topic Re: Color construction drawings in Documentation

Color construction drawings

David Bearss — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:59:25 GMT

After 10 years my inkjet plotter finally gave out and keeps giving me an endless error message. Just set up my new color plotter and am wondering with the affordability of color printing if offices are starting to incorporate color into their construction drawings. If so what kind of color standards might there be. Simple example might be grey for walls in electrical plan and colors for the electrical.

Re: Color construction drawings

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:37:52 GMT

I have been using grays for years (colors not required) for just the sort of things you mention.

I have also, albeit rarely, used color for redline/markup sets (though a red pen on the prints id way more common).

I have issued some framing layouts with the wall cores colored to indicate the stud size.

I do lots of color SKs (usually screen shots as PDFs) for quick email communication and RFI resolution.

Can't think of anything else at the moment. This seems like something that will evolve over time.

Re: Color construction drawings

RandyC — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:36:55 GMT

color ink seems to sell for the same as black or grey,
If the color is not used its shelf life expires, We find printing
in color is more cost efficient than replacing full expired cartriges.

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:31:36 GMT

I have just submitted my 1st set of plans for permit in colour. It may be that your jurisdiction will not accept them so you should check first.

The custom home I just finished had fairly complicated roof framing so I used colours to differentiate the sizes of rafters etc in plan and then also in a 3d model view on the same sheet. I think colour has a lot of potential to better explain the drawings and it looks prettier too!

I usually get final drawings printed up by a print service but the difference in price between greyscale and colour was shocking so I ended up printing them up on my trusty HP650C (going on 16 years now! It just won't die). The print service wanted $5.00/sq.ft. even after I explained that they were cad drawings and not full ink posters.

Cheers,

Re: Color construction drawings

David Bearss — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:45:22 GMT

Gerald,
I experienced the same printing service sticker shock and have found in-house to be viable for my small projects. As far as the local jurisdictions, it would easy to print a mix of black and white and color sets for thase that prefer. Back to the color standards, is what you used something that you would share?

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:26:26 GMT

David,

I don't have any colour standards as such. If there are some out there I would be interested in seeing them also. I just do what I think will work and I am always trying new things and open to improving my drawings. I will share the set of drawings if you are interested and would welcome any comments or critiques. It is rather large which is why I didn't post it up but I just figured out how to give you a link where you can download the file. The download is better than the integrated Google Docs viewer. ( don't know why )

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B-UXdGuO3bjnMjIyMTYxOWItYTZkNS00OWU1LTg3ZGYtNDFlMTExOTEyMDQ2&hl=en

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:36:47 GMT

I should also mention that all Sections, Elevations, 3D Views & Schedules are still linked. I use minimal masking fills. I find if I force myself to do this I end up with a better product.

Cheers,

Re: Color construction drawings

David Bearss — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:51:16 GMT

Very nice! I especially like the 3D framing. I have done the same in the past but being all black and white they beacme difficult to read. The colors read well and I think my contractors would like that door schedule. Thanks for the visual.

Re: Color construction drawings

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:15:25 GMT

Nice set. Thanks. It's good to see both the use of color and a well organized and clearly presented set. The 3D framing seems especially helpful. I would guess that the framers like it.

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:26:20 GMT

Thanks for your kind comments. The General Contractor who has his own framing crews did gush a little. He said doing his take-offs was a lot easier too. The only problem giving him this kind of information is that now he will expect it every time.

Re: Color construction drawings

Aaron Bourgoin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:37:37 GMT

Beautiful work Gerald. Significantly, in that you are entirely self-taught with ArchiCAD. all i can say is wow. just; wow!

Re: Color construction drawings

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:38:11 GMT

Gerald wrote:
Thanks for your kind comments. The General Contractor who has his own framing crews did gush a little. He said doing his take-offs was a lot easier too. The only problem giving him this kind of information is that now he will expect it every time.

You just have to get paid for value. Oops, I forgot, Architects don't do that.

Re: Color construction drawings

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:21:51 GMT

Gerald,

Great looking set! Contractors must love the little perspectives thrown in there... they're very descriptive.

Re: Color construction drawings

Rod Jurich — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:02:07 GMT

Dave wrote:
Gerald,

Great looking set! Contractors must love the little perspectives thrown in there... they're very descriptive.

Between you and Gerald you both set the bar very high in your documentation.
I too use colour for almost all my work.
Thanks to both of you for sharing excellent examples of how this work should be presented.

Re: Color construction drawings

Achille Pavlidis — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:05:37 GMT

Great Gerald! I'm really impressed!

I would like to ask some questions on clerical matters, just to understand how things work in Canada:
a) How is the FPA area calculated? Do you include also patios in it?
b) Why do you include the Contractor's name on the building permit? Is it binding? Can't the client change his mind on who will build?
c) Are there any structural drawings? I see there is a Structural Engineer on the team
d) Are there any HVAC drawings?

Sorry for the questions, of course you can ignore them

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:18:31 GMT

Achille wrote:

a) How is the FPA area calculated? Do you include also patios in it?
b) Why do you include the Contractor's name on the building permit? Is it binding? Can't the client change his mind on who will build?
c) Are there any structural drawings? I see there is a Structural Engineer on the team
d) Are there any HVAC drawings?

