols include jamb representations.
Architectural programs are available that have any
desired door and window combination available for
insertion in the drawing. Some of these programs
create an inventory of the items that you insert
and automatically create the door and window
schedules or other material lists. Doors are drawn
on the A-DOOR layer and windows are drawn on the
A-GLAZ layer. ■
386
Architectural Drafting and Design
CADD APPLICATIONS
Cabinets are drawn with CADD by using typical
commands such as LINE, or they can be inserted as
symbols. Architectural programs with cabinet symbols
available are parametric, which means that you can
specify any desired dimensions or shape. Any change to a
parametric design automatically updates the entire design
to match the change. Cabinets can be placed on a layer
with casework and manufactured cabinets if they are built
by a cabinetmaker and delivered to the project. Casework
is all of the components that make up the cabinets. The
layer name for this application is A-FLOR-CSWK. If the
cabinets are built on the job, they are referred to as fieldbuilt cabinets and are architectural woodwork. In this
case, the layer name is A-FLOR-WDWK. The secondary
minor group –UPPER can be added for drawing upper
cabinets, which use a dashed or hidden line type. ■
on the distance from the finished main floor to the
finished garage floor. The number of steps needed
to go from the house to the outside depends on
the distance from the finished main floor to the
exterior concrete slab, deck, or grade. You will
learn how to determine these distances in Chapter
36 through Chapter 39, which cover sectioning
practices.
STEP 11 Draw lines representing changes in ceiling
elevation, such as the lines indicating the drop ceiling
in the kitchen (see Figure 18-5).
STEP 12
Draw all cabinets and associated items, such as
a lazy Susan (see Figure 18-6). Base kitchen cabinets
are typically 24" (600 mm) deep; upper cabinets are
12" (300 mm) deep. Bath vanities are 22" (560 mm)
deep. Utility base cabinets can be 30" (760 mm)
deep to match the clothes washer and dryer depth,
and accommodate larger laundry sinks. Draw all
woodwork, such as shelves, poles to hang clothes,
and other similar features.
STEP 13 Draw all appliances and utilities (see
Figure 18-6). In the example house, the refrigerator
STEP 16
STEP 13
STEP 13
STEP 12
STEP 14
STEP 17
STEP 14
STEP 15
STEP 14
STEP 15
STEP 16
STEP 12
STEP 12
STEP 13
STEP 14
STEP 12
STEP 16
STEP 13
STEP 17
STEP 17
FIGURE 186 Step 12: Draw all cabinets and associated items. Step 13: Draw all appliances and utilities. Step 14: Draw
all plumbing fixtures, sinks, toilets, and the water heater. Step 15: Draw crawl space and attic access locations. Step 16:
Draw exterior features such as the brick veneer found on the front face of the house and the edges of all concrete slabs.
Step 17: Draw the dashed outline of the upper floor. Add the posts for the covered porch.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
387
CADD APPLICATIONS
Appliances and utilities are generally inserted as symbols
when using CADD. Appliances that are included in
the contract such as the dishwasher, range, and trash
compactor can be placed on the equipment layer
A-EQPM that is assigned a solid, or continuous, line
type. Insert appliance symbols that are not part of the
contract, such as the refrigerator and clothes washer and
dryer, on an A-EQPM-X layer that is assigned a dashed
line type. Use an M-HVAC or similar layer when inserting
a furnace symbol. ■
is 36" × 27", range is 30" wide, the dishwasher is 24"
wide, the furnace is 24" × 30", and the washer and
dryer are 30" × 30" each. Metric values vary depending on the manufacturer and soft or hard conversion.
STEP 14 Draw all plumbing fixtures, sinks, toilets, and
the water heater as shown in Figure 18-6.
STEP 15 Draw crawl space and attic access locations (see
Figure 18-6).
STEP 16 Draw exterior features such as the brick veneer
found on the front face of the house and the edges of
all concrete slabs (see Figure 18-6).
STEP 17 Draw the dashed outline of the upper floor. Add
the posts for the covered porch (see Figure 18-6).
close to the house, before the exterior dimensions.
If necessary, use construction lines to indicate the
extent of these items.
Draw the first line of dimensions from the
exterior face of exterior walls to the face of interior
partition studs, center of interior partitions, or to
the face of interior finish. These three methods are
described in detail in Chapter 17. The model house,
shown in Figure 18-7, uses the method where
interior dimensions are placed to the face of studs.
Dimension the location of the front porch posts as
shown in Figure 18-7. The second row of dimensions is drawn from the exterior face of studs to the
exterior face of studs at major building offsets (see
Figure 18-7). Draw the overall dimensions on each
side, the top, and the bottom of the model house as
shown in Figure 18-7. You may not need to locate
the doors in the garage on the floor plan, because
the garage doors are dimensioned on the foundation plan. The garage doors can be located on the
floor plan for reference as described in Chapter 17.
Confirm the preferred practice with your company
or school. Review Chapter 17 for complete coverage
of common dimensioning practices and options.
STEP 19 Lay out all interior dimensions as needed.
Locate interior dimensions in relationship to the
exterior dimensions where possible. Carefully evaluate the drawing to be sure that all dimensions have
been established (see Figure 18-7).
NOTE: The electrical plan can be placed on the floor plan,
especially if the home design is not complex. However, a
separate electrical floor plan layout is normally recommended. The electrical floor plan layout for the model
home is described and shown in Chapter 19. Structural
information can also be drawn on the floor plan for basic
structures. This textbook recommends separate structural
drawings that are described and shown in Chapter 27
through Chapter 32.
Lay out all exterior dimensions. Leave enough
room between the house and the first line of dimensions to accommodate notes and other symbols, such
as the section indicators shown in Figure 18-1. In
the example house, the section indicators are placed
STEP 18
CADD APPLICATIONS
Plumbing fixtures are inserted as symbols when
CADD is used. Plumbing fixtures are placed on the
plumbing layer as fixtures with the layer name
A-FLOR-FIXT or P-FLOR-FIXT. The water heater can
be on a separate plumbing layer with the P-HWTR
name. ■
388
Architectural Drafting and Design
61'-0"
1"
9'-82
38'-0"
17'-6"
3"
5'-114
17'-4"
3'-2"
5'-6 1
4"
6'-0"
1"
13'-32
8'-8"
8'-8"
5'-0"
6'-63
4"
1"
4'-82
6'-83
4"
STEP 18
12'-4"
1"
8'-6 2
12'-2"
STEP 19
3'-6"
1"
1'-62
1'-0"
3'-6"
1"
2'-32
11'-8"
STEP 19
23'-8"
1"
3'-52
5'-8"
15'-10"
3'-7"
STEP 19
36'-0"
6'-0"
3'-9 1"
2
1'-11"
2
3'-6"
4'-9"
2'-0"
5'-0"
28'-0"
4'-51
4"
36'-0"
1"
7'-10 2
STEP 18
3"
6'-54
1"
6'-114
13'-5"
7'-83
4"
3'-73
4"
1"
6'-6 2
6'-8"
1"
11'-42
10'-0"
6'-0"
8'-0"
2'-0"
STEP 19
1"
13'-22
STEP 18
STEP 18
STEP 18
16'-0"
11'-0"
11'-0"
6'-0"
38'-0"
11'-0"
6'-0"
23'-0"
61'-0"
FIGURE 187 Step 18: Lay out exterior dimensions. Step 19: Lay out all interior dimensions as needed.
