I have been designing homes for the better part of two decades and during that time, several things have always remained constant. Too many designers try to make the site fit the house. I have heard quite a few of my colleagues talking about designing a house in this or that architectural style. But I have heard very little said about a much more important consideration of designing a house to make the most of the clients lot. After all, the problem of choosing the right architectural style really takes second place if the house is planned in a way that it takes advantage of every distinct feature of the site.
So then a study of the site for the house is as necessary to the building of a home as a doctors diagnosis of a case is needed for a successful treatment of a ailing patient. If a home is to be practically successful we can not simply say that we will have the dining room here and the den there, making our decision on the fact that placement of these rooms in this manner has worked out well in other houses that we have seen or designed ourselves.
The points on the compass in relation to the site, the direction of the available views, the location of the street access, the location of trees and other buildings, the topography, every one of these things will need to be part of our calculations in planning the new home.
It seems like the last thing we consider should actually be one of the first. If the site the owner purchased is not level, our first impulse is to send in the bull dozer to cut and fill until the natural face has been transformed into a level plateau. Now that is expensive, and it is frequently unnecessary.
So then, the logical course of action would be to design the home to fit the natural features and topography of the land. Why not make the house to fit the site, rather than making the site conform to a plan based on or determined by individual preference or convenience?
About the Author
To learn more about drawing an Designing A House To Fit The Lot along with creating an entire set of house drawings, visit House Plan Drafting 101 at http://homedesign.8m.com. My name is Tim Davis and I created that course.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Drawing A Residential Electrical Plan
An electrical plan is a plan view similar to the floor plan in that all the walls, doors, and windows are shown along with the electrical symbols that describe service to the house. It also includes what is known as a legend which defines what each symbol represents.
There are several considerations that have to be made when drawing an electrical plan for a house. They are as follows:
The Meter and Service Box
The electrical meter is always on the exterior of the home. This is the location where power enters the house into the circuit box. The circuit box is located no more than twelve feet away from where the power enters the homes. From this location electricity is distributed to the individual rooms. The circuit box is usually located in a service area of a home like the utility room or kitchen. If the home has a basement, this is usually the preferred location for it to be placed.
Light Fixtures, Light Switches, and Receptacles
Light fixtures are usually placed in the middle of a room to allow even lighting throughout. Sometimes these are included in special fixtures like ceiling fans. When a fixture is placed in a large closet, it is usually mounted so that it is at least three feet from where the clothing is hung to insure against a fire from its heat. Exterior lighting should be waterproof in some way to eliminate the possibility of electrical short.
The light switches almost always are mounted next to a room entrance for convenience. When switching an exterior light, these are usually located inside near the exterior lights location.
Receptacles, also known as outlets are usually spaced every six feet in a room. This is to make sure that electrical cords do not have to be stretched far from the appliance they are powering. Some times a homeowner requests that the top half of a receptacle be controlled by a light switch to make turning off lamps simpler. Exterior receptacles and those inside the house within six feet of a water source like a sink are ground fault interrupt. This is to eliminate possible shock if shorted by water.
All of these are one hundred and twenty volt with a few exceptions and the amperage varies.
Smoke Detectors
These are required by code for fire safety. The must be located in each individual bedroom and also near each exit from the home. These are usually battery powered so that even if the power is out, they will still function.
Wiring Connections
These are usually drawn using a arched dashed line showing which switch controls what light or receptacle.
There are many more considerations like two twenty volt power for appliances such as the stove or electrical clothes dryer. You may also place special fixtures like phone jacks and cable tv connections on this plan.
About the Author
To learn more about drawing an electrical plan along with creating an entire set of house drawings, visit House Plan Drafting 101 at http://homedesign.8m.com. My name is Tim Davis and I created that course.
There are several considerations that have to be made when drawing an electrical plan for a house. They are as follows:
The Meter and Service Box
The electrical meter is always on the exterior of the home. This is the location where power enters the house into the circuit box. The circuit box is located no more than twelve feet away from where the power enters the homes. From this location electricity is distributed to the individual rooms. The circuit box is usually located in a service area of a home like the utility room or kitchen. If the home has a basement, this is usually the preferred location for it to be placed.
Light Fixtures, Light Switches, and Receptacles
Light fixtures are usually placed in the middle of a room to allow even lighting throughout. Sometimes these are included in special fixtures like ceiling fans. When a fixture is placed in a large closet, it is usually mounted so that it is at least three feet from where the clothing is hung to insure against a fire from its heat. Exterior lighting should be waterproof in some way to eliminate the possibility of electrical short.
