A guide to measuring and sketching a floor plan

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produced by Z. M. Henning 2016

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 Contents

Introduction 3

Tools required 4

Drawing a basic plan 5

Useful symbols 11

Printable Graph Paper 12

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 Introduction

This guide has been compiled by House Plan Direct to inform and advise on
how to measure and present a floor plan in order for it to be converted to an
electronic file. The process has been designed to be quick and easy to draw
and measure as you move around a property. Those who have never
measured and drawn a floor plan before will find having read and followed the
instructions that they can produce a floor plan sketch to a high standard. They
will be able to present that sketch clearly so it can be converted using
computer aided design (CAD) technology and enjoy the benefits of having
their own professional plans.

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produced by Z. M. Henning 2016

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 Tools Required

You will need:

� Paper - graph paper makes the process easier

� Pen or pencil
� A clip board or book
� A compass
� Tape measure and/or a laser measure
� A smart Phone or tablet - Useful to keep this
guide to hand
� A scale ruler - If drawing to scale

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 Measuring a plan

Walk around the property to get a general overview of the property.

Start at the front left of the building and work clockwise around
each room and the building.
Its useful to use one page for each floor of the building for your
initial sketch. Be sure to leave plenty of space around the edge for
notes and measurements.

1.Draw the basic layout of the whole of each floor and label it
(ground floor, first floor, etc.)

2.Measure the full length and width of each floor from the internal
face of the outside or party walls. Mark the measurements
outside your plan and indicate where that measurement starts
and finishes.

10.46 m
34.32'
5.31 m
17.42'

0.11 m
34.81'

3.55 m
11.65'
5.30 m
17.39'

Ground Floor

0.07 m
22.67'

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 5.15 m
5.31 m

5.31 m

5.31 m
TIP! ~ 2.08 m
Its useful to add
measurements in a

5.30 m
different colour
~ 3.22 m

3.53 m
3.38 m

3.Take one room at a time, however small.

4.In each room measure the longest distance between opposite walls and mark the
measurement on the plan with arrows to show the location of the measurement.
Measure to the nearest l/4 inch or centimeter.
3.77'

12.04'

a. If there are more than 4

walls then measure each
wall at waist height along
2.66' 2.72' its length.
21.16'

b. Measure and record the

17.42'

remaining walls.

c. For circular or curved

17.42' rooms, bay windows etc.
measure the axes, top to
bottom and side to side.

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 5.Sketch in windows and doors measuring outside edge to
outside edge and including the frame. When a door or
window is either not central or next to a wall measure and
record the distance from the closest wall or feature to the
edge of the opening. Measure and in brackets add in the wall
thickness measurement.

2.03 m 2.00 m

1.58
1.62
(wall 30cm) (wall 30cm)

Living Room Master Bedroom

1.65 1.00 m 0.90 m 0.90 m

(wall 30cm)

6.Write on your plan the room names. Some examples might be

Kitchen, Living room, Dining room, Bedrooms etc. Halls,
Bathrooms and water closets are self explanatory so its not
vital to label them.

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 7.Draw in all fixed objects. These may include worktops,
cookers, sinks, basins, baths, showers and lavatories. Copy
the exact shape of these objects when adding to your plan.
Add a note for any unusual object to make clear what it is.

8.Add an arrow to indicate the main entrance.

Wood Burner

9.Draw in stairs and steps (if any) and add an up directional

arrow at the bottom. Its useful to add the stair width and
any landings and turns. If the stairs go both up a floor and
down a floor sketch in diagonal lines as shown below. Its
also useful to show the distance from the bottom step to the
closest wall or feature.

2.95'
�

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 10.Walk around the outside of the building and add the external wall
lines to add any external features. For example the chimney on
the below sketch.

11.Add internal wall thickness in brackets.

12.Using a compass or a map add the north arrow.

NORTH
4.71 m
15.45' (wall 0.13m)

Front Patio

8.26m
27.09'

13.If you want to add gardens please draw as accurately as possible

and add line breaks to indicate if the measurement is much longer
than the drawing indicates. Please also crisscross all outdoor
areas.

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 14.Add in any additional details you wish to appear on your
plan. For example fire safety equipment, emergency exits,
lighting design etc. Remember to add a clear key.

KEY

Emergency light

Fire Alarm

Fire Bell
Fire
Extinguisher

0 0.5 1 2 3 4 5m

15.If you have drawn your plan to scale or if you need the
electronic version to be to scale remember to add the scale to
your plan. Common scales are 1:100 or 1:50 and are given to
fit comfortably on either A4 or A3 page sizes.

Recheck all your measurements as any errors will be replicated in the electronic
version of your plan and you may be charged to rectify these mistakes.

You may feel the need to redraw the whole plan in pen. We recommend this, if
there are lots of corrections and mistakes this process helps to proof read the
whole plan.

Send your sketch to to us by simply taking a photo on a smart phone or camera

or by scanning it. Then upload/email the image to our website. Remember to
take a well lit and clear image and send over the largest file size possible.

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produced by Z. M. Henning 2016

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 Useful Symbols

There is a vast array of symbols used on a floor plan. A

few basic ones have been added here to help you get
started. As a general rule if you draw a fixed feature as it
looks its recognisable and will better represent the
property. Its worth researching commonly used symbols
for more specific items and adding a key to be sure that its
clear to anyone reading it.

Door Swing door Double door Sliding door

Stable/dutch/half Window Recessed

Bi-folding door
door window

Corner sink Round sink Bidet Square sink

Bath WC Shower Corner shower

Fire Place Kitchen unit Kitchen sink Cooker

W F
Fire extinguisher
Fire alarm Emergency light
Water Foam
call point
Fire
Exit

Fire alarm Smoke Heat

Signage
Sounder detector detector

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All rights reserved by House Plan Direct ©. This document may not be reproduced or re sold without the express permission of the publisher.
produced by Z. M. Henning 2016

12
All rights reserved by House Plan Direct ©. This document may not be reproduced or re sold without the express permission of the publisher.
produced by Z. M. Henning 2016