Identify all doors and windows. Door and
window tags are used in the model house, as
shown in Figure 18-8. These tags are keyed to door
and window schedules. Schedules are explained in
Chapter 16.
STEP 20
Place all specific notes using 1/8" (3 mm) high
text as shown in Figure 18-8. Add notes for appliances, such as dishwasher (DW), trash compactor
(TC), garbage disposal (GD or G DISP), clothes
washer (W, WASH, or CL W), clothes dryer (D, DRY,
STEP 21
CADD APPLICATIONS
Dimensions are easy to place and are very accurate when
using CADD, as discussed in Chapter 17. Dimensions are
placed on a separate annotation layer, such as A-ANNODIMS. The recommendation for manual drafting is not
to place dimension numerals at this time, because all
freehand lettering should be done after drawing lines.
However, with CADD, the dimension numerals are
automatically placed with all elements of the dimensions
at the same time. A CADD dimension value associates
with the object or points from which the dimension
originates. If the size of a feature changes, the associated
dimension updates to display the correct size. ■
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
389
CADD APPLICATIONS
Door and window tags are inserted as symbols
when using CADD. Place door tags on an A-DOORIDEN layer and window tags on an A-GLAZ-IDEN
layer. Attributes can be assigned to tags so you are
prompted for a value, such as the door or window
identification number or letter when inserted. Invisible
attributes can be added to tag symbols in order to
document additional door or window information
including size, model identification, material,
and rough opening size. These attributes can
be extracted to form a door or window schedule.
Some architectural programs allow you to assign
all door and window characteristics to objects. This
information is used to instantly tag each door and
window on the floor plan, and form parametric
schedules. ■
61'-0"
1"
9'-82
38'-0"
17'-6"
17'-4"
3'-2"
5'-61
4"
8'-8"
8'-8"
STEP 23
STEP 23
B
STEP 21
S&P
CLOSET
5
22'-5" X 23'-4"
LINE OF 7'-0" CLG
R
GD TC
RANGE & HOOD W/ FAN,
VENT TO OUTSIDE AIR
LS
LINE OF
UPPER FLOOR
6'-53
4"
6'-111
4"
7'-83
4"
1"
11'-42
13'-5"
G
STEP 21
A
UP 1'-6"
3"
3'-74
STEP 22
G
2
1"
6'-62
6'-8"
10'-0"
A
B
2'-0"
STEP 20
GARAGE
STEP 22
DW
2
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD FROM
FLOOR TO BOT OF ROOF SHTHG
REF
12'-9" X 15'-4"
STEP 21
ENTRY
STEP 21
UP 1'-2"
36'-0"
STEP 20
KITCHEN
3
11'-8"
3'-7"
BATH
10
HVAC CHASE
1"
3'-92
1"
1'-12
3'-6"
LINE OF 7'-0" CLG
12'-4"
CL W CL D
LINE OF UPPER
FLOOR
4'-9"
STEP 21
12'-6" X 11'-5"
22" X 30"
ATTIC ACCESS
3
7
UP 14R
5'-8"
DN 7 1/2"
WH
1
2'-0"
6'-0"
8'-0"
3'-6"
6'-0"
28'-0"
36'-0"
15'-10"
4" BRICK VENEER
12'-11" X 15'-4"
STEP 21
SHOP
4
1"
1'-62
1'-0"
4
22" X 30"
CRAWL SPACE
ACCESS
STEP 22
LIVING
FURN
23'-8"
STEP 22
3'-6"
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD
UNDER ALL USABLE
AREA UNDER STAIRS
UTILITY
9'-5" X 7'-1"
17'-4" X 11'-5"
FLUSH HEARTH
DN 7 1/2"
STEP 21
STEP 20
DINING
1"
8'-62
SCREEN CLOSEABLE
VENT WITHIN 24" OF
FIREBOX
5'-0"
STEP 20
G
13
1"
7'-102
BARBECUE
34" RAIL
1" 2'-31"
3'-52
2
12'-2"
4'-51
4"
C
H
SEE FDTN PLAN FOR
FIREPLACE LOCATION
STEP 21
STEP 23
UP 1'-6"
C
17'-0" X 11'-5"
3"
6'-84
A
C
FAMILY
6'-63
4"
1"
4'-82
5'-0"
4" CONC
FLATWORK TYP
6'-0"
PANTRY
3"
5'-114
1"
13'-32
1"
13'-22
COVERED PORCH
(2) 4" X 4"
POSTS
B
14
A
STEP 21
STEP 23
11'-0"
11'-0"
38'-0"
C
STEP 23
STEP 23
16'-0"
14
STEP 20
6'-0"
11'-0"
6'-0"
23'-0"
61'-0"
FIGURE 188 Step 20: Identify all doors and windows. Door and window tags are used in the model house. Step 21: Place all specific
notes. Step 22: Label all rooms. Step 23: Add section indicators.
390
Architectural Drafting and Design
CADD APPLICATIONS
Many specific notes associated with a certain CADD
symbol, such as the DW shown on a dishwasher, are
best included with the symbol. This technique has been
shown in the model house example. Place all other
specific notes using appropriate leader or annotation
commands, using an A-ANNO-NOTE layer. Room
identifiers can be constructed as symbols with attributes
that prompt you for the room name and size. Some
architectural programs parametrically associate the room
name and dimensions with a room indicator. Add room
identification symbols or text using the A-ANNO-NOTE
layer or a specific A-FLOR-IDEN layer. ■
or CL D), water heater (WH), range (R), and hood
with fan over range. All exhaust fans must be noted
to vent to the outside. Note special material or finish
requirements such as the 5/8" drywall used in the
garage and under the stairs, the brick veneer found
on the front face of the house, and concrete flatwork.
Place fireplace specifications. Note stair direction
and number of risers, handrails, and guardrails. Add
notes for closets, pantries, casework, and architectural woodwork as needed. Note crawl space, attic
access, and plumbing and HVAC chases.
STEP 22 Label all rooms using 3/16" to 1/4" (5 to 6 mm)
high text. The interior room dimensions can be
placed under the room name using 1/8" (3 mm)
high text if required by your instructor or company. Some offices prefer not to show interior room
dimensions because they may not be as accurate
as the dimensions. Other offices do show room
dimensions when they can be accurately calculated,
because they serve as a convenient reference. Use
1/8" (3 mm) high text for room sizes if included
(see Figure 18-8).
STEP 23 Add section indicators as needed. Interior
elevation indicators are also normally placed at this
time, if interior elevations are part of the set of drawings. Interior elevations and cabinet elevations are
described in Chapter 26. The example house shown
in Figure 18-8 requires only section indicators,
which are placed close to the house, between the
house and the exterior dimensions.
