AutoCAD Floor Plan Guide
Table of contents
Considerations Before You Begin
- Preparation
- Open the Construction Drawing
- Use the FREEZE Command
- Create a Copy
- Prepare the Template
- Paste in the Template
- Record and Copy Maintenance Security
- Standardization
- Remove Any Excess
- Square Footage and Room LimitsRoom
- Tags
- Edit the tags
- Last Cleaning
- PURGE Command
- Settings
- Customization
- References
Introduction
The plans created in AutoCAD are one of the key applications of this Autodesk software. Architecture is one of the most benefited areas of this program.
Considerations Before You Begin
Creating architectural plans of considerable size can be done in less time than many people believe. For example, 10,000 square foot structures can be completed in between 1.5 and 3.5 hours, if you work efficiently and depending on your knowledge of AutoCAD.
It is important to take into account that the plans can be used to calculate various data of a space, construction and direction. You only need to use the tools properly to make them more reliable.
1. Preparation
Make sure the following things are in place:
AutoCAD software installed
Architectural CAD file of the building you want to clean or convert
CAD file of existing standardized plan
2. Open Construction Drawing
Now, open the floor CAD file that you are going to standardize. Keep in mind that many details can saturate your drawing. However, this process will show you how to erase any excess that is not necessary in your plan. This way everything will be more efficient and effective.
3. Use the FREEZE Command
Use this command to freeze unused layers. By doing this, you will erase most of the undesirable aspects of your plane and prepare it for a cleaner transfer. The necessary layers will normally include only walls, windows, doors, stairs and layers with information labels.
4. Create a Copy
Select and copy all the components of the drawing that you are going to move to a plan file that you have previously created. This should be done one floor of a building at a time. In this way you can guarantee the completeness of the transfer.
5. Prepare Template
Open the standardized CAD file previously made. It is better to choose a building that is similar in size to your project so that the scale factors are uniform. This existing plan will be called the template plan in the following steps.
6. Paste in the Template
Paste the plane you just copied into the drawing of the template plane. With this, you will simplify the process by matching layers and ensure the uniformity of all the plan floors.
7. Registry Maintenance and Backup
Save the file and do not replace the existing file. This is one of the most important steps because you will avoid accidents such as deleting by mistake and other problems that may complicate your project. Save the drawing frequently after all the following steps.
8. Standardization
Match both the attributes associated with the layers of walls, and the doors of the template plane with the new plane. In this way, you will create uniformity and avoid confusion between one plan and another. Make sure, however, that all the blocks have been exploded using the EXPLODE command and change them to match.
9. Remove Any Excess
Remove any excess such as columns, text, headings, lines and arcs that have no purpose and only confuse your project. The plan should be as simple as possible. If there are extra lines and a useless circle or text, it can confuse anyone who looked at your design. It is as if you were driving on a road where the billboards are mixed with the traffic signs. That is an overload of details. Too many of them can have a negative effect on your design. Be discreet when using them and try to be as austere as possible.
10. Square Footage and Room Limits
Create polygonal contours of each usable space within the building using the POLYLINE tool. These polygons can be used to measure square footage calculations or simply to separate spaces for different departmental uses.
11. Tags
Copy the template plan room tags in each space outlined with a polygon in the previous step. For corridors, elevators, stairs and wells, use the specialized layer TEXT2. All other tags are the standard room tags shown in the graphic.
12. Edit the labels
Change the room number, the number of square feet and the use of each room according to the previously chosen specifications. These numbers and usage information can be found most of the times in the original architectural labels while calculating the square footage and displayed when a room polygon is selected.
13. Last Cleaning
Remove all unnecessary elements remaining from the drawing. This includes architecture room labels and miscellaneous lines or arcs that have been lost. Don’t forget to remove the floor plan from the original template. Make sure all layers are active for a complete view of the drawing.
14. PURGE command
Purge the drawing with the PURGE command. This ensures that the file size is optimized by eliminating excess layers and / or blocks. This will facilitate work in the future.
15. Settings
Moves the floor plan to the center of the existing title block. This is a good time to change the attributes of the title block to match the designation of the building and the floor.
16.Customization
Finish the drawing using a utilitarian artistic perspective.
If you feel that the drawing needs more or less, go back to the previous steps and rectify. Architectural plans must be fluid, since your building may eventually require modifications or changes in the future.
References
Autodesk, 2020 [Online] Link: https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/2d-cad-drafting-drawing
Autodesk, 2020 [Online] Link: https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/autocad- lt-tips
