1. Elevation Layout and Drawing Techniques
Chapter 23
Elevation Layout and
Drawing Techniques

2. Finishing an Elevation
Links for Chapter 23
Elevation Layout
Roof Layout
Openings Layout
Finishing an Elevation

3. Elevation Layout
Like most residential drawings, begin with a C size sheet of paper
Tape down the floor plan and roof plan
Layout baseline to represent finish grade
Project construction lines from floor plan to represent the edges of the house

4. Elevation Layout Establish the finish floor line
Measure up 8’-0” to represent the ceiling and add depth of floor joist (10”)
Measure up another 8’-0” for the second floor ceiling, if necessary
Measure up 6’-8” from each finished floor line to represent top of the doors and windows

5. Elevation Layout

6. Roof Layout
Layout line 1’-0” from end of each wall to represent the roof edge
Layout line 2’-0” from end of each wall to represent the overhang projection
Layout line to represent the ridge
Determine the roof slope and draw the roof

7. Roof Layout Draw parallel line 6” to represent top of the rafter
Establish the top of the roof and bottom of the eave
Draw the roof for the porch or garage if applicable

8. Roof Layout

9. Openings Layout
Layout width of all doors, windows, and skylights from the floor plan
Layout the bottom of windows and doors
Determine height of the skylights
Draw shape of the garage doors measured from the ground line

10. Openings Layout

11. Finishing an Elevation
Use an H or 2H lead pencil to draw final lines dark and crisp
Begin at the top and work to the bottom
Draw lines in the foreground and work toward the background
After the front elevation, complete the rear and side elevations

12. Finishing an Elevation

13. Lettering Specify all materials needed for the exterior
These include the siding, corner and decorative trim, chimney, decks or concrete patios, posts and headers, roof material, and fascias.
Also add dimensions and roof pitch

14. Roof Intersections
Roof shape is projected from the roof plan or floor plan overlay
Chimneys must be 24” above any portion of the house within 10’

15. Projecting Grades Grade is the finished ground level
Use the plot plan to project contours onto the elevation plan