STEP 24 Add required material symbols, such as tile
or stone, and patterns. Shade walls and handrails if
required by your school or company. Optional woodgrain representation can be used on handrails, guardrails, and partial walls. Exterior and interior walls
can be shaded or unshaded depending on school or
company practice as described in Chapter 16 (see
Figure 18-9).
STEP 25 Place the general notes in a convenient location
in the field of the drawing, or a location specified by
company or school standards. The general notes for
the model house are placed in the lower right corner
of the drawing area (see Figure 18-9).
STEP 26 Place the drawing title using 3/16" to 1/4" (5 to
6 mm) high text. Some drafters prefer to underline
the title. Add the drawing scale centered below the
title using 1/8" (3 mm) high text. Draw the north
arrow if required.
CADD APPLICATIONS
Material symbols and shading are often reserved
for the last step as a manual drafting technique to
avoid smudging, and in the event that object size or
location requires modification. When using CADD,
smudging is not a concern, and material symbols and
shading can adjust to changes made to associated
objects. As a result, material representations and
shading can be added earlier in the drafting process.
For example, add the masonry pattern for the
fireplace during Step 6 and brick veneer pattern
during Step 16. CADD graphic pattern commands
and options, as described in Chapter 16, can be used
to quickly and accurately place any needed material
symbol or shading. ■
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
61'-0"
17'-4"
A
5'-0"
12'-11" X 15'-4"
STEP 24
DN 7 1/2"
SHOP
22" X 30"
ATTIC ACCESS
LINE OF UPPER
FLOOR
HVAC CHASE
S&P
CLOSET
5
12'-9" X 15'-4"
10
1"
1'-1 2
BATH
GARAGE
22'-5" X 23'-4"
LINE OF 7'-0" CLG
DW
2
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD FROM
FLOOR TO BOT OF ROOF SHTHG
KITCHEN
ENTRY
3
UP 1'-2"
1"
3'-9 2
7
PANTRY
3'-6"
3
GD TC
RANGE & HOOD W/ FAN,
VENT TO OUTSIDE AIR
LS
12'-4"
12'-6" X 11'-5"
4
4'-9"
LINE OF 7'-0" CLG
3'-7"
UP 14R
5'-8"
LIVING
G
1
A
LINE OF
UPPER FLOOR
B
6'-5 3
4"
6'-11 1
4"
A
G
UP 1'-6"
3"
3'-7 4
3"
7'-8 4
1"
11'-4 2
13'-5"
COVERED PORCH
16'-0"
1"
13'-2 2
STEP 27
(2) 4" X 4"
POSTS
B
11'-0"
2
1"
6'-6 2
6'-8"
10'-0"
2'-0"
15'-10"
4" BRICK VENEER
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD
UNDER ALL USABLE
AREA UNDER STAIRS
UTILITY
1"
1'-6 2
1'-0"
3'-6"
G
9'-5" X 7'-1"
4
6'-0"
28'-0"
22" X 30"
CRAWL SPACE
ACCESS
6'-0"
17'-4" X 11'-5"
STEP 24
3'-6"
DN 7 1/2"
36'-0"
DINING
FLUSH HEARTH
34" RAIL
1" 2'-3 1"
3'-5 2
2
12'-2"
17'-0" X 11'-5" SCREEN CLOSEABLE
VENT WITHIN 24" OF
FIREBOX
4'-5 1
4"
8'-0"
BARBECUE
1"
8'-6 2
SEE FDTN PLAN FOR
FIREPLACE LOCATION
H
13
2'-0"
C
FAMILY
C
UP 1'-6"
1"
7'-10 2
C
6'-8 3
4"
36'-0"
B
6'-6 3
4"
1"
4'-8 2
5'-0"
8'-8"
11'-8"
8'-8"
23'-8"
3'-2"
5'-6 1
4"
6'-0"
4" CONC
FLATWORK TYP
17'-6"
5'-11 3
4"
1"
13'-3 2
1"
9'-8 2
38'-0"
14
14
A
6'-0"
11'-0"
SQUARE FOOTAGE
C
11'-0"
38'-0"
23'-0"
61'-0"
MAIN FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
N
MAIN FLOOR
1352 SQ FT
UPPER FLOOR
1148 SQ FT
TOTAL LIVING AREA2500 SQ FT
GARAGE
556 SQ FT
6'-0"
STEP 25
GENERAL NOTES
1.ALL PENETRATIONS IN TOP OR BOTTOM
PLATES FOR PLUMBING OR ELECTRICAL RUNS
TO BE SEALED. SEE ELECTRICAL PLANS FOR
ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS.
2.PROVIDE 1/2" WATERPROOF GYPSUM BOARD
AROUND ALL TUBS, SHOWERS, AND SPAS.
3.VENT DRYER AND ALL FANS TO OUTSIDE AIR
THRU VENT WITH DAMPER.
STEP 26
391
FIGURE 189 Step 24: Add required material symbols, such as tile or stone, and patterns. Step 25: Place the general notes in a convenient location in the field of
the drawing, or a location specified by company or school standards. The general notes for the model house are placed in the lower right corner of the drawing.
Step 26: Place the drawing title. Add the drawing scale centered below the title. Draw the north arrow if required. Step 27: Add square footage calculations.
392
Architectural Drafting and Design
CADD APPLICATIONS
Notes are easy to place on the drawing with CADD.
An architectural CADD text style is available that
closely duplicates the artistic freehand lettering that
has traditionally been used on architectural drawings.
Although the traditional text style is popular in many
architectural offices, the U.S. National CAD Standard
recommends an easy-to-read font style such as SanSerif
or Roman. Text is quickly entered by typing at the
keyboard. Text is also easy to edit when corrections are
needed. Notes are generally placed on an annotation
layer, such as A-ANNO-NOTE. ■
NOTE: Door, window, and other schedules are commonly
STEP 28
placed with the floor plan drawings. For a single-level house
design, the schedules can be added at this time if space is
available on the sheet. The schedules are placed on another
sheet if space is not available on the floor plan sheet. The
schedules for the model house are placed with the lower floor
plan, which is described later in this chapter.
Most local building code departments require calculations of exterior openings to exterior wall square footages
and the resulting ratio to be provided on the drawings. This
requirement is described in the next Going Green feature. The
calculations for the model house are placed in a table below
the schedules, which are described later in this chapter. The
table is often found on the same sheet as the main floor plan,
and can be added at this time if space is available.
Add square footage calculations. Most architects and architectural designers calculate the square
footage of each floor and the garage and place these
calculations on the sheet with the main floor plan
drawing, generally near the drawing title or general
notes. The square footage for the main floor, second
floor, partial basement, garage, and the total living
area is shown in Figure 18-9. Floor plan square
footage is calculated from the exterior face of studs,
which includes all exterior walls. Additional floor
levels may need to be drawn first in order to make
accurate calculations.
STEP 27
Add the title block information as described
in Chapter 4. The title block includes the project
name and number, address, sheet number, scale,
and other items such as company logo. Refer back
to Figure 18-1.
