What are Blueprints and How Can You Read Them?

Generally speaking, blueprints are simply 2-dimensional sketches used in architecture to derive the basic idea of how a planned building will look like. They usually contain such vital information as materials required for construction, position of different internal and external features, and so on. They are prepared by architects for communicating those details to building workers. But besides the workers, it is also important for people hiring the architects to be able to read and understand blueprints so that any decision made pertaining to the construction is more informed and feasible.

There are mainly three different types of blueprints - plan, section and elevation. A plan gives a horizontal view of the planned construction from its top, which is 30 inches above the floor on a horizontal plane. A section provides cross-section view of the building, displaying how something is to be constructed. A typical elevation is a vertical view of the project from one side of it, from north, south, east or west.

Blueprints are usually prepared using the architectural or the engineering scale. The architectural scale consists of measurements in inches and feet. Engineering scale includes measurements having a scale ratio which is a multiple of 10, and may be either in metric or feet. Sometimes, a scale with British unit having metric conversions is also used, which is called dual-dimensioning.

In order to make a blueprint convey maximum amount of information to whoever reads it, most architects use an array of symbols for representing different parts of the construction and also those of its surroundings.

There are a number of ways by which one can learn how to read a blueprint correctly. The cheapest and easiest method is to watch videos related to understanding of blueprints. One may find hundreds of different videos discussing about the same topic in detail, without having to pay for anything. Videos are also available as DVDs that can be purchased from shops. Another method to learn about blueprints is by searching for tutorials and websites offering free online courses on them. Instructional books published by tool-manufacturing and hardware companies can also provide a vast amount of information, and are usually available in both hard and soft copies such as pdfs, epubs, etc. Another option is to enrol for blueprint-reading courses in community colleges or local architecture schools. However, classes are also available online, allowing one to learn from the convenience of home.

Although the increased preference of online architectural design drawing in UK has almost pushed handmade drawings into obscurity, there are still many architects who find blueprints more useful than CAD drawings.

What Constitutes Location Drawings in Architecture?

Location drawing is a technical drawing of the building that gives a total view of the architectural structure. It describes the location of the building as well as where to place each and every part of building etc. Location drawings are used by architects for several purposes; for developing a design idea into a proposal, for communicating ideas as well as concepts, for convincing clients of the advantages of the design, for enabling the building contractor in the construction process and for making a record of an architectural structure, which already exists. 

• Block plans of a project is often created in relation to Ordnance Survey plans. It is created to show the relation between different buildings in the block,  Conventions are used mainly for depicting boundaries, roads and all other details. 

• Site plans function is to show the location of the building, typography of the site, extent of earthworks, layout of the external lighting, buildings that are to be demolished or removed and more. 

• Elevations show the building's outline, level datums, floor position and opening details and sizes. With elevations, one can know how the face of the building will look from outside. Exterior elevations include ceiling heights and floor, dimensions of roof overhangs and standard windows, location and height of foundation indicated with dashed lines, kind of textures and finishing and height and dimension of chimney. 

• Floor plans basically constitute the layout of the rooms, the levels, the key dimensions, thickness of the foundation walls, structures needed for holding the first level, beam sizes, variations in the floor joists, location of the stairwell, size of the windows and dimension of footings. Conventions and symbols are typically used for showing the materials and location of all appliances and fittings in the room. 

• Roof plans form an important part in building design as well and includes location of different trusses that are needed, general overcharge of roof in comparison to the floor footprint below, and location of the valleys and ridges. 

• Detail drawings focus a small part of construction at a bigger scale for showing how component parts fit together. They are even used for showing the small surface details like decorative elements. 

Computer plays a big role in designing and creating these technical drawings making manual drawings almost obsolete. In fact, nowadays most of the drawings are being created by companies that offer professional CAD drawing services.

Grove Design can help you with building drawing plans in UK. Get in touch with them for your architectural design needs. 

Basic Tenets of Modern Residential Architectural Designing

In the modern times, architecture involves consolidation of old as well as new elements. From dwellings designed and constructed during the last century to those built today, the numerous variants of residential architectural design seen today augment and contribute to the exotic and varied characteristics which define the region the houses themselves reside in.

Besides structural qualities, vegetation and trees also play an important role in blending and softening different architectural styles to a picturesque whole. Modern and traditional, small and large, all elements seem to mingle perfectly when complemented by the natural exquisiteness of vegetation.