The light switches almost always are mounted next to a room entrance for convenience. When switching an exterior light, these are usually located inside near the exterior lights location.
Receptacles, also known as outlets are usually spaced every six feet in a room. This is to make sure that electrical cords do not have to be stretched far from the appliance they are powering. Some times a homeowner requests that the top half of a receptacle be controlled by a light switch to make turning off lamps simpler. Exterior receptacles and those inside the house within six feet of a water source like a sink are ground fault interrupt. This is to eliminate possible shock if shorted by water.
All of these are one hundred and twenty volt with a few exceptions and the amperage varies.
Smoke Detectors
These are required by code for fire safety. The must be located in each individual bedroom and also near each exit from the home. These are usually battery powered so that even if the power is out, they will still function.
Wiring Connections
These are usually drawn using a arched dashed line showing which switch controls what light or receptacle.
There are many more considerations like two twenty volt power for appliances such as the stove or electrical clothes dryer. You may also place special fixtures like phone jacks and cable tv connections on this plan.
About the Author
To learn more about drawing an electrical plan along with creating an entire set of house drawings, visit House Plan Drafting 101 at http://homedesign.8m.com. My name is Tim Davis and I created that course.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
How To Draw A Roof Plan
A roof plan is a view from the top of the house that shows the geometry in flat view of a roof. Drawing a roof plan is not a difficult task if you already have a grasp of basic drafting. A roof plan is derived from a floor plan and the exterior (elevations) views of the house.
On a drafting board, it is a simple matter of placing the floor plan under a transparent sheet, tracing the perimeter exterior walls, and then measuring beyond those walls using an architectural scale to where the overhang (fascia) of the house will be. And then projecting lines from the exterior views you can determine where one part of the roof comes together with the other in peaks and valleys.
In a CAD system, we would do the same thing. A line would be drawn around the parameter of the home, and then offset the distance of the overhang.
You would then measure to each individual peak of the roof and draw a line representing it. Then, if the roof has more complexity, valleys, crickets (little roofs that shed water from a possible water or snow trap), and shed roofs would be drawn using the same method. Once this drawing is completed, it can be used to draw a rafter plan showing how the roof system goes together.
There is a roof plan tutorial at http://internetarticles.net/drawing-an-architectural-roof-plan/
Other related searches would be: how to draw roof plan, How to Draw Architectural Plans, drawing roof plans, drawing your own house plans, roof detail plan, how to draw house blueprints
About the Author
If you want to learn to draw complete House Plans, go to http://residentialdrafting.net, which is the website for House Plan Drafting 101.
On a drafting board, it is a simple matter of placing the floor plan under a transparent sheet, tracing the perimeter exterior walls, and then measuring beyond those walls using an architectural scale to where the overhang (fascia) of the house will be. And then projecting lines from the exterior views you can determine where one part of the roof comes together with the other in peaks and valleys.
In a CAD system, we would do the same thing. A line would be drawn around the parameter of the home, and then offset the distance of the overhang.
You would then measure to each individual peak of the roof and draw a line representing it. Then, if the roof has more complexity, valleys, crickets (little roofs that shed water from a possible water or snow trap), and shed roofs would be drawn using the same method. Once this drawing is completed, it can be used to draw a rafter plan showing how the roof system goes together.
There is a roof plan tutorial at http://internetarticles.net/drawing-an-architectural-roof-plan/
Other related searches would be: how to draw roof plan, How to Draw Architectural Plans, drawing roof plans, drawing your own house plans, roof detail plan, how to draw house blueprints
About the Author
If you want to learn to draw complete House Plans, go to http://residentialdrafting.net, which is the website for House Plan Drafting 101.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mechanical Drawings
Mechanical Drawing is used to convey precise information from one person to another so that a patternmaker will have a true drawing of an object, giving correct dimensions and instructions before he can make a pattern, from this, the foundry man can make a rough casting.
The machinist must have a drawing from which he can obtain accurate information to enable him to take the rough casting and by slotting, planing, drilling, grinding, chipping or turning, they can produce the finished fixture as designed by the drafter.
Contractors, builders, architects, and engineers of all kinds, must have accurate drawings to enable them to produce satisfactory results in their work. To do this, it is necessary that working drawings should be made according to certain principles and methods thoroughly understood by the person who makes the drawing and the person who uses it.