SECOND-FLOOR PLAN LAYOUT
The second-floor plan must be scaled to fit over
the main-floor plan. The exterior walls, continued
interior bearing partitions, and stairs must line up
directly with the main floor. The only exceptions are
portions of the second floor that are cantilevered or
supported beyond the main floor. A bearing partition
is an interior wall that supports weight from above
and distributes the load to the foundation. A cantilever is a structure that projects out without support
from below.
A technique for aligning the second-floor drawing
with the main floor when using manual drafting is
to make a print of the main-floor plan and tape it to
your table. Be sure to check the scale of the print for
accuracy, as prints can expand or contract slightly.
Place your new drawing sheet for the second-floor
plan over the print, and adjust the new sheet so the
drawing area for the second floor is over the firstfloor outline. Allow enough area for dimensions,
CADD APPLICATIONS
Basic CADD tools are available that allow you to
calculate square footage by selecting points around the
perimeter of the area to measure. In some cases, the
value returned can be copied and pasted to the floor
plan as text. More advanced architectural programs
recognize the area of each space, and the area between
exterior walls. This data can be extracted and added
to the floor plan as text, or in the form of a table. Area
calculations update, or can be set to update, when
changes are made to the plan. ■
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
393
notes, and possible schedules. If the second-floor
plan is smaller than the main-floor plan, there may
be additional space on the sheet for door, window,
and other schedules. Schedules should be on or near
the same sheet where floor plans are placed, when
practical. Tape the second drawing sheet to the board
after adjusting it to the desired position. Lay out the
second-floor plan using Step 1 through Step 28 as
previously described. Figure 18-10 shows a complete
second-floor plan.
1"
38'-32
1"
17'-82
11'-7"
9'-0"
3"
5'-84
6'-0"
3"
3'-44
1"
5'-74
1"
5'-82
1"
5'-102
B
A
D
F
3'-0"
BED#2
4
1"
2'-52
5'-10"
1" 1'-91"
3'-52
2
1"
6'-62
HVAC CHASE
11
4
6'-3"
22" X 30"
ATTIC ACCESS
11
CLOSET
S&P
S&P
CLOSET
4
5
S&P
12
S&DBL P
10'-0"
7
WALK-IN
CLOSET
5
1" 6
3'-92
BATH
1"
6'-22
30" WIDE
KNEE SPACE
3'-0"
E
36" FIBERGLASS
SHOWER OVER
1/2" GYP BD
BED#3
10'-10" X 11'-9"
24" X 24" DBL
INSULATED TEMP
GLASS SKYLIGHT
6'
FIBERGLASS
SPA
S&P
9
G
E
B
A
3"
2'-104
7'-10"
1"
9'-42
4'-0"
2'-71
4"
9'-6"
4'-9"
6'-10"
11'-7"
1"
38'-32
UPPER FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
FIGURE 1810 The complete second-floor plan for the model home used throughout this textbook.
30'-0"
36" RAIL
34" RAIL
30'-0"
DN 14R
4
1" 2'-31"
2'-32
2
24" X 36" OPENABLE
INSULATED TEMP
GLASS SKYLIGHT
10'-10" X 11'-5"
LINEN
12'-11" X 19'-3"
20'-0"
BATH
3'-8"
BED#1
5' FIBERGLASS
TUB/SHOWER OVER
1/2" WP GYP BD
12'-2"
D
J
13'-3"
3"
5'-114
394
Architectural Drafting and Design
CADD APPLICATIONS
Alignment from one floor to the next is easy and
accurate when preparing floor plans using CADD.
Commands and options are available that can be used
to control different floors, and relate multiple floors with
each other. One option is to manage different floors
using layers. To apply this method, once the main floor is
drawn, all of the layers except the wall lines are frozen or
turned off. Now, the second floor is drawn directly over
the main floor with layer names that identify secondfloor features. When finished using the main-floor walls
as reference, they too are turned off or frozen. If the
building is two-story, then the main-floor wall layer can
be named A-WALL-0001 and the second-floor wall layer
can be A-WALL-0002. This -0001 and -0002 system can
be used to separate all main- and second-floor layers. For
example, the doors on the main floor can have the layer
name A-DOOR-0001 and the second-floor door layer can
be A-DOOR-0002.
Another way to create the second-floor plan
when using CADD is to use the main-floor plan as a
reference drawing. When creating a drawing, it is often
necessary to reference a similar drawing. For example,
when drawing the second floor, the main floor can be
referenced as a base. Referencing a drawing is similar
to inserting an entire drawing file into the current
drawing. In AutoCAD, for example, reference drawings
are called external references, or xrefs. A drawing that
contains one or more reference drawings is called the
host drawing. There are several advantages to using
xrefs in drawing projects. If the original drawing being
referenced is modified by another drafter while you are
working on the host drawing, any changes to the file are
automatically applied the next time the host drawing
is opened. Another advantage is that xrefs occupy very
little file space in the host drawing. The second-floor
layout becomes the host drawing when the main-floor
plan is referenced into the layout for the second-floor
plan. The referenced main-floor plan is now used as a
base for creating the second-floor plan following the
steps previously discussed. ■
BASEMENT PLAN LAYOUT
When a basement is used, the floor plan is modified
as shown in Figure 18-11.
A home can be designed with a partial basement
or a full basement. A partial basement can be designed
under any desired portion of the foundation area. A full
basement occupies the entire area inside the foundation
walls. A basement can also be below grade, or partially
below grade. Below grade is any part of the house or
structure that is underground or beneath ground level.
A below-grade basement requires the use of window
wells located at the windows. Window wells are
described in detail in Chapter 16. Window wells with
a vertical depth of more than 44" (1118 mm) must
be equipped with an approved permanently attached
ladder or stairs, accessible when the window is in the
fully open position. The clear horizontal dimension
must allow the window to open fully and provide a
minimum accessible clear opening of 9 sq ft (0.84 m2),
and with a minimum dimension of 36" (914 mm). If the
windows in the basement are the only way to get out,
then they must have a minimum net operable width
dimension of 20" (508 mm) and have a finish sill height
of no more than 44" (1118 mm) above the floor. These
codes are covered in detail in Chapter 9. Figure 18-12
shows a partial below-grade basement plan provided for
the example house.
When a home has a basement, the basement plan layout
is drawn using the same methods described for the firstand second-floor plan layouts. When a basement plan
is very simple or when left as an unfinished basement, it
can be drawn in conjunction with the foundation plan.
An unfinished basement is one that has bare basement
walls, with no interior partitions separating rooms, and
no interior finish materials. In most cases, and especially
for a finished basement, it is best to draw a separate basement floor plan so foundation and floor plan characteristics are isolated. A finished basement is one that has
basement walls covered with finish materials, interior
partitions designed to create rooms, and rooms that
are finished as in any other living space. Basement construction is commonly concrete or concrete block with
wood or steel stud framing and furring on the concrete
walls for finish material to be applied.
