Essential Design Tools

How to Site Measure and Survey Continued

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5. Once you have completed these tasks (and it does take a long time, especially the first time!), you need to take some heights. This will enable you to draw elevations when the time comes.

On your sketch of the layout, show a triangle and number it facing each wall that has an opening or a fixture that you need to know the information for.

On a fresh sheet of paper, and back to your original colour pen, start with the first number and stand facing that wall. Project the image that you see onto the paper (an elevation). Show the position of the windows, doors etc.

Then show a dimension line to the heights that you will require to draw this elevation. You will need depths and thickness if you are going to build things around existing items.

Ensure that you also have the ceiling height. (This can be shown on the first sketch that you have done with the dimension enclosed in a box) 2400. Continue for all the other walls you think necessary.

6. Take a fresh sheet of paper and write notes on where north is, any indoor/outdoor features, the existing finishes, i.e. tile floor, carpet, vinyl, timber paneling to walls, any special features i.e. ceiling roses, picture rails, door hardware. Sometimes it's very helpful to take photographs or a video of the site to use as a reference when you start to draw. If you are dealing with an older house, it pays to check for defects, this means that you can itemize these to be repaired.

Now that we have gathered all this information, where to from here?

You draw the space to scale using a drawing board and set square or you can use graph paper. With the information you have gathered you can draw the existing floor plan, electrical layout, elevations and ceiling plan. From there you can plan what alterations you would like to make.