Plans and Drawings
When people talk about “plans” in a building context, they are usually referring to architectural drawings. In practice, however, a set of plans is rarely just one drawing. A full set of working drawings can include architectural plans, elevations, internal elevations, electrical plans, structural or engineering drawings, site plans, and other supporting documents that together describe what is actually going to be built.
Architectural plans, often called floor plans, are typically the starting point. A floor plan is a bird’s-eye view of the house, created by taking a horizontal slice through the building. It shows the layout of the rooms and how the spaces relate to one another. On a floor plan, you will usually see doors, windows, cabinetry, sinks, toilets, and sometimes even floor coverings.
Floor plans also include room dimensions, wall thicknesses, and the location of internal and external walls. Hinged doors are shown as a gap in the wall with an arc indicating the direction of the door swing, while sliding doors are usually shown with an arrow indicating the direction the door slides. Floor plans are used to set out wall framing, locate doors and windows, and establish room sizes and positions within the house.
Elevations are another key part of a drawing set and serve a different purpose to floor plans. An elevation is a flat, two-dimensional projection of one side of the building. Most homes will have at least four external elevations showing the front, rear, and both sides of the building. In some cases, additional elevations are provided for areas such as porches, alfresco spaces, or recessed sections of the building that are not clearly visible in the main elevations. Elevations show external finishes, window and door heights, roof features, eave overhangs, and the overall appearance of the building from each side. They are critical for understanding how the house will look once built and how different materials and features come together externally.
Structural or engineering drawings focus on how the building is supported rather than how it looks. In homes with significant structural elements such as large openings, cantilevers, beams, or columns, an engineer’s design is required. Structural drawings specify beam sizes, column sizes, material types, and load-bearing elements. They also include connection details that show how different structural components are joined together. For example, a structural drawing might detail how a timber beam connects to a steel column, including the size, number, and spacing of bolts etc. These drawings are essential for ensuring the building is structurally sound and constructed in accordance with engineering requirements.
A site plan provides a top-down view of the entire property rather than just the building itself. While it shares similarities with a floor plan, a site plan shows the footprint of the building in relation to property boundaries, fences, setbacks, and other site features. It often includes driveways, paths, retaining walls, and sometimes landscaping elements. The site plan is particularly important for confirming that the building is positioned correctly on the block and complies with planning and siting requirements.
In addition to these core drawings, a set of working drawings may include a range of more specialised plans. Electrical plans show the locations of light fittings, switches, power points, exhaust fans, vents, and other electrical fixtures. These drawings help ensure that services are installed in the correct locations before walls and ceilings are finished. Floor covering plans indicate which rooms receive carpet, tiles, floorboards, or other finishes, helping to clarify selections and avoid confusion later in the build.
All of these drawings form the complete picture of what is being built. Each drawing serves a different purpose, and no single plan tells the whole story on its own. For homeowners, understanding the role of each type of drawing makes it easier to see how the design, structure, services, and finishes all fit together, and why changes or omissions in the drawings can have real consequences once construction begins.