When a basement is part of the design, a stairway
must be established. One of the best ways to conserve floor space is for the basement stairs to run
under the stairs to the second floor. The model floor
plan used throughout this textbook and shown in
Figure 18-1 is for a house without a basement. This
design allows for a closet or storage under the stairs.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
395
C
FAMILY
C
SEE FDTN PLAN FOR
FIREPLACE LOCATION
17'-0" X 11'-5"
SCREEN CLOSEABLE
VENT WITHIN 24" OF
FIREBOX
FLUSH HEARTH
34" RAIL
DN 14R
DN 7 1/2"
7
BATH
LIVING
DN 7 1/2"
S&P
CLOSET
5
34" RAIL
4" BRICK VENEER
UP 14R
12'-11" X 15'-4"
ENTRY
1
B
LINE OF
UPPER FLOOR
A
A
UP 1'-6"
FIGURE 1811 A good way to conserve floor space is to run the basement stairs directly below the
stairs to the second floor, as shown in this partial plan.
A daylight basement can be used when the ground
slopes enough to provide a full wall height at the rear
or side of a house. A daylight basement allows you
to enter and exit the basement directly from ground
level. Windows are provided for natural lighting and
a door or doors can be provided for access in the daylight portion of the basement. Figure 18-13 shows an
optional floor plan with a daylight basement used for
the model home.
A full basement can be finished or unfinished, and
below grade or designed as a daylight basement when
the grade slopes appropriately. Full basements are
often designed below a main floor to provide a significant amount of extra square footage at a relatively
economical cost per square foot. When designing
a full basement it is important to provide adequate
support for the main floor structure above. This support can be designed using bearing partitions, posts
and beams, or beams. A post is a vertical structural
member used to support a beam and carry the load
to the foundation. A beam is a horizontal structural
member used to support loads above. The full basement in Figure 18-14 shows how significant extra
square footage can be created. Some locations are
not suitable for basements, because of excavation
problems such as solid rock below grade, or excessive underground water. Excavation is the removal of
material for construction purposes.
396
GOING
GREEN
The International Energy Conservation Code
The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) sets
code compliance by stating that buildings are limited
to a glazing area that does not exceed 15% of the
gross area of the exterior walls. However, the code also
provides you with the opportunity to use performancebased solutions for detached one- and two-family
dwellings. The IECC performance-based approach is
complicated, but flexible about design choices. The IECC
allows you to consider the total building performance,
and energy trade-offs are permitted. For example, you can
compensate for extra glazing by using more insulation
or other energy-saving design strategies to compensate
for the energy lost by the additional glazing. In response
to the IECC exterior wall glazing code requirement,
most local building code departments mandate that
drawings include the exterior openings to exterior wall
square footages and the resulting ratio. If the opening to
exterior wall ratio exceeds 15%, alternate energy-saving
design and construction practices need to be addressed.
The exterior openings to exterior wall square footages
and resulting ratio for the model house are given in a
table below the schedules in Figure 18-12.
18'-2"
17'-6"
8"
4 PIECE WINDOW WELL
WELLCRAFT 5600 12" GRAVEL
BELOW WINDOW WELL GRADE TYP
8"
STORAGE
6'-61
4"
16'-10" X 11'-2"
ROUGH IN FOR STORAGE
TANK FOR SOLAR WH
1"
6'-61
3'-92
4"
WH
FURN
WINDOW SCHEDULE
MARK
A
SIZE
1'-0" X 5'-0"
TYPE
TEMPERED
ROUGH
-
QUAN
2
B
8'-0" X 5'-0"
W4N5 CSM
8'-2 3/4" X 5'-5 7/8"
1
C
4'-0" X 5'-0"
W2N5 CSM
4'-2 1/4" X 5'-5 7/8"
2
D
4'-0" X 3'-6"
W2N3 CSM
4'-2 1/4" X 3'-5 1/2"
2
E
3'-6" X 3'-6"
2N3 CSM
3'-5 1/4" X 3'-5 1/2"
2
F
6'-0" X 4'-0"
G64 SLDG
6'-0 1/2" X 4'-0 1/2"
1
G
5'-0" X 3'-6"
G536 SLDG
5'-0 1/2" X 3'-6 1/2"
4
H
4'-0" X 3'-6"
G436 SLDG
4'-0 1/2" X 3'-6 1/2"
1
J
4'-0" X 2'-0"
A41 AWN
4'-0 1/2" X 2'-0 5/8"
1
K
4'-0" X 4'-0"
G42 SLDG
4'-0 1/2" X 4'-0 1/2"
3
PARTY
12'-5" X 14'-10"
2 X 4 DFPT STUDS
MARK
1
8"
4'-23
4"
K
34" RAIL
6'-6"
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD
UNDER ALL USABLE
AREA UNDER STAIRS
DOOR SCHEDULE
5
UP 14R
15'-2"
K
7'-0"
3'-111
4"
8
26'-8"
28'-0"
5'-11"
11'-6"
K
WORKBENCH
5'-7"
8"
B
5 1/2" WIDE CONC LEDGE
FOR BRICK VENEER
B
TYPE
SC RP METAL INSULATED
2
3'-0" X 6'-8"
SC RP FLUSH METAL INSUL
2
3
2'-8" X 6'-8"
SC
2
4
2'-8" X 6'-8"
HC
6
5
2'-6" X 6'-8"
HC
4
6
2'-6" X 6'-8"
POCKET
1
7
2'-4" X 6'-8"
POCKET
2
8
PR 2'-6" X 6'-8"
HC
1
9
5'-0" X 6'-0"
BIPASS
1
10
3'-0" X 6'-8"
BIFOLD
1
11
3'-6" X 6'-8"
BIFOLD
2
1
12
3'-0" X 6'-0"
SHATTER PROOF
13
6'-0" X 6'-8"
WOOD FRAME TEMP SLDG GL
1
14
9'-0" X 7'-0"
OVERHEAD GARAGE
2
WALL AREAS (EXCLUDING BASEMENT)
8"
17'-6"
18'-2"
LOWER FLOOR PLAN
8"
QUAN
1
SIZE
3'-0" X 6'-8"
WINDOWS
SKYLIGHTS
DOORS
TOTAL OPENINGS
% OPENINGS
3249 SQ FT
286.6 SQ FT
10 SQ FT
67.4 SQ FT
354 SQ FT
11%
SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
FIGURE 1812 This is a partial below-grade basement plan with the door and window schedules for the entire project. Notice that
window wells are required to allow egress (exit) from the basement in case of an emergency. A 44" (1118 mm) maximum sill height is
required for these windows.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
397
18'-2"
17'-6"
8"
8"
8'-5"
8'-5"
8"
B
15
1"
13'-02
1"
3'-92
PARTY
5
2 X 4 DFPT STUDS
8"
4'-23
4"
K
34" RAIL
7'-0"
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD
UNDER ALL USABLE
AREA UNDER STAIRS
6'-6"
K
36" X 24"
CRAWL ACCESS
16'-3" X 26'-1"
UP 14R
9'-101
4"
26'-8"
28'-0"
K
11'-6"
5'-7"
STEP
FOUNDATION
4 PIECE WINDOW WELL
WELLCRAFT 5600 12" GRAVEL
BELOW WINDOW WELL GRADE TYP
B
8"
5 1/2" WIDE
CONC LEDGE FOR
BRICK VENEER
17'-6"
18'-2"
LOWER FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
FIGURE 1813 This is a partial floor plan with a daylight basement used for the model home.
