Understanding Construction Prints

Introduction

• Lecturer: Tom Stevenson, Professor of Construction Management
• Focus: Reading and understanding construction drawings, particularly residential and production homes.
• The lecture discusses a complex set of drawings for production homes on a subdivision.
• The set of drawings has 19 pages detailing different aspects of the construction.

Differences in Construction

• Production Homes vs. Custom Homes
  • Production homes: Repeat designs with minimal variations.
  • Custom homes: Unique designs per house.
• Front Elevations
  • Two different front elevations for the same basic house structure to provide street-level variety.

Key Elements of Elevations

• Front Elevation A: Features multiple Gable and Hip roofs, Cottage style, Bullseye window, brick veneer with stone facing, vinyl shakes.
• Front Elevation B: Different roof structures, some flat roofs, various arches, soldier courses and window styles.
• Rear Elevations: Includes an upgraded version, applicable for houses facing aesthetic areas like rivers or parks.

Architectural Controls

• Enforced by municipalities to avoid uniform and monotonous housing appearances.
• Ensures variety in house exteriors, enhancing neighborhood aesthetics.
• Different combinations of designs, materials, and mirror imaging to provide variety.

Overview of Drawings

• Drawing Details
  • Includes foundation, floor plans, elevations, and various sections.
  • Drawn to scale, often provided in both Imperial and Metric measurements.
• Cover Page: Shows floor area, elevation choices, square meters and square feet information, and optional elements like doors and windows.
• Construction Notes: Standardized for quick reference; includes details on materials, sizes, and abbreviations.

Foundation and Structural Elements

• Rebars for reinforcement, particularly in areas with lateral pressure.
• Optional Features: Rough-in baths, finished lower levels, etc.
• Grade Beams: Indicated for garage slab stability.

Floor Plans

• Main Floor
  • Entry features, living space layout, mudrooms, and garage access.
  • Reference lines indicating different sections of the house.
• Upper Floor
  • Layout of bedrooms, master suites, and other functional areas.
  • Features like coffered ceilings, fireplaces, and storage spaces.

Key Takeaway and Visualization

• Visualizing space: Helps understand room sizes and spatial relationships.
• Construction Notes and Legends: Essential for decoding symbols and abbreviations.
• Site Preparation: Involves checking setbacks, excavation depth, and foundational requirements.

Final Thoughts

• Reviewing and understanding the construction drawings involves meticulous attention to detail.
• Continuous practice and reference checking are key to proficiency.
• Anticipating and planning for potential issues and understanding client preferences are crucial.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to subscribe for more detailed follow-up videos.
• Availability of additional resources on related topics like project management, cost control, and scheduling.

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Tom Stevenson