We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Construction

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Architectural Plans?

By Ken Black
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 12,624
Share

Architectural plans are comprehensive drawings of buildings that represent the completed project. These may also be called blueprints or floor plans. In the case of a structure designed to serve as a residence, they may also be called home plans. Architectural plans will usually include any elevation changes, along with a possible list of materials and design notes.

Coming up with a good set of architectural plans is one of the first steps in designing a building. A site plan, or study, may be done first so that there is adequate knowledge obtained about the site before the final plans are made. Once the site has been inspected, the plans can be drawn up based on the available space. On occasion, this can radically alter the plans from the initial design, but most changes due to site limitations will be relatively minor.

The layout of the building in the architectural plans is the map the contractor will use to construct the building. The layout must note any elevation changes, such as those requiring steps or slopes, both within the building, and outside. The plans will need to be drawn to a scale that is uniform throughout the entire document, unless changes are noted. The scale may be enlarged to show more detail in some cases, but this detail is usually set aside from the main plans.

Architectural plans will often be very specific as far as the materials used. This is because the designer is going for a certain look, requiring strict adherence to the plans. Any deviation from the plans a contractor may wish to execute should only be done after a consultation with the architect or owner, and with good reason. Some changes may require an entirely new set of architectural plans so that the overall look remains seamless, but this is usually rare.

In most cases, architectural plans will be prepared by a licensed architect, and then approved by the owner of the project. This gives two levels of review before the plans are actually used in the construction process. Once the plans have been approved, different contractors may be asked to bid on the project. The plans are very important for the contractor, as the price quoted will greatly depend on what is shown in the documents. Without accurate plans, there is no way to determine a fair estimate for the work to be done.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-are-architectural-plans.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.