8"
398
Architectural Drafting and Design
61'-0"
59'-10"
6"
1"
16'-102
3'-2"
1"
5'-32
1"
3'-82
1"
2'-32
11'-8"
3"
5'-94
5'-101
4"
4 PIECE WINDOW WELL
WELLCRAFT 5600 12" GRAVEL
BELOW WINDOW WELL GRADE TYP
A
C
8"
B
K
5'-11"
13'-11" X 10'-11"
K
3"
7'-74
BED#5
11'-1" X 10'-6"
LINEN CABINET
W/ 5 SHELVES
4
8"
5
12'-9"
9
5
3'-7"
5
5/8" TYPE 'X' GYP BD
UNDER ALL USABLE
AREA UNDER STAIRS
BATH
6
6'-6"
3'-111
4"
13'-0" X 7'-0"
ROUGH IN FOR
STORAGE TANK
FOR SOLAR WH
1"
3'-52
BED#4
9
1"
3'-92
8'-2"
5'-7"
K
11'-6"
28'-0"
26'-8"
STORAGE
FURN
12'-51
4"
1"
2'-32
11'-91
4"
1"
14'-62
8"
8"
3'-6"
1"
5'-42
2 X 4 DFPT STUDS
GARAGE ABOVE
8"
3"
4'-24
K
UP 14R
20'-0" X 18'-8"
12'-5" X 14'-10"
34" RAIL
7'-0"
15'-2"
RECREATION
EXERCISE
5 1/2" WIDE CONC LEDGE
FOR BRICK VENEER
37'-2"
8"
8"
38'-6"
B
A
C
LOWER FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
FIGURE 1814 Composite CADD floor plan. Courtesy Piercy & Barclay Designers, Inc., CPBD.
FLOOR PLAN DRAWING
CHECKLIST
Refer to the floor plan drawing checklist below
to be sure that you have included all of the necessary
items. Floor plans for special applications such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC require additional information. Refer to Chapter 19 for electrical plans, Chapter 20
for plumbing plans, and Chapter 21 for HVAC plans.
Not all items are found on every set of floor plans.
Check off the features used with this floor plan drawing
checklist:
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
Exterior walls.
Interior walls.
Furring over concrete walls (if used).
Masonry veneer (if used).
Doors: Proper use of exterior doors; correct door
swing direction; clearance from walls, cabinets,
and traffic.
❑ Door sizes or symbols for door schedule key.
❑ Windows: Proper symbols; clearance from walls,
cabinets, and traffic.
❑ Window sizes or symbols for window schedule key.
❑ Skylights located and specified.
❑ Base cabinets.
❑ Upper cabinets.
❑ Closets and storage: Closets and wardrobes labeled
and with shelf and pole or additional shelves and
drawers, storage closet, linen with shelves, pantry
with shelves, special storage features noted.
❑ Appliances: Cooktop/range, hood with vent or
vent, oven, double oven, microwave, refrigerator,
lazy Susan, washer and dryer with vent, trash
compactor.
❑ Utilities: Furnace, air conditioner, water heater with
platform and straps.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
399
CADD APPLICATIONS
Using CADD to Draw Floor Plans
Procedures for laying out floor plans with CADD are similar
to manual drafting. However, as described throughout
this chapter, CADD provides greater drawing flexibility,
and eliminates common manual drafting concerns such
as smudging and poor accuracy. When using CADD,
you may find that it is more productive to add symbols
such as doors, windows, cabinets, and fixtures earlier in
the drawing process, or area-by-area. Even dimensions,
associated with objects or points, can be added earlier
so you can instantly see if the drawing is correct or if it
requires alteration. As soon as walls are drawn, symbols
can be placed to aid in design and confirm correct wall
sizes and locations. If an error is made, editing commands
and options are used to correct the problem. If necessary,
objects are erased from the screen and redrawn.
With most architectural CADD systems, the drawing
elements are placed on individual layers, so you can
control the display of these items. For example, if you
want the floor plan shown without dimensions, turn off
the dimension layer. Refer to Chapter 7 and the CADD
Application features in each chapter for discussions of
drawing with CADD layers.
Some residential architects choose to display the
electrical layout on the floor plan; others create the
electrical layout on background drawings—a subset
of the information contained in the floor plan. For
example, the only information shown on the electrical
background drawing is the electrical layout. This
drawing is sent to the electrical contractor for bidding
and construction purposes. Sending the electrical
layout without unnecessary detail often reduces
bidding and construction errors and simplifies the
bidding process. With CADD, the drafter has the
flexibility to display the floor plan with or without the
background drawings. A composite drawing exists
when the layer and background drawings are displayed
together. A composite CADD floor plan drawing is
shown in Figure 18-14.
In commercial applications, the background
drawings become an even more important feature of
CADD capabilities. Background drawings are created
for areas such as plumbing, mechanical (heating,
ventilating, and air-conditioning), structural, and
interior design. ■
❑ Garage floor specified and steel post in front of
furnace and/or water heater when located in the
garage.
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑ Garage door header and symbol, and side exit door.
❑ Plumbing fixtures—Kitchen: sinks, dishwasher, vegetable sink, garbage disposal; Baths: vanity, sinks,
shower, tub, tub/shower, spa, toilets, bidet, urinal;
Laundry: laundry tray, built-in ironing board.
❑ Hose bibbs.
❑ Attic and crawl space access.
❑ Fireplace.
❑ Stairs, risers and direction, and handrails.
❑ Sunken or raised rooms shown and specified.
❑ Exterior dimensions.
❑ Interior dimensions: Be sure all features are dimensioned without double dimensioning.
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑ Structural members and size specifications.
❑
❑ Changes in ceiling elevations and vaulted ceilings
noted.
❑
Overhangs and cantilevers shown and specified.
Decks, patios, slabs, walks, and steps.
Support posts.
Guardrails.
Room names and sizes.
Specific notes.
General notes.
Door and window schedules keyed to the plan. Other
desired schedules, such as finish schedules. Electrical,
plumbing, and HVAC schedules are described in the
following chapters.
Drawing title and scale.
North arrow.
Material symbols.
Exterior wall area to opening ratio calculations and
note.
Floor plan square footage calculations by floor,
garage, and total square footage noted.
Title block information.
400
GOING
GREEN
Living Smart
INTRODUCTION
The Living Smart program, in Portland, Oregon,
initiated a design competition with the goal
of creating a catalog of home plans for urban
neighborhoods. The resulting catalog provides the
public with affordable sets of well-designed plans for
narrow-lot homes called small footprint houses. Living
Smart is a pilot program intended to be an incentive
to build well-designed houses on narrow lots. From
more than 400 local, national, and international
entries, the city selected two designs that represent
the right fit with the unique character of Portland
neighborhoods. One of the winning homes is the topic
of this Going Green feature.
THE SMALL FOOTPRINT HOME
A small footprint home is a home that is generally
designed for a small urban lot. A small footprint
home is also referred to as a fit house, because
it is designed to fit on lots where traditional designs
do not fit. The term footprint is often used in
reference to the foundation dimensions upon which
the house is constructed. The lots where small
footprint homes are built can be as small as 25' × 50'.
