Chapter 7 Understanding House Plans Floor Plan Symbols

Understanding House Plans: Floor Plan Symbols Made Easy

Navigating house plans can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of architectural drawings. Floor plan symbols play a pivotal role in conveying the layout and features of a home, making it essential to understand their meanings. This guide will delve into some of the most common floor plan symbols, empowering you with the knowledge to comprehend house plans with ease.

Walls, Windows, and Doors: The basic building blocks of a floor plan are represented by lines and shapes. Solid lines indicate walls, while dashed lines denote windows. Doors are typically shown as rectangles with an arc or small line indicating the swing direction. Double doors may be represented by two adjacent rectangles.

Stairs: Staircases are depicted as a series of parallel lines connected by a zigzag line. The direction of the zigzag indicates the direction of the stairs—up or down. The number of parallel lines corresponds to the number of steps.

Furniture and Appliances: Furniture and appliances are often indicated by simplified outlines. Sofas are represented as elongated rectangles with rounded corners; beds as rectangles with two lines inside; tables as circles or squares; and chairs as circles with small lines indicating the legs. Appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers, are typically shown as rectangles with specific shapes inside.

Utilities: The location of utilities, such as plumbing and electrical outlets, is also indicated on floor plans. Sinks are represented by circles with a small arrow indicating the drain direction. Toilets are shown as circles with a horsehoe-shaped outline. Electrical outlets are denoted by small circles, while light fixtures are represented by various shapes, depending on the type of fixture.

Dimensions and Measurements: Floor plans often include dimensions and measurements to provide precise information about the size and layout of the spaces. These are typically shown as numbers or lines with tick marks. It's important to note that dimensions may vary depending on the scale of the drawing.

Other Symbols: In addition to the aforementioned symbols, there are numerous other symbols that may appear on floor plans. These can vary depending on the complexity of the plan and the specific design requirements. It's always advisable to refer to the legend or key provided with the house plans for a complete understanding of all the symbols used.