Elevate takeoffs for faster bids and increased project success for FREE. See Details Here.

PlanHub’s Q2 Research Reveals Many Opportunities. Register for the Webinar and Learn More

How to Read Construction Plans

2 Men Working on Construction Plans

Before you put together a bid on a construction project, you’ve got to know the scope and the amount of work that’s involved. Information about the work to be performed is provided through construction drawings (plans) and specifications. Contractors use these documents to quantify the work and estimate what it will cost to complete the project.
When you first look at a set of construction plans, they may look a little foreign. There’re so many symbols, abbreviations, and both large and small drawings. It’s hard to tell what they are trying to represent. Knowing how to read construction plans is a skill that construction professionals must acquire and continue to develop as they go through their career.
So, here are some tips on how to read plans before putting together a bid.

What are construction plans?

Construction plans are drawings that provide visual instructions for contractors about what to build and how to build it. They offer both a general representation of the project as well as detailed illustrations of specific installations. They represent the entire scope of the project and include all disciplines and scopes of work needed to complete the project.

How are plans used in the construction bidding process?

Plans communicate the architect’s and engineer’s design intent so the owner can visualize their completed project and everyone on the job is working from the same instructions. In the bidding process, plans are distributed to contractors to bid on the work outlined.
Contractors and subcontractors use plans to determine the scope of work and whether they want to bid on a particular project. Once a decision has been made regarding bidding on a project, estimators use the plans to quantify the work and provide pricing. If they have questions regarding the plans during the bidding process, they can submit their concerns to the design team for a response.
Answers to questions, and even revised plans, are often issued during the bidding process. Contractors should expect these kinds of changes up until bid day.

Plan components

Cover page – The cover page gives comprehensive project information, including the project address, code requirements, a map of the area, a site plan showing the area of work, a list of project team members, a list of drawings, and the symbol legend.
Set – A group of plans for a specific project is called a set of plans.
Sheet number – Sheet numbers identify individual sheets or drawings. They often include a leading letter that specifies the discipline or scope of work (A-architectural, S-structural, C-civil, M-mechanical, E-electrical, P-plumbing, L-landscaping). Unfortunately, there’s no consistent system for numbering sheets, as each architect or engineer often has its own.
Scale – The scale is used to determine dimensions on a plan if they aren’t given explicitly. It shows how many linear feet or meters are represented by a unit of measure on the drawing. Each drawing, or even each drawing component, may have a different scale in a set of plans.
Schedules – Schedules provide a list of materials or equipment that are needed for the project. They often offer detail on the type of material, manufacturer, size, or other characteristics. More detailed information about materials can often be found in the specifications.
Elevations – Elevations are cross-sections of the surface of a wall or room. They are usually used to show finish materials and placement.
Sections – Sections are cross-sections of the interior of a wall or room. They are usually used to show interior construction of walls or a roof.
Details – Details are maximized drawings that show the details of the construction in a small area. They are represented by a circle divided in half, with the detail number on top and the sheet number on the bottom. A symbol is placed near the area the detail is representing, and then again on the sheet, the detail is shown on.

Tips for subcontractors on how to read a set of plans

1. Review the first few pages of a set of drawings to get the general project information. Pay special attention to any notes.
2. Look at the cover page and drawing index to find the drawings for your scope of work and note the sheet numbers.
3. When reviewing the sheets for your scope of work, read the notes on each one to get details of the work you’ll be performing.
4. Take note of any materials included in schedules, like the finish schedule or door schedule, in your scope of work. For more detailed information, review the specifications.
5. Use a scale ruler, electronic scale, or take-off software to determine the amounts and quantities for your work. Always double check measurements for accuracy.
6. Always review the specifications for your scope of work for detailed information on materials and execution procedures.
7. Reference the drawings for other scopes of work and review them to coordinate and verify locations and measurements.
8. If something isn’t clear or there’s a conflict in the plans, submit a question to the general contractor using an RFI.

Reading plans takes practice

Design teams use construction plans to communicate a building’s design to contractor teams. They include drawings of the overall structure or project, as well as more detailed drawings showing a specific area of the building or even a particular building assembly. Contractors then use those drawings in their construction bidding process, as they help them understand the work involved to develop a price.
While not all plans are the same, many conventions are used on most of them that make reading easier. If you’re reviewing a set of plans and come across something you don’t understand, and you can’t find information on the symbol legend, then it’s best to ask someone. Guessing what the plans are trying to say can lead to mistakes in your bid or problems on the job site.
As you get more practice reading different plans, it will become second nature. Just take it slow at first, ask questions, and you’ll be a master plan reader in no time.

Be the first to know

PlanHub insights, resources, and news, sent directly to your inbox.

    planhub
    planhub icon

    Data and Deep Insights

    We make construction smarter by connecting with the right people, at the right time, for the right project.

    With our technology and data intelligence, we empower construction professionals to easily build the right business relationships, streamline pre construction processes, and make efficient decisions.

    From competitive intelligence in each project allowing you to know how many other contractors are downloading or bidding to insights as to contractors’ performance, we provide the data you need to lead your business to success.

