Reading the sheets of a house plan
A drawing set reads like a book with a fixed order. Once you know the order, you find anything fast.
The letters
- G: general. The cover sheet, with the design criteria the set is drawn for.
- A: architectural. Plans, elevations, sections, details, door and window schedules.
- S: structural. Foundation, roof framing, wall bracing.
- E, M, P: electrical, mechanical and plumbing layouts.
Start here
Read the cover sheet, then the floor plan. The dimension plan tells your builder where every wall goes. The sections show how the wall, the roof and the foundation meet.