Floor plans are used in almost all home renovation projects. Whether you are adding square footage, taking out a wall, or even just moving a doorway, a floor plan will be used by all of the professionals involved in the job. Architects, contractors, designers, and subcontractors who specialize in laying tile and other tasks all rely on floor plans to know what they are supposed to be doing.
As a homeowner, however, understanding the floor plan for your renovation project can be a bit challenging. After all, most professionals have had some kind of training where they’ve learned to understand these documents (not to mention they see them every day)! As you read the rest of this guide, you will learn more about floor plans and should come away with a better understanding of how to read yours.
The main floor plan – The main floor plan shows a two-dimensional, aerial view of what your space will look like once your upcoming renovation is done. This plan will show every room in your house, including all walls, windows, doors, staircases, cabinetry, appliances, plumbing fixtures, like bathtubs and toilets, and closets. Some major furnishings may be drawn in, but typically, floor plans do not include decorative items. They are primarily designed for people who will be involved in the construction process, even though interior designers may use them for certain purposes.
The legend – Like a map, your main floor plan ought to feature a legend. This will state area of your home the floor plan features and will have a scale. Generally, on floor plans, ¼ inch equals one foot, or ⅛ inch equals one foot, but this can change depending on who drew your specific plans. The legend is also likely to have a north-pointing arrow, which can help you assess where you’ll have natural light in your house at any time of day based on where the windows are located.
The walls – On a floor plan, the depiction of the walls in your space is extremely important. Most of the time, floor plan walls appear as parallel lines with gaps where windows and doors are placed. When a floor plan is for a renovation project, existing walls will have white space between the two parallel lines, whereas new walls will be greyed out or feature a pattern. This is a great way to visualize how your house will change as the construction process progresses.
The staircases – Stairs are a crucial part of any floor plan, primarily because they dictate how the spaces surrounding them need to be laid out. Any staircases on your floor plan will be depicted as a set of parallel lines with an arrow on them. Your architect or contractor may note certain building codes or regulations that your stairs need to meet on your floor plan.
At Hatch Homes, we take every job we do seriously. You can rest assured that we will follow your exterior floor plan to a T.We love working with families all over the Carolinas and Virginia and can’t wait to meet you in the near future.