Achille,

a.) Sorry, I am not sure what you mean by FPA. If that is another acronym for GFA (Gross Floor Area) it greatly depends on what jurisdiction or area you are in. In Canada there are local By-Laws which dictate virtually everything to do with how the site is used. For example calculation of building height, building setbacks, what is included in Gross Floor Area Calcs. etc. There are no standards between cities or municipalities at all.

b.) It is not necessary or perhaps even typical to include the General Contractor on the CDs. In this case the builder is in high demand because of his quality and clients approach him to get on his schedule which right now is booked up well into 2012. I have developed a good relationship with him so that if the client has not yet chosen a designer, he will pass my name on to them for an initial meeting. They may chose someone else but in most cases I get the design contract. I would not include it if the client has come to me without a builder in mind and wishes to go to competitive bid. I should mention that in Canada most houses, perhaps as high as 90% or more, are not designed by registered Architects. The exemption of requiring an Architect is only for small Residential projects under 600 sq.m. And no, even if I put his name on the drawings it would not be binding but because I know it beforehand it is handy to have for the Building Dept. as the General Contractor is the one who calls for all the necessary inspections.

c.) Residential construction is still treated under a separate section in the Building Code from Commercial or Institutional. A lot of the structural requirements are spelled out in the Code for the typical construction method which is wood frame. For things not found in the Code a Structural Eng. is required but he will usually mark up a set of the CDs and add any details or notes as addendums. These will then get submitted with these drawing for Permit Application along with a sealed Survey. In some cases the design is complicated enough that the Eng will do his own complete set. In this case I just supply him with DWGs. I will normally send an initial design to the Structural Eng and Truss supplier for beam size confirmation or other details I need which may impact the design. The Truss suppliers in Canada also supply Eng. Floor Joists and Eng. Wood Beams. They supply Eng. Layouts for Roof Trusses and Floor Joists and all the required Engineering for those elements. It is a bit of a hodgepodge.

d.) There are no HVAC drawings required for Residential. In this case the client will be using a air source heat pump with forced air in the two upper levels and in-floor hot water heat from a small boiler for the lower floor area. Because there are lots of areas for ducts which I have designed into the lower floor ceilings, I have not in this case coordinated anything with the HVAC supplier. I will do the HVAC layouts for any designs which require any special considerations or requirements and consult with the HVAC supplier during the design process. I just had to do this recently with a modern design which had very open ceilings so all of the heating and cooling ducts were incorporated into the walls and slab so the layout was very important.

If I missed anything don't hesitate to ask.

Cheers,

Re: Color construction drawings

Achille Pavlidis — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:19:54 GMT

Great Gerlad, thank for the replies.

a) Sorry my bad. I meant FAR. I suppose it means Floor per Area Ratio.
b) Ok so it is not compulsory to include the Contractor to get the building permit. It is impressive that the authorities ask for Construction Drawings to issue the permit. Here they ask for Final Design drawings
c)Ok so there is a vast typical construction documentation in the Code, that makes the work of the Structural Eng. less incisive. This is good for Architects. Here we always need a full detail structural analysis for every building.
d) Ok, i find it strange that such a detailed design phase doesn't include HVAC or plumbing, electrical etc, but i suppose it is common practice.

Thank you very much for the infos.
When i find the time i will upload my set of building permit drawings.
Cheers

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:06:28 GMT

Achille,

Just to clarify the points for you. What is included in the FAR varies from one town or city to another. Each gets to decide what they want. Exterior patios are not included unless they have some kind of roof covering. In this project you were allowed 120 sq.ft. of covered entries or patios before they included it.

The Electrical Code in Canada is very explicit as to the minimum that must be included in any Residential or Commercial construction. Because the Electrician must be licenced to take out the Electrical Permit the Building Dept is assured that the minimum requirements of the code will be met. There is also an Electrical Inspection before the walls are closed in.

Even though Electrical drawings aren't required for permit I often do these as an addendum for the client to give to the Electrician to show lighting layouts and any additional outlets etc. that the client may want which are in addition to the code requirements.

The process for HVAC and Plumbing is much the same with the Permit Applications being applied for by Licenced practitioners in each trade. They are then responsible that their work complies with the Code.

I hope you do upload some drawings. That goes for anyone else as well. Maybe we need another Topic for this. I am always looking for ways to improve and like seeing what other people do.

Cheers,

Re: Color construction drawings

KeesW — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:28:13 GMT

There was an invitation (some time ago) to present examples contract drawings on this forum. I had some but couldn't condense it sufficiently for this list. Drawings shown are excellent - but how did they get so compact?

Re: Color construction drawings

Gerald Hoffman — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:24:27 GMT

KeesW wrote:
There was an invitation (some time ago) to present examples contract drawings on this forum. I had some but couldn't condense it sufficiently for this list. Drawings shown are excellent - but how did they get so compact?

Kees, This set is almost 7 MB so not too small. I am sure there are quite a few ways to upload files to the internet and share the location with people. In this case as I had a GMail account already, it includes Google Docs which has I think 2GB of storage included free. You can upload your set of drawings and produce a link which is then viewable without access to the rest of your files. I used BlueBeam PDF software (highly recommend) to produce the PDFs.

GMail accounts are free so someone could even set up one just for this purpose or there may be an easier way to do this if others are interested.

Cheers,