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Types of Blueprints and Construction Documents

blueprint photo

Photo by Will Scullin

Blueprints and construction documents include all the instructions needed to build your home. A brief explanation of each has been provided to help understand how they are used.

Types of Blueprints & Construction Documents:

  • Perspectives & Renderings

    • Artist’s sketch or computer generated depiction of how the house will look when completely finished and landscaped

  • General Specifications

    • Site preparation work like excavating and grading
    • Construction methods

  • Detailed Floor Plans

    • Outlines a top down view of the home’s layout with dimensions, fixtures, doors, windows, stairs, walls, and structural elements for each level of the house

  • Exterior Elevations

    • Depicts the home’s front, rear, and side façades; vertical dimensions like ceiling heights; grade lines; windows and exterior doors; and all other exterior finishes

  • Framing details

    • Roof plans
    • Support walls, beam layout, posts

  • Cross Sections

    • Shows a vertical cross section of the home from top to bottom (as if it were sliced down the center) to depict more in-depth construction details
    • Floor and Ceiling Section
    • Wall Sections and details (interior and exterior), includes insulation plans
    • Roof Section: Pitch, direction, vents, downspouts, trusses, rafters, dormers, gables, ridges, and valleys
    • Stair Section
    • Other building sections

  • Mechanical plans

    • HVAC—location and size of ductwork for heating and cooling
    • Plumbing
    • gas

  • Foundation plans

    • Depicts footings, foundation walls, drains

  • Interior Elevations

    • Cabinets, fireplaces, built-ins, kitchen, bath, bookcases, utility / mechanical room

  • Site Plans

    • Depicts a view of the plat with the footprint of the design oriented to scale within the property boundaries

  • Electrical Layouts

    • Locations of outlets, switches, fixtures, service panels, smoke detectors, audio / visual, security

  • Detailed Specifications

    • Engineering and building code compliance

  • Schedules

    • Details for size and style of windows, doors, lights, vents

  • Materials Specifications

    • Size, type, and quantity of all materials required to construct the home from raw materials to finishing touches; may also include specific brands, model numbers, colors, and styles

  • Authorizations

    • Copyright release
    • CAD file
    • Architectural / engineering seals