| Especially if you are appraising a newer home, the | | | | elevations. These will probably have the types of |
| possibilities are good that an architectural plan is | | | | siding, roof pitches (angles), shutter types, grade |
| available for the home. If so, you need to know | | | | heights (ground levels), trim types, and so on. |
| what you are looking at. In this article, I plan to | | | | Foundation or Basement Plan |
| break down the basic sheets usually found in a | | | | If the plan is complete there should be either a |
| set of house blueprints. | | | | foundation or basement plan. If so, you can find |
| The Floor Plan | | | | out what the house was built on and what types |
| This is the page that lets you know what the | | | | of joists or trusses are supporting it. |
| layout of the house looks like. A house plan is | | | | HVAC and Plumbing Plan |
| basically a drawing that depicts the house if it | | | | This plan is particularly handy as you can see how |
| were cut with a knife on a horizontal plane | | | | the duct work is layed out for the Heating and air |
| allowing you to look past the roof down into the | | | | conditioning. You will also be able to tell what type |
| rooms. There should be over all dimensions, room | | | | of plumbing pipes have been used and what sizes. |
| names, fixture labels, door and window sizes and | | | | Sectional Drawing and Special Details |
| styles, etc. Sometimes these plans include an | | | | A sectional drawing is where we cut an imaginary |
| electrical floor plan which is the floor plan with the | | | | line vertically through the house to expose the |
| electrical fixture locations. | | | | elements that create the structure. With these |
| The Elevations | | | | drawings you can tell any special materials or |
| You will probably find a sheet with all the exterior | | | | methods were used in the construction of the |
| views of the home also which are called | | | | home. |