However, here are some of the basic tenets, which needs to be followed by modern architects: 

Importance of Site Assessment

The first major step towards designing a residential structure is to visit the site where it is to be constructed. The shape, size, topography of the site along with potential positive and negative effects of the area must be considered when assessing the lot. Site assessment aids the architect in developing a sound idea of the additions and subtractions pertaining to the site and its surrounding area, that can be utilised for augmenting the good and mitigating the adverse.

Regulations and Their Influence On the Design

Local building codes play an important role in deciding how a residential structure will look like and relate to its neighbouring properties. Some locations have comprehensive sets of standards and regulations dictating the limits on height, size and setback requisites. These regulations assure that different home sizes and styles can develop within such limitations which allow considerable amount of creativity without hampering the overall looks of neighbourhoods in the city.

Green Technology

Energy saving and eco-friendly technologies are perhaps the greatest advancement in the field of modern residential architectural designing over the previous decade. Contemporary houses are being developed with a keen focus on improvement of sustainability and functionality using such technologies. Nowadays, home buyers are more aware of the prevalent green technologies. As a result, they often tend to opt for products and components which offer environmental improvements and energy savings, especially when price differential is not large.

Final Say

While perfecting residential architectural design, one thing must also be kept in mind that it is ultimately the clients who drive the overall style of the home. They generally know which style will reflect their preferences the best, or if they have got inspired by some particular home they saw somewhere earlier. The main aim of a professionally skilled architect is to encompass the client’s input and design something feasible which complements and props their lifestyle.

Drawing Plans For Building Permits

Before visiting a planning department or jurisdiction’s housing for obtaining a building permit, it is essential to have a detailed plan demonstrating the scope and purpose of your project. Building drawing plans in UK play a great role in determining whether a project would be given a permit or not. Here are the steps followed by professional architects to draw plans for building permits:

• First, a logical starting point, like the northwest edge of a land parcel or the structure, is marked on the upper left corner of a graph paper. The drawing is correctly oriented so that it matches the structure in relation to its north edge. The outlines are then marked using a typical architect’s scale by using a ratio best suited for the proposed project.
  
• After that, an overhead plan of current lines of the property is created according to the scale. The scale is moved across the paper to take a note of, for instance, the necessity of adding any bump-outs like recesses or porches for outdoor condensers of air-conditioners. The trees around the property, patios, retaining walls and driveways are also drawn. Setbacks between property line and the proposed structure are labelled.
  
• The position of north is noted on the graph using an ‘N’ and an arrow. The address of the property is added in name of the closest cross street. The scale used is noted down along with the owner’s name and date.
  
• Details such as an outbuilding, deck, fence, shed or similar additional structure are meticulously sketched with relation to the length, depth and width of the proposed property. The same scale is maintained throughout and the height is noted with a label. Pertinent notes of the construction are also written, if required, after verifying any kind of existing restriction on the kind of structure that is being erected against the country or city building codes available online.
  
• Now, the perimeter of the new house is drawn and essential features of the property such as rooms, doors, windows, bathroom fixtures, counters, closets, kitchen appliances, closets, etc., are labelled as well. Location of the carbon dioxide and smoke detectors are noted.
  
• As per the requirements of the project, additional pages are sketched. Sometimes, foundation plans showing slab, strength of used concrete, and footings are also prepared.

In order to ensure that the drawing plan is according to the building codes and standards, most of the people in UK make sure that they hire a professional and reputed architect for the purpose. These people very well know that doing this is going to make their project feasible, and getting the building permit will also become possible without much hassle.

The Advantages of Computer Aided Designs

Whether it is a simple porch, a grand addition to any home or a cavernous conservatory, detailed and appropriate architectural drawings are important for the successful implementation of any construction project. They play an important role in transforming any building design into an expedient structure. These drawings also help a local council to decide whether the building project should receive a planning permit or not. In the modern times, rapid advancement of technology has led to a decrement in the popularity of the traditional practice of drawing plans and most architects are now favouring computer aided online architectural design drawing in UK.

Some of the major advantages of computer aided design (CAD) software are as follows:

• The plans created using a CAD software are more accurate and may be produced in 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional formats, thus allowing to view the plan from multiple angles and perspectives. Drawing according to a scale is also easier as one just needs to decide on the units of calculation that are to be used and then draw the model at a scale of 1:1.
  
  
• Creating a draft of the proposed structure using CAD takes less time than traditional blueprinting because everything required for the planning are just a few clicks away. Also, any mistake can be rectified more quickly than in the case of traditional drawings.
  