These lots are often found in old neighborhoods
where small spaces are sometimes available for
new homes. Designing small footprint homes is a
challenge with proportion, natural lighting, and
efficient use of space being keys to a quality planning.
Small footprint homes are also commonly designed
using traditional architecture so they blend into older
existing neighborhoods.
Historic Design
The small footprint house, shown in Figure 18-15,
uses characteristics of the Victorian architectural style,
which is the common style in the neighborhood where
this home is now constructed. The architect’s goal was
to have a design that respected the character of the
neighborhood, but did not try to be an exact copy of
Victorian style, so the new house could have its own
identity.
Living in a Small House
Living in a small house means living with only what
you need. Rooms can have dual functions, spaces
can change with time, a library can become a child’s
bedroom, and the kitchen can have a desk space for
office work.
A main goal of a small house is keeping the plan
simple. The size of the lot, zoning setbacks, and height
restrictions often determine the available dimensions.
FIGURE 1815 The exterior photograph of the small footprint Living Smart home shows the traditional Victorian architectural style. Designed by Architect Bryan Higgins, AIA, LEED AP of
Portland, Oregon.
The footprint of the house shown in Figure 18-16 is
16' × 38' outside dimensions at the first floor. The
planning of the house is based on a simple concept
where circulation stairs are located in the center with
an area on each side of the stairs.
With a small lot, square footage is achieved by
building up and down. Basements are great for
storage, and lofts are interesting work spaces. When
building up, the living spaces could be on the upper
floors. Locating the living spaces on the upper floors
allows for the possibility of a more interesting spatial
experience. The living room can be on the second
floor, which is open to vaulted ceilings that step up
to the third-floor studio space, guest bedroom, or
possible future master bedroom. The exterior front
photograph in Figure 18-16 shows the multistory
design. The roof cascades up, which closely matches
the height of the house next door, and is within the 25'
zoning height limit.
FIGURE 1816 The floor plans of the small footprint Living Smart home show the design characteristics. Designed by Architect Bryan Higgins, AIA, LEED AP of Portland, Oregon.
GOING
GREEN
401
Living Smart (Continued)
402
GOING
GREEN
Living Smart (Continued)
Each space in a small footprint home needs to be
designed with furniture placement in mind. Tight
spaces do not allow for many furniture placement
options. For example, the bedroom has modular
dresser furniture in the closets, eliminating the need
for dresser furniture. Using built-ins allows rooms to
be smaller.
Using pocket doors clears floor space from door
swings. The floor plans in Figure 18-17 have two
pocket doors on the first-floor bathroom, one on
the first-floor bedroom, and one on the third-floor
bathroom. Having two doors in a small bathroom
eliminates a dead end, and the circulation flows
better.
With limited space, the design must work with all the
site features, such as sun, views, neighboring backyards
and houses, historic character, and zoning regulations.
A modern plan with open spaces allows for better
traffic flow in the home. The stair is in the center of the
house with an area on each side. The vertical circulation
in the center eliminates hallways. This prevents spaces
such as the living room from being located in a traffic
pattern. Other areas can be less defined; for example,
the dining room can accommodate two to eight people
eating or groups of people gathering near the kitchen.
A small efficient kitchen is designed to open to dining
and living spaces.
There is economy in scale with a small footprint
house. For example, a smaller house allows the
builder to save costs and to use better materials. The
Living Smart home discussed here was able to use
cedar trim, wood siding, wood-frame windows, and
a copper roof canopy on the exterior. The interior
has wood floors, custom-built shelving, and custom
kitchen cabinets.
The location and the many environmental features
used in this Living Smart home create a more sustainable
lifestyle for the owners:
• Durable materials provide a long life cycle.
• Natural ventilation eliminates the need for
air-conditioning.
• An in-floor radiant heating system eliminates
vents and provides clean, efficient, and quiet
heating.
FIGURE 1817 The Living Smart small footprint home has
views through the house by designing the living areas on the
second floor open to the third-floor studio. Designed by Architect
Bryan Higgins, AIA, LEED AP of Portland, Oregon.
• Windows for views and extra natural light allow for
energy savings by keeping light fixtures off during
the day.
• Close proximity to public transportation and walking
distance to downtown keep automobile use to a
minimum.
In addition to providing outside views, this Living
Smart home has views through the house by designing
the living areas on the second floor open to the third
floor studio as shown in Figure 18-17. This open design
provides a sense of expansiveness that small houses
have difficultly achieving.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
403
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
See CD for more information
The following Web sites can be used as a resource to
help you research available products and floor plan
design options.
These Web site links are also provided on the Student
CD where you can select a link and go automatically to
the specified Web site.
Address
www.kitchenaid.com
www.whirlpool.com
www.homedepot.com
www.lowes.com
www.jacuzzi.com
Company, Product,
or Service
Appliances
Appliances
Appliance, cabinet, plumbing fixtures
Appliance, cabinet, plumbing fixtures
Bath fixtures
www.aristokraft.com
www.homecrestcab.com
www.kraftmaid.com
www.optiflame.com
www.heatnglo.com
www.nfrc.org
www.heatilator.com
www.schultestorage.com
Cabinets
Cabinets
Cabinets
Electric fireplaces
Gas fireplaces and products
National Fenestration Rating
Council
Prefabricated fireplaces
Storage systems
www.andersenwindows.com
www.marvin.com
www.pella.com
www.crestlineonline.com
Window and door fixtures
Window and door fixtures
Window and door fixtures
Window and door fixtures
See CD
for more
information
Floor Plan Layout Test
QUESTIONS
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions with short, complete statements or drawings as needed on an 8 1/2" × 11" sheet
of notebook paper, or complete the electronic chapter test on
the Student CD.
1. Letter your name, Chapter 18 Test, and the date at the top of
the sheet.
2. Letter the question number and provide the answer. You do
not need to write the question. Answers can be prepared on
a word processor if approved by your course guidelines.
Question 18–1 Describe the drawing working area.
Question 18–2 What size sheets are generally used for
architectural drawings?
Question 18–3 Residential floor plans are generally
drawn to what scale?
Question 18–4 Identify two alternatives that could be
considered when the drawing space is not adequate to
accommodate the drawing.
Question 18–5 Define construction lines.
Question 18–6 Identify four factors that contribute to a
well-balanced drawing.
Question 18–7 Describe methods to help determine the
layout for a second-floor plan quickly using manual
drafting, and also using CADD.
Question 18–8 Why should layout work be drawn very
lightly or with blue lead when using manual drafting?
Question 18–9 Discuss why formulas for centering a
drawing in the working area may not always provide
the complete information for laying out a drawing.
Question 18–10 Describe and give an example of typical
inch and metric values used when dimensioning a
floor plan.
Question 18–11 What scale is commonly used when
floor plans are drawn with metric values?
Question 18–12 Why is centering a drawing within
expected borders less important with CADD than
with manual drafting?
Question 18–13 If you are planning to plot a CADD
drawing at a 1/4" = 1'–0" scale and the proposed plot
area is 20" × 16", what are the CADD drawing limits?
