This document provides guidance on developing floor plans and architectural drawings. It discusses considerations for homeowner needs and mechanical needs. It also covers topics like plan flow, basic room sizes, door and window sizes, bubble diagrams, furniture planning, and developing electrical plans according to code requirements. The document is intended as a reference for those looking to design floor plans and develop the necessary architectural drawings. It outlines the various elements that should be included and considered to properly plan the layout and design of a home.

1. Architectural Drawing
Floor Planning

2. Layout and Design
How do I develop appropriate floor
plans?

3. Homeowner Considerations: What Should It Include?
Mechanical Considerations:
Plan Flow Considerations:
Floor Planning
Buyer’s interests/hobbies
What styles do they like?
Where are they building?
What can they afford?
How many bedrooms?
Recreation/Living?
Kitchen/Dining?
Baths?
Closets/Utilities?
The Home
Economist’s Job:
Plan for traffic and flow.
Easy access to high-use
rooms and features.
Don’t forget about
space for:
Heating/Cooling Equip.
Electrical/Plumbing

4. Vocabulary
Work Triangle- A kitchen triangle drawn from
stove-fridge-sink. Should be 12’-20’
Furniture plans- Plan that shows furniture for
flow and arrangement.
Structural Calculations- Calculations used to
determine size of structural members in
house construction.
Schedules- Lists of windows and doors used in
house and reference marks on plans.

5. Basic Room Sizes
Living…………………………………………………………. 14’ x 20’
Dining…………………………………………………………. 12’ x 14’
Kitchen………………………………………………………… 8’ x 16’
Bath……………………………………………………………. 5’ x 9’
Bedroom, master……………………………………………… 12’ x 15’
Bedroom……………………………………………………….. 11’ x 13’
Entrance hall…………………………………………………… 7’ x 8’
Powder room, half bath………………………………………. 4’ x 5’
Utility…………………………………………………………... 8’ x 12’
Hall width……………………………………………………… 3’6” to 4’
Stairs width……………………………………………………. 3’
Garage, single………………………………………………….. 12’ x 20’
Garage, double…………………………………………………. 20’ x 20’
Workshop………………………………………………………. 12’ x 14’
Closet depth…………………………………………………….. 2’
Basic Door Sizes
Front door………………………………………………………. 36” x 80”
Back/side door…………………………………………………. 32” x 80”
Interior room door……………………………………… 28”,30”,32” x 80”
Single garage door……………………………………... 8’, 9’ wide x 7’h
Double garage door…………………………………….. 16’ wide x 7’ h
Patio/French doors……………………………………………... 6’ x 80”

10. Planning Your Ranch Home
The heated square footage (excluding garage) is between 1500- 3000 sq. ft.
Be a ranch style house (single story).
Fit on a “C” size sheet of paper (17” x 22”) using a ¼” = 1’-0” scale.
Maximum house length of 80’-0”.
Maximum house depth of 48’-0”.
Be a basic structure with no odd shapes, angles or roofs.
The house must include the following basic features:
A fireplace or wood burner (stove) location.
A porch, patio and/or deck.
Built on slab (no basement).
1 and ½ baths minimum.
Three bedrooms minimum.
At least 2 different window types (double-hung, casement, bay/bow, etc).
A garage is optional.

11. A Bubble Diagram

12. Layout and Design Project
Page 27: Bubble Diagram
Page 28: Sketch on a grid
Pay close attention to sizes and layout!

13. Home Cost Estimation
Complete the form on page 30 in check
sheets.
How much house can you afford?

14. Door and Window Schedules
Mark On
Drawing
How Many
In House
How Big To Make
The Opening
Window Type,
Material, Etc.
Actual Size of
the Unit

15. Floor Plan Layout in SoftPlan
It’s now time to develop your plan in
SoftPlan. Follow the check sheet
guidelines found on page 32

16. Labeling and Dimensioning
What is required to build the house?

17. Labels and Furniture Dimensioning
Basic
Structure:
Walls, Doors,
Windows,
Fireplaces,
Counters,
Plumbing
Fixtures
Room Labels
Window & Door
Schedule Marks
Utility Labels
Mirror/Medicine
Cabinet Notes
Kitchen Work
Triangle
Furniture
Inside/Outside
Dimensions
Door and Window
Locations
Truss/Rafter Notes

18. Vocabulary
Group Dimensioning- Placing all dimensions
on a wall or feature in one step.
Design Notes- Special notes to call attention to
something in a drawing not easily
recognizable.
Symbols- Grouped elements to represent a
feature like furniture of fixtures.
Furniture Plans- Plans dedicated to showing a
possible furniture arrangement and flow.

19. Furniture Planning:
When developing furniture plans,
remember to consider room to
move around. You need at least 2’
to travel between furniture. Also,
remember to add items such as
lamps, end tables, dressers and
plants to your plan.

20. Electrical Plans
How do I develop electrical plans to
codes and standards?

21. Rules and Regulations: What Do We Draw?
What Don’t We Draw?
Why All The Rules?
Electrical Plans
Rules for outlet spacing
Rules for switch placement
Rules for lighting
Rules for symbols
Outlets, switches, lighting,
phone, cable, fire
Connectors from switches
to lights
Outside lighting/outlets
Electrical requirements
continue to change
Need service for future
needs
Keeping you safe
Connections to outlets
What goes to which
breakers
Actual style of lights

22. Vocabulary
National Electrical Code- Code developed by
the National Fire Protection Assoc.
Habitable Room- A room for living. Non-
habitable examples: bath, closet, hall.
Outlets- An access point to electricity.
Switching- Lighting controlled by a switch.
Typical switches can be single pole, 3-way
and 4-way, depending on number of switch
locations.

25. National Electrical Code and Other Requirements
Receptacles (Duplex Outlets)
In every habitable room, (kitchen, living, dining, bedroom, rec.
room, etc.), receptacles will be placed so that no distance
exceeds 6’ between outlets.
Walls 2’ wide or more must have an outlet.
In kitchens and dining rooms with counters, outlets must run the
length of the counter at not more than 2’ between outlets. Any
counter over 2’ long must have an outlet.
Hallways must have at least 1 outlet
Unfinished basements should have at least 1 outlet.
GFCI Protected Outlets (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) should
be used near water danger. Any outlets within 6’ of water
danger should be GFCI. This includes sinks, garages,
basements and outside outlets. Outside outlets should also
include waterproof covers.

26. National Electrical Code and Other Requirements
Lighting
In every habitable room, hallway, stairway, garage and outside
entrance, switched lighting outlets must be installed. These can be
permanent fixtures or switched outlets. Kitchens and baths must
have permanent fixtures mounted.
Walk-in closets should have permanent lighting installed.
Outside lighting should be included that illuminates all sides of the
house.
Outside lighting should be controlled by a switch, even if it is controlled
by a timer or optical sensor.
Switches- In every habitable room, hallway, stairway, garage and
outside entrance, a switch must be used to control lighting. Also,
attics, utility rooms and basements for storage should have a switch
at the entrance controlling a light.
Interior stairways with 6 or more steps should have switches at each
level.
2’ or 3’ deep closets do not need switched lighting (or any lighting).

27. National Electrical Code and Other Requirements
Additional Electrical Requirements
Plans should include phone and cable jacks. Stereo and
computer optional.
All doors into the house should include a button that will sound a
door bell.
Smoke detectors should be placed near all fire risk areas and
near sleeping areas.

28. Electrical Page
Follow the check sheet found on page 40 to
develop your electrical plan