Dan's Construction and Repair BlogDan's Construction and Repair Blog


About Me

Dan's Construction and Repair Blog

Hello! My name is Dan and this is my construction and repair blog. I don't work in the industry myself, I have recently used a lot of different contractors during the construction of my home. Construction contractors used machinery to dig and lay the foundations for my home before the walls and trusses where installed. A roofing company installed a metal roof and contractors installed plumbing and electrical utilities. I was very impressed with the results and I learnt lots of cool things during the completion of this project. This blog contains information which will be useful to other people who plan to work with construction contractors.

Latest Posts

Unearthing the Essentials: A Deep Dive into Excavation Services
22 January 2024

Excavation services lay the groundwork for a multi

Commercial Remedial Waterproofing – Protect Your Property from Water Damage
22 November 2023

Water damage is a common problem that can occur in

The Ultimate Guide to Directional Drilling: A Simplified Explanation for Beginners
18 September 2023

Directional drilling is one of the most innovative

Exploring the Value of Consulting Engineers in Modern Construction
19 June 2023

As society traverses through the 21st century, the

How to Hang a Louvre Door for the Perfect Finish
17 March 2023

The devil is truly in the details when it comes to

Home Construction: Preparing Preliminary Structural Plans for Your Building Project

Proper structural planning by a civil engineering firm is essential if you are planning on building a new home on your property. In general, you should have your house layout and structural plans prepared as early as possible. These blueprints should take into consideration your lifestyle, preferences and the building rules imposed in your local area. Here are the primary types of planning documents that you should prepare for your building project.

Plot or Site Plan

The plot plan is also known as the site plan, and it is essential for obtaining a permit for your home construction. As implied, this is an engineering drawing which shows the different elements in the existing lot. The specific structures which are included in the plan will depend on the circumstances surrounding the project. However, in a standard situation, they contain the existing buildings on the lot, proposed building, landscape elements and general obstructions in the lot. The drawing also includes the property lines and the distance of proposed structures to the boundaries and roads. The plan might also take legal issues such as rights of way and setbacks into account.

Floor Plan

The floor plan is less complicated than the plot plan. In general, this type of plan can be defined as the diagrammatical representation of the home's rooms and other spaces in relation to each other. They are typically drawn from above, and each diagram shows a level of the building. When designing this plan, you should take the lifestyle of your family into considerations. Some families might gain more advantage with an open floor plan while others prefer closed spaces. You should also think about the flow of movement from one room to another for an intuitive home. Ideally, you should discuss this aspect of the planning process with your family members. 

Structural Drawings

The structural integrity of the building must be taken into account during the planning process. After all, you cannot have a home with a beautiful design but an insecure structure without inherent strength. The structural drawings must be submitted with the other plans to the relevant local authority for an assessment. It is critical to ensure that there are a cross-section drawing, a foundation plan and a specification sheet. These documents should include details on foundation footings, joists, stairs, ceilings and rafters.

Professional knowledge and experience are required for preliminary house planning. Therefore, consult a licensed civil contractor for assistance.