How to Read Construction Drawings: Notes, Plans, Elevations & Details (House Blueprint Walkthrough)

Want to improve your ability to read and understand construction drawings for housing and small buildings? In this first video of the Understanding Construction Drawings series—based on the 5th edition of the textbook—we walk through a real set of residential house plans. Learn how to orient yourself to a new drawing set, interpret general notes, navigate floor plans, read elevations, and understand key details. Whether you're a construction student, apprentice, homebuilder, or just want to sharpen your blueprint reading skills, this video gives you practical insights into how professionals read and use construction drawings every day. The content stands on its own but pairs perfectly with the new 5th edition of Understanding Construction Drawings for Housing and Small Buildings. 👉 Purchase the textbook here: https://northrose.ca/product/understanding-construction-drawings-for-housing-and-small-buildings-5e/ 📘 This edition includes updated drawings, code references, and practical exercises designed to help you succeed in construction, architecture, or engineering fields. 🎯 Topics covered in this video: • How to get oriented to a new drawing set • Understanding general notes and abbreviations • Reading floor plans and identifying key components • Interpreting elevations and section details • Practical tips for using construction drawings on-site 🔔 Subscribe for more videos in this series and explore the world of residential construction like a pro! 🔔 Leave a question or comment and check my playlists for more videos on construction and print reading. Tom Stephenson is a national award-winning professor (George Brown College, University of Toronto) and best-selling author whose background in education spans nearly three decades. His diverse teaching disciplines include construction project management, business management, human resource management, architecture, carpentry, and brick and stone masonry. As a dual-professional, Tom is called upon by industry leaders to translate knowledge, reinvigorate corporate culture, and inspire innovation in emerging and established companies across Canada. Before breaking into the academic realm, Tom acquired more than a decade of practical project-management experience, operating a mid-sized Toronto-based general contracting firm. He is also the author of the newly released Planning, Scheduling, and Control of Construction Projects with American Technical Publishers and the four best-selling editions of Understanding Construction Drawings for Housing and Small Buildings with Nelson Publishing Canada. Tom most recently received the Toronto Construction Association’s 2020 Chancellor’s Award for “helping his peers become more ethical, knowledgeable and professional.” A champion of change management, Tom takes pride in helping students and businesses navigate uncharted territories, take calculated risks and rise above the status quo. Some of the companies he’s worked with include Mattamy Homes, EllisDon, BIRD Construction, MCA, Maple Reinders, and Tucker HiRise, University of Toronto Project Managers. #MSProject #ProjectManagement #ConstructionManagement #leanconstruction #projectmanagement #ConstructionDrawings #BlueprintReading #ResidentialConstruction #HousePlans #ConstructionEducation #TomStephenson #DraftingBasics #BuildingPlans