The mechanical drawing is the common language of all mechanics and machinists. By implementing it, the ideas of the designer, architect or engineer are transmitted or explained to the worker. There is hardly a area of work in the great field of industry where the knowledge of drawing is not used universally. It is a true statement that there is no industry that does not require a knowledge of drawing and the employment of drafter. Illustration of machine and fixtures, by the aid of the mechanical and working drawing, is the necessary first step in the building of such machines and fixtures.
If we then consider mechanical drawing as a language, we understand then that it is to be used to convey thoughts and ideas. Orthographic projection, which is a division of descriptive geometry, is its grammar and the foundation upon which is built all kinds of correct mechanical drawings. It is in fact the art of representing any object so accurately that a skilled workman, upon inspecting the drawing, should be able to make the object of exactly the materials and dimensions shown, without any further verbal or written instructions from the designer.
The objects illustrated may be machines, implements, buildings, utensils, or ornaments. They may be constructed of many various materials. The drawings may be linear, shaded and colored, or plain. Because of the nature of the information to be conveyed, they must be drawn to scale, but various geometrical methods may be employed.
The purpose of a mechanical drawing is not to present a picture of an object as drawn by an artist or as seen by the eye, but to furnish a graphical representation of the actual proportions and shape of an item. This is done by making projections of the edges of the object using imaginary horizontal and vertical planes. These projections show the correct geometrical relations of the various dimensions and parts of the object or structure. Since two dimensions are shown in each projection, the use of two or more projections gives all of the dimensional relations.
About the Author
Tim Davis is a drafter who has mastered many different types of drafting known as disciplines. He teaches drafting at http://101info.org and is the webmaster of Drafting, CAD, & Design Articles at http://draftingservice.us/drafting/
The machinist must have a drawing from which he can obtain accurate information to enable him to take the rough casting and by slotting, planing, drilling, grinding, chipping or turning, they can produce the finished fixture as designed by the drafter.
Contractors, builders, architects, and engineers of all kinds, must have accurate drawings to enable them to produce satisfactory results in their work. To do this, it is necessary that working drawings should be made according to certain principles and methods thoroughly understood by the person who makes the drawing and the person who uses it.
The mechanical drawing is the common language of all mechanics and machinists. By implementing it, the ideas of the designer, architect or engineer are transmitted or explained to the worker. There is hardly a area of work in the great field of industry where the knowledge of drawing is not used universally. It is a true statement that there is no industry that does not require a knowledge of drawing and the employment of drafter. Illustration of machine and fixtures, by the aid of the mechanical and working drawing, is the necessary first step in the building of such machines and fixtures.
If we then consider mechanical drawing as a language, we understand then that it is to be used to convey thoughts and ideas. Orthographic projection, which is a division of descriptive geometry, is its grammar and the foundation upon which is built all kinds of correct mechanical drawings. It is in fact the art of representing any object so accurately that a skilled workman, upon inspecting the drawing, should be able to make the object of exactly the materials and dimensions shown, without any further verbal or written instructions from the designer.
The objects illustrated may be machines, implements, buildings, utensils, or ornaments. They may be constructed of many various materials. The drawings may be linear, shaded and colored, or plain. Because of the nature of the information to be conveyed, they must be drawn to scale, but various geometrical methods may be employed.
The purpose of a mechanical drawing is not to present a picture of an object as drawn by an artist or as seen by the eye, but to furnish a graphical representation of the actual proportions and shape of an item. This is done by making projections of the edges of the object using imaginary horizontal and vertical planes. These projections show the correct geometrical relations of the various dimensions and parts of the object or structure. Since two dimensions are shown in each projection, the use of two or more projections gives all of the dimensional relations.
About the Author
Tim Davis is a drafter who has mastered many different types of drafting known as disciplines. He teaches drafting at http://101info.org and is the webmaster of Drafting, CAD, & Design Articles at http://draftingservice.us/drafting/
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Creating House Plans
The field of technical illustration known as architectural draftsmen or drafters are the specialists who draw the architectural and structural features of a building for new construction. These professionals may specialize in various types of building, like residential, structural, or commercial.
A major part of these people use a tool called a CAD or Computer Aided Drafting program to draw complete technical drawings of structures. In times past, before the advent of computers, a drafting board and its related equipment were used. Some still use these today.
