The Importance of Reading Blueprints

Words: Domenic Livoli

Reading blueprints is an essential foundational skill that affects all aspects of construction. All construction professionals need to know how to decipher, interpret, and plan their course of action to