Understanding Floor Plans

1. Understanding Floor Plans It costs no more to build a house with a good plan, than one with a poor plan…….in fact, it may cost less.

2. A Floor Plan is― Two-dimensional diagram of one or more rooms as if seen from above. Where are the living zones?

3. A Floor Plan is Used to: Judge space dimensions in a room Determine architectural detail placement in a room Study suitability to lifestyles of the family Shows basic living zones Putting together a decorating plan for the home

4. A Floor Plan Shows Exterior and interior walls Size and location of walls, windows, and doors Built-in cabinets and appliances Permanent fixtures Stairs and fireplaces – if included in the plan. Porches, patios, and decks Room names, closets, and approximate sizes

5. Elevation • Shows a vertical view of the room, wall, or house as if being seen by someone standing on the ground or floor and looking at it.

6. Drawing a Floor Plan 11’ x 10’ Room • 1/4” = 1’ is the most common scale used in architectural and interior design drawings • 1 square= ¼ inch= 1 foot • Templates are drawings, symbols, cutouts etc., used to easily duplicate “too scale” items. 8 x 3 1/2 foot couch

7. Blue Print Symbols Windows= Doors= Closets=

8. Blue Print Symbols Windows= Doors= Closets=

9. Blue Print Symbols

11. Floor Plan OptionsPro’s and Con’s • One level • Two level • Split-Level • Split Entry

12. Open Floor Plan Fewer interior separating walls (bathroom is the exception) • Benefits: saves cost of building material, home tends to appear more spacious • Drawbacks: no privacy, high noise levels

13. Closed floor plans Separate rooms enclosed by walls with an entry door. • Benefits: noise reduction, privacy • Drawbacks: costly, breaks up space to make it appear smaller

14. EVALUATING FLOOR PLAN • Well defined 3 basic Areas/zones • Efficient Traffic and circulation patterns • Use and function of rooms relationships • Plenty of Storage Space Consideration • Sizes and shapes of rooms • Useable wall space that is not broken up with windows and doors A Review, but also consider….

15. Also consider: • Plumbing Lines located near one another • Indoor and outdoor space • Street noise and traffic • Privacy inside and outside the house • Housing Orientation = Placement of the house in respect to: • Compass Directions (North, South, East, West) • View • Sun exposure • Wind • Other Surroundings

16. 4 Housing Needs: Enough bedrooms Enough bathrooms Storage and closets Room for furniture and appliances And remember to properly Evaluate for Needs vs. Wants Make a list of your NEEDS and your WANTS. • Needs MUST be filled • You may not have enough money to fulfill all your wants.

17. What shape of home is least expensive to build? • A Rectangle • Jogs or irregularities in shape increase the cost of the house and should be carefully judged for convenience and aesthetics.

18. Also consider the COST OF A HOME • A conservative estimate for the amount of money to be spent on a home is 2 ½ times the yearly income of the family. • ($75,000 per year x 2.5 = $187,500 home) • Cost of the home is determined by: • Cubic foot (size) • Location of lot, size, and placement, compass direction • Type of construction • Exterior and Interior finishes and fixtures • Floor Plan

19. Blue Print AssignmentsKnow your bedroom measurements for next time (walls and furniture) • 4. Interpret Blue Print Symbols Use the blue print key to decipher the blue prints on this floor plan • 5. Practice Room Using ¼” graph paper and a pencil, measure and draw the following dimensions. Remember… walls are six inches thick (1/8” scale). • North Wall- 15 feet with one 6 foot window, 2 outlets • South Wall- 15 feet with two 3 foot window, 1 outlet • East Wall- 20 feet with one 3 foot door that swings into the room, one outlet, 1 light switch • West Wall- 20 feet, a wall light, a closet with bifold doors. Place a ceiling light in the center room. Now trace everything with a black marker and a ruler, using very straight lines. Write the dimensions of each wall and label the north wall.