The drafter usually starts creating a drawing from a sketch and lays out the floor plan with all walls, windows, and doors. The Floor Plan is the template for your entire set of drawings. From this plan they show where the owner or builder wants the electrical, show how big the rooms are, place dimensions to define the house, note the window and door sizes, etc. They could start with the exterior views but that would limit the interior of the home to the shape of the outside.
The next drawing to be created is the foundation or basement plan. In standard construction, houses are built on masonry foundations or basements. A foundation is the part of the home that anchors it to or keeps it from settling into the ground. Usually noted on the foundation or basement are the thickness of the walls, the locations of the joists or floor trusses, the locations of the piers or posts to hold up the floor along with the dimensions.
And then the exterior views or elevations are drawn which depict how the home will look from the outside once completed. This drawing includes the front, left, rear, and right views and sometimes a roof plan.
About the Author
My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I also teach others how to draw house plans at http://homedesign.8m.com. If you want to learn other types of drafting in a virtual classroom on the internet go to http://101info.org where House Plan Drafting 101 is included along with how to draw site plans, blueprint reading, mechanical drafting, and a whole lot more.
A major part of these people use a tool called a CAD or Computer Aided Drafting program to draw complete technical drawings of structures. In times past, before the advent of computers, a drafting board and its related equipment were used. Some still use these today.
The drafter usually starts creating a drawing from a sketch and lays out the floor plan with all walls, windows, and doors. The Floor Plan is the template for your entire set of drawings. From this plan they show where the owner or builder wants the electrical, show how big the rooms are, place dimensions to define the house, note the window and door sizes, etc. They could start with the exterior views but that would limit the interior of the home to the shape of the outside.
The next drawing to be created is the foundation or basement plan. In standard construction, houses are built on masonry foundations or basements. A foundation is the part of the home that anchors it to or keeps it from settling into the ground. Usually noted on the foundation or basement are the thickness of the walls, the locations of the joists or floor trusses, the locations of the piers or posts to hold up the floor along with the dimensions.
And then the exterior views or elevations are drawn which depict how the home will look from the outside once completed. This drawing includes the front, left, rear, and right views and sometimes a roof plan.
About the Author
My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I also teach others how to draw house plans at http://homedesign.8m.com. If you want to learn other types of drafting in a virtual classroom on the internet go to http://101info.org where House Plan Drafting 101 is included along with how to draw site plans, blueprint reading, mechanical drafting, and a whole lot more.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Learning To Draw Your Own House Plan
Learning to draw your own house plans is an idea that actually has merit. It can also save you a bunch money and eliminates the middle man. An architect or designers can get expensive. I've heard that some of these folks can charge up to ten dollars a square foot for basic drawings that contain nothing more than a floor plan, foundation, exterior elevations, and a few notes. Now that is a bunch of money. If you want to do it for yourself, you will need to know how. I have listed a few things that you will need to know to draw a simple home.
To start with, you need to understand how a Floor Plan is layed out. The floor plan is actually the basis for your entire set of drawings. It is from this plan where we define how large the over all house is, how large our rooms are, note our window and door sizes, and so on, and this is where we begin. You could start with the outside views, but that would limit the interior of the house to what the outside looks like. That is not a good idea! The house needs to be functional first and the we can deal with how the home looks on the outside after we have a layout.
Anyway, the home builder would probably appreciate knowing the dimensional locations of the walls, windows, & doors. They would also need to know what door and window sizes are, not to mention locations of anything else special that is on the plan. That's where the dimensions and notes come in handy. You will need to know how to create a dimensional string and group your notes where they are not confusing.
When you design the kitchen. you need to understand the mechanics of a well designed and workable cooking area. The kitchen is a place where the homemaker spends a great deal of their time. It needs to be easy to move around in and functional. The most desired layout for a kitchen is one where the least steps are taken to reach each appliance. They call this the working triangle. A comfortable working triangle is limited to 12 to 14 feet all the way around.
When creating an electrical plan, it is very important to you as this part of your drawings gives you the opportunity to customize the home with your electrical power and comfort needs! Sometimes however, it is not always needed. What I mean to say is that any professional electrician who has taken the test for his or her license knows what is required electrical service by code. It is possible that they have already wired quite a few residences and besides any special needs or preferences, can do the job without this particular plan. Always be careful though! Certain municipalities require that the one designing the electrical be a licensed architect or electrical engineer. Make sure that you check with your local building official to see what you are allowed or not allowed to do. It is better to know up front than to have extra headaches down the road.