Question 18–14 Describe two ways to orient the floor
plan on the sheet.
Question 18–15 Name one drawing in which the north
arrow must be shown.
Question 18–16 Given each of the following drawing
types, name a recommended CADD layer name for
use with the AIA CAD Layer Guidelines:
a. Architectural walls
b. Architectural doors
c. Architectural windows
d. Construction lines on the floor plan
404
GOING
GREEN
A small footprint home is also referred to as a fit
house, because it is designed to fit on lots where
traditional designs do not fit. The lots where small
footprint homes are built can be as small as 25' × 50'.
These lots are often found in old neighborhoods
where small spaces are sometimes available for
e. Manufactured cabinets
f. Cabinets built on the job
g. Floor plan appliances
h. Water heater
new homes, but they are also designed and built
in new neighborhoods where space conservation,
environmental planning, and energy-efficiency issues
are most important. The plan used in Problem 18–1
is the focus of the Going Green that was presented
on page 400.
2. Follow the steps outlined in this chapter to completely draw
the floor plan or floor plans for the selected problem or
problems.
3. Use one of the following layout methods for your selected or
assigned floor plan problem or problems:
i. Plumbing fixtures
●
Use manual drafting to draw the selected floor
plan or plans by following the steps outlined in
this chapter. Do not include the electrical layout.
Drawing electrical plans is covered in Chapter 19.
●
Use CADD to draw the selected floor plan or
plans. Include all floor plan symbols, room labels,
notes, and dimensions. Do not include the electrical layout. Drawing electrical plans is covered in
Chapter 19. Establish layers as identified in the
American Institute of Architects (AIA) CAD Layer
Guidelines, discussed in Chapter 7, and identified
in chapters throughout this textbook.
j. Floor plan fireplace
k. Stairs
l. Handrails
m. Floor plan dimensions
n. Floor plan lighting
o. Power for appliances
p. Floor plan structural
q. Floor plan symbols
r. Floor plan notes
s. Walls on first floor
t. Walls on second floor
Question 18–17 If you are using CADD to draw floor
plans, what interior wall thickness would you use for
2 × 4 studs and 1/2" drywall on each side?
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS: Draw all floor plans using a
scale of 1/4" = 1'–0". Use symbols, dimensions, and layout
methods described in Chapter 16 through Chapter 18 of this
textbook.
●
Include all floor plan symbols, room labels, notes, and
dimensions.
Question 18–19 Define field built.
●
Question 18–20 Give at least three basic requirements
that relate to window wells.
Use door and window sizes and specifications
when given.
●
Establish your own door and window sizes and specifications when not given. Create door and window
schedules with your floor plan drawings.
●
Calculate the final square footage of each floor and
the garage and place these calculations with the floor
plans as square footage for each floor, with the garage
separately, and with the total living area square footage entered last. Refer to the description provided in
this chapter.
●
Calculate the square footage of all exterior openings, the square footage of all exterior walls, which
includes the walls between the garage and living area.
Calculate the ratio of exterior openings to exterior
walls. Place this information as a note as described in
this chapter.
Question 18–18 Define casework.
PROBLEMS
GENERAL DIRECTIONS: The given floor plan problems vary in
complexity from basic to advanced.
1. Select (or your instructor will assign) one or more of the following residential projects. The basic floor plan designs are
given, along with representative exterior elevations, exterior architectural renderings, or exterior photographs for
reference. You need to complete the floor plan drawing(s) by
adding the missing and unidentified features as described
and illustrated in Chapter 16 through Chapter 18. Try to
keep exterior dimensions in 1'–0" or 2'–0" (300 or 600 mm)
increments as much as possible for economic construction.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
405
3
2
1
Small Footprint Plans (Problem 18–1 through Problem 18–3)
PROBLEM 18–1 Designed by Architect Bryan Higgins, AIA, LEED AP of Portland, Oregon.
406
PROBLEM 18–2 Courtesy Alan Mascord Design Associates, Inc.
Architectural Drafting and Design
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–3 Courtesy of Laurel Numbers and Leann Collins.
407
408
Architectural Drafting and Design
Single-Level Plans (Problem 18–4 through Problem 18–12)
The following problems are based on single-level houses that vary in complexity from basic through
advanced.
PROBLEM 18–4 Courtesy Computer Aided Designs, Inc.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–5 Courtesy Computer Aided Designs, Inc.
409
410
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–6 Courtesy Computer Aided Designs, Inc.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–7 Courtesy Computer Aided Designs, Inc.
411
412
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–8 Courtesy Paul Masterson.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–9 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
413
414
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–10 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–11 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
415
416
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–12 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
417
Multistory and Multilevel Plans (Problem 18–13 through Problem 18–21)
The following problems are based on multistory and multilevel houses that vary in complexity from basic
through advanced.
PROBLEM 18–13 Courtesy Home Building Plan Service, Inc.
418
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–14 Courtesy Computer Aided Designs, Inc.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–15 Courtesy TKP Architects, PC, Golden, Colorado (Continued ).
419
420
PROBLEM 18–15 (Continued .)
Architectural Drafting and Design
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–16 Courtesy Alan Mascord Design Associates, Inc. (Continued ).
421
422
PROBLEM 18–16 (Continued .)
Architectural Drafting and Design
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–17 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
423
424
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–18 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
PROBLEM 18–19 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
425
426
Architectural Drafting and Design
PROBLEM 18–20 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
Chapter 18: Floor Plan Layout
427
PROBLEM 18–21 Courtesy SunRidge Design.
Multifamily Plan (Problem 18–22)
Problem 18–22 This problem is a multifamily
duplex plan. A duplex is a residential plan divided into
two separate living units. This is also an advanced
redesign problem. Redesign the given plan using the
following instructions:
●
Design a utility/laundry room between the middle
bedroom and the bathrooms of each unit. Make this
new room large enough to accommodate the clothes
washer, clothes dryer, water heater, and furnace.
Remove the clothes washer and clothes dryer from the
kitchen in each unit where they are currently located.
Remove the water heater and furnace from the their
current locations in the garages of each unit.
428
Architectural Drafting and Design
●
Move the door from the garages into the kitchens as
far as possible toward the dividing wall between the
units.
●
Redesign the kitchens with a pantry in the location
vacated by the clothes washers and clothes dryers.
Expand the kitchen cabinets as much as possible.
Make the kitchen design open to the dining room,
and redesign the kitchen as desired.
●
Move the fireplace to a location between the dining
room and living room of both units. Design the fireplaces with a double opening to the dining room and
the living room. Install gas-fired logs in the fireplaces.
PROBLEM 18–22 Courtesy Home Building Plan Service, Inc.
Remove the fireplaces from their current locations in
the garages to make more garage space.
●
Design a small storage room between the garage and the
living area of each unit. Provide a door from the garages
into the storage room. Increase the garage depths to the
same amount as the new storage room depths.
●
Increase the depth of the covered entry by at least 4'.
●
Redesign the exterior as desired to update the appearance from the current 1960s architectural style.
●
Make other design changes that you think will
improve the plan.