  
• Working with CAD also solves the issue with availability of storage space for large number of architectural drawings in the case of traditional drafting. Everything can be safely in the computer, in a pen drive, in a cloud storage or even in a memory chip. Searching and sharing is also easier, even if there are thousands of plans to go through.
  
  
• For designing multiple blueprints with fairly similar features, all it requires is creation of a single template with all the common elements and then, it can be readily used as the foundation for the other blueprints as well.
  
  
• Nowadays, there are various software suites available, each made for fulfilling a specific task in the designing field or targeted to a particular group of professionals. One can either use one specific program or a consolidation of different programs to achieve the desired results. Thus, CAD software are highly adaptable to individual needs.

The use of CAD has increased the productivity of architects and made the construction of intricate and complicated structures possible. It has also eliminated the room for any mistake, besides making the process of architectural designing less time-consuming.

What Are the Different Kinds of Building Plans?

A building is an intricate composition of various mechanical systems, structural members and finishes. To transform the ideas of an architect into a building, a proper set of different building plans is necessary for builders. Organisations responsible for issuing building permits also need suitable plans, and therefore building drawing plans in UK are legal and practical requirements. The different types of building plans are as follows:

Floor & Foundation Plans

A typical floor plan consists of the building's overhead view with the upper floors and roof excluded. It displays the position of major elements of the construction such as the interior and exterior walls, staircase, windows, doors, major appliances and plumbing fixtures, names of rooms and their dimensions. A foundation plan is almost the same as a floor plan, except for the fact that it shows specifics of the building’s foundation.

Framing Plans

Framing plans also provide an aerial view of the construction, but exhibit details of structural members of buildings like trusses, roof rafters, floor and ceiling joists, headers and support beams. These kind of building plans are beneficial for builders to comprehend and design complicated structures of floors and roof.

Mechanical Plans

Just like framing and floor plans, mechanical plans are also drawn from an aerial viewpoint of the building. But in general, it shows the position and specs of the mechanical systems of the construction. A mechanical plan typically shows location of smoke detectors, relevant appliances, and other perpetual fixtures. Some mechanical plans may also depict location of plumbing, air conditioning and heating system, ductwork, electrical wiring, and gas lines.

Cross Sections and Elevations

Both elevations and cross sections provide side-on perspectives of the construction, as if someone is looking at the building while standing beside it. Elevations depict the exterior part of a building and offer details about the exterior finishes, windows, doors and roofing. Sometimes they can also encompass details pertaining to the slope of ground around the foundation. Cross sections present cutaway views, drawn to offer an interior view of the building. These plans help builders to understand the location of interior foundation and framing of the building, and also allow them to include upright structural members which are generally inconspicuous in aerial views.

Site Plan

A site plan provides aerial view of the whole site and encompasses information about utility services, sewers, septic systems, boundaries, dimensions, drainage systems, pavement, landscaping and elevation and grade alterations.

A Beginners Guide to Building Regulations

What are building regulations? 

The Building regulations are the minimum standards for construction, design & alterations to virtually every type of building. These are basically developed by the Government & approved by the Parliament. 

The Building Regulations even contain a list of requirements, which are designed to ensure the minimum standards for safety, health, energy efficiency, convenience, sustainability and more. These regulations set the national standards for all kinds of building work. They cover all aspects of a construction. They even ensure that people with disabilities are provided with adequate facilities in specific kinds of building.

Building regulations are different from planning permission 

The Building regulations usually look in the detail at the materials used and the construction for building works unlike the Planning Permission that's used for guiding the way the places are developed, appearance of the buildings, impact of environment, use of building and highway access. 

Difference between building regulations drawings and planning drawings 

Building control regulation drawings are much more detailed in comparison to the planning drawings because of the level of information needed for explaining how things are generally constructed. This may make them a lot more hard to understand if you're are not quite acquainted to reading drawings. Building regulation plans must include high level of detail and should have detailed construction notes for explaining the proposed construction procedures of the project. This extra bit of detail may make it easy to price the job more precisely so more exact estimates may be obtained from building regulation plans. 

Types of building work that requires building regulations approval

All kinds of building work need approval. Examples of works, which need approval include: 

• Constructing a new home
• Extension, alteration or erection of a building 
• Alterations of internal structures 
• Installing a WC and cavity wall insulation 
• Change of buildings use and more 

Can a home be extended without building regulations? 

There are some kinds of small extensions, which are exempt from the building regulations. They include the conservatories, yards, porches and carports that have at least two open sides. But there are a few conditions, which still apply.  

How to get building regulations approval? 

Mainly, there are two ways of obtaining building regulations approval-a building notice or a full plans application.