Understanding "House Blueprint" Topics

• Reading and Understanding House Blueprints
• House Blueprint Elevations
• Construction Cross Section
• House Blueprint Symbols
• Contract Specifications supersede Home Blueprints

Reading to Understand House Blueprints

Blueprints are the footprints of your home. They generally consist of four to five pages or more and are quite easy to understand after learning some basic information about them.

Ask your home designer to lend you a set of home blueprints in the 1000 to 1500 sq. ft range. Study them to get familiar with blueprint reading. Even better, inquire if there is an extra set available for you to keep or arrange to get a set made up. This way you can write notes and mark them up with color markers as desired.

Once you understand the blueprints for a smaller home, it will be easier to comprehend more complex plans. Thus, the information in step 5 has been written from a beginner's point of view.

To begin, avoid trying to understand everything on the entire page at one time. Then use this same approach for each page. Examine each page item until you are able to understand what it means.

House Blueprint Elevations

Elevations. Page one of the blueprints. It shows the exterior elevations, displaying at least the four sides of the home. Complex plans may have more detailed drawings and additional pages. Remember, you're studying basic house blueprints. While using the following steps, spend at least a few minutes to review each step several times before going on to the next. As beginners, you may want to set the blueprints aside to return later.

Begin with the aesthetics or "curb appeal." How does the overall home appearance look to you? Study the roof pitch, Is it to steep? To little? Just right? Are the windows positioned to be in balance with the lines of the home? Is the exterior siding product fitting to the home? Are things too high, too low, to much to one side or just right. Would it look better with or with out shutters? Etc.

Apply your imagination, but keep in mind to study one thing until you understand it before moving on to the next.

Floor Plans. There are many aids to assist you, but before getting into those, start with understanding just the house floor plan layout. Color in the thin lines of the walls, one color for interior and another for the exterior walls. Then study the traffic flow, location of the bathroom(s), windows, stairs, fireplace, doors, the swing of the doors, laundry room, etc. Mark on the prints where you think they should be, keeping in mind the positioning of the furniture.

Next, study each individual room beginning with the Bedroom. Put the furniture in place to see if it interferes with the windows and doors. Is the size of closet adequate? Bathroom; is there adequate storage space and shelving, consider the size of the mirror(s). Are two sink possible? etc. Family room; Arrange the furniture and locate fireplace, window and door location. Living room; use same approach as the family room. Kitchen; is there adequate mobility space?, How is the traffic pattern for those assisting or just passing through? What about the placement of the appliances? Is there adequate counter space and cabinet storage space? What about the placement of food items, dishes, pots and pans, etc.

Foundation. or Basement. Page three of the blueprints. Color in the exterior walls and use a different color for the interior walls (if any). What are the plans for this area, now or in the future? If you're having thought of finishing it off, how would you lay it out and then pencil them in. If plans include a future bathroom, consider putting in the "rough-in plumbing" now. Place the laundry appliances at a convenient location. Can part of the basement be exposed for a patio door? Do you want a code approved emergency exit? Stretch the imagination!

Detail Drawings. Page four of the blueprints. Here you'll see detailed drawing of all the house cabinets, counters, specific additions and/or requested drawing, etc.

Home Construction Cross Section

Cross Section. Page five of the blueprints. This is a side cut away of the home, detailing height dimensions, materials, build specifications, etc.

House Blueprint Symbols

At the beginning we mentioned "symbols" found on the home blueprints to identify various items. Examples are electrical boxes for light fixtures, outlets, switches, sinks, skylights, furnace, hose bibs, patio doors, roof pitch and many other symbols.

Not until you are able to understanding of this information should you venture into the mechanicals on the house blueprints. These primarily consist of the electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning.

Contract Specifications supersede Home Blueprints

Due to change made during the design of the home blueprints and the writing of the home construction contract and specifications, it is easy for discrepancies to occur. It is paramount to know that the specifications section of the home construction contract will supersede the house blueprints.

This will avoid misunderstanding as to what is or is not included in your new home. Thus, reads it diligently.

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