    By providing faster, simpler, and unmatched data insights in each step of the pre construction process, PlanHub helps your business lay a strong foundation for the success of the rest of the construction process.

    planhub icon

    Bid Leveler & Proposal builder

    Comparing bids to one another has never been easier. Users can now see bids side by side, compare bid amounts, and review subcontractors’ certifications and qualifications all in one place.

    Bid Leveler’s apples-to-apples approach allows you to easily drill down and see detailed, easy-to-scan cost breakdowns. Indicate bid preference, hide bids that don’t meet your needs, and request needed information from subs.

    planhub icon

    Full Bid Management

    From the initial decision to pursue a project to the final bid submission and follow up, bid management plays a central role in pre construction.

    Effectively managed bids during the preconstruction phase set the stage for a successful project execution and satisfied clients.

    Streamline bid management from project posting to estimating, bidding, and awarding in one place with easy project posting, project-contractor automatic matching based on trades, location, and qualification with PlanHub.

    Use bid planner, bid builder, bid leveler, and award tools to always know what’s going on with each project and bid.

    planhub icon

    Estimation and TakeOff

    Let’s face it—time is money. And the more time it takes to perform takeoffs and submit bids, the more you risk losing out on valuable revenue opportunities. Manual methods and locally installed desktop software slow your takeoff process, and many digital solutions currently on the market can be overly complex and not user-friendly. 

    Build faster takeoffs, get more bids out the door, and win more projects. Forget pen and paper, outdated desktop software, and overly complicated digital takeoff solutions. PlanHub’s easy-to-use Takeoff tool helps you and your team build accurate takeoffs faster, minimize errors and material waste, and win more projects that boost your business growth. Performing your takeoffs with PlanHub allows you to:

    • Streamline and integrate your process: Perform your takeoffs in the same platform you use to manage your network and bids.
    • Avoid costly estimating errors: Get better accuracy with digital tools instead of traditional, mistake-prone pen and paper.
    • Collaborate easily: Share and work with your team, no matter where you—or they—are located.
    • Submit more bids and win more projects: Get quality bids in front of general contractors faster and get ahead of your competition.
    planhub
    planhub icon

    Document Management

    Organize, store, and manage various documents, blueprints, drawings and other information related to projects before the actual construction phase begins.

    This phase is crucial for setting the foundation of a successful construction project, and effective document management plays a significant role in ensuring that all necessary information is accessible, accurate, and up-to-date to all interested parties.

    Access, review, work on, and share large complex documents in one platform with amazing speed. From project definition, drawing management, takeoff, estimation, bid management, and contracts, everything happens in PlanHub.

    planhub crm
    planhub icon

    CRM

    Be part of a construction professionals’ ecosystem that enhances collaboration, streamlines project management, and fosters smart relationships between companies, construction professionals, and projects.

    Enjoy seamless communication, build strong relationships, and streamlines project management. By leveraging the power of connections and collaboration, we enhance efficiency, save time and resources, and drive collective growth in the industry.

    planhub network
    planhub icon

    1M+ pre-qualified network

    PlanHub is the leading platform that connects companies, construction professionals, and projects in the pre-construction industry, focusing on building and developing meaningful relationships to enhance efficiency and productivity.

    We have integrated general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers’ workflows in one platform to simplify the complex back and forth usually present in preconstruction. By allowing all interactions to be done through PlanHub, tracking projects and relationships is much easier, saving contractors and material suppliers time and money. Interactions in the platform are tagged and measured to provide insights to users.

    General contractors create bid packages that are shared in PlanHub as projects. They can include templatized lists of all CSI cost items as part of the new Baseline feature. Baseline allows for faster and more accurate bid requests, facilitates homogenization of subcontractors’ bids, and simplifies the comparison of incoming bids.

    Subcontractors are automatically matched with relevant projects based on their profile, preferences, and pre-qualification information saving hours of research to both sides. They can review project details, documentation, and blueprints.

    planhub icon

    High-quality projects

    Your one-stop job for qualified hard-to-find private project leads in varying stages like pre-planning, bidding, etc., and across different geographies, zip codes, or distance to your office.

    Projects include plans, specifications, bid dates, and other relevant project information.

    You can segment project leads by type of project, status, project building use, trades and sub trades, or create your own list of keywords — and be notified when one of them is found in a posted project’s documentation or plans.

    We make it simple to find projects that match your business — and make sure you are notified right away.

    				
    					<script src='https://planhub.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js' id='jquery-core-js'></script>
    <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//js.hsforms.net/forms/embed/v2.js"></script>
    <script>
      hbspt.forms.create({
        region: "na1",
        portalId: "7063061",
        formId: "ced7254f-5c61-49b9-9ce0-6f870b79a958"
      });
    </script>
    				
    			

    Get the report!

    From the very beginning, PlanHub has been a place where people can do meaningful work and build strong relationships.

    Come grow with us! We’re building innovative technologies that simplify preconstruction for everyone.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.

    Create quicker, improved takeoffs effortlessly. PlanHub’s Takeoff Core aids your team in accurate, faster estimates, minimizing errors, and driving business growth.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.