In standard construction in the south eastern United States, houses are built on Masonry foundations or basements. A foundation is the part of the home that anchors or keeps the house from settling into the ground. You will need to know what the minimum wall thickness is and how to span your joists or trusses for the floor that sits on the basement of foundation.
What about how the exterior is going to look? It is a big deal if you are wanting to get the idea across of how the finished house is going to look when construction is complete. You will need to determine where the grade (ground) level is on the house so that you do not design a window or door where it would be underground. Dirt does not make a pretty view from a window. You will also have to determine the best roof pitch, do we use brick, siding or rock, and things like that.
Then, to keep the contractor from having to guess, if there is anything special you are wanting to place into your house, how will the builder know unless you show them? You can make all the notes you please on your plans and elevations, but the idea of how you want the house constructed may not always be crystal clear. That is why you need to know how to draw special details.
Then there is the job of finishing your drawings properly and not letting mistakes and slip-ups make it to the construction site. You will need to learn the most common mistakes made by drafters who draw house plans so you can look out for them! And then you will need to figure out how to print your drawings and in what format and size.
About the Author
My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I also teach others how to draw house plans at http://homedesign.8m.com. If you want to learn other types of drafting in a virtual classroom on the internet go to http://maginvent.com where House Plan Drafting 101 is included along with how to draw site plans, blueprint reading, mechanical drafting, and a whole lot more.
To start with, you need to understand how a Floor Plan is layed out. The floor plan is actually the basis for your entire set of drawings. It is from this plan where we define how large the over all house is, how large our rooms are, note our window and door sizes, and so on, and this is where we begin. You could start with the outside views, but that would limit the interior of the house to what the outside looks like. That is not a good idea! The house needs to be functional first and the we can deal with how the home looks on the outside after we have a layout.
Anyway, the home builder would probably appreciate knowing the dimensional locations of the walls, windows, & doors. They would also need to know what door and window sizes are, not to mention locations of anything else special that is on the plan. That's where the dimensions and notes come in handy. You will need to know how to create a dimensional string and group your notes where they are not confusing.
When you design the kitchen. you need to understand the mechanics of a well designed and workable cooking area. The kitchen is a place where the homemaker spends a great deal of their time. It needs to be easy to move around in and functional. The most desired layout for a kitchen is one where the least steps are taken to reach each appliance. They call this the working triangle. A comfortable working triangle is limited to 12 to 14 feet all the way around.
When creating an electrical plan, it is very important to you as this part of your drawings gives you the opportunity to customize the home with your electrical power and comfort needs! Sometimes however, it is not always needed. What I mean to say is that any professional electrician who has taken the test for his or her license knows what is required electrical service by code. It is possible that they have already wired quite a few residences and besides any special needs or preferences, can do the job without this particular plan. Always be careful though! Certain municipalities require that the one designing the electrical be a licensed architect or electrical engineer. Make sure that you check with your local building official to see what you are allowed or not allowed to do. It is better to know up front than to have extra headaches down the road.
In standard construction in the south eastern United States, houses are built on Masonry foundations or basements. A foundation is the part of the home that anchors or keeps the house from settling into the ground. You will need to know what the minimum wall thickness is and how to span your joists or trusses for the floor that sits on the basement of foundation.
What about how the exterior is going to look? It is a big deal if you are wanting to get the idea across of how the finished house is going to look when construction is complete. You will need to determine where the grade (ground) level is on the house so that you do not design a window or door where it would be underground. Dirt does not make a pretty view from a window. You will also have to determine the best roof pitch, do we use brick, siding or rock, and things like that.
Then, to keep the contractor from having to guess, if there is anything special you are wanting to place into your house, how will the builder know unless you show them? You can make all the notes you please on your plans and elevations, but the idea of how you want the house constructed may not always be crystal clear. That is why you need to know how to draw special details.
Then there is the job of finishing your drawings properly and not letting mistakes and slip-ups make it to the construction site. You will need to learn the most common mistakes made by drafters who draw house plans so you can look out for them! And then you will need to figure out how to print your drawings and in what format and size.
About the Author
My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I also teach others how to draw house plans at http://homedesign.8m.com. If you want to learn other types of drafting in a virtual classroom on the internet go to http://maginvent.com where House Plan Drafting 101 is included along with how to draw site plans, blueprint reading, mechanical drafting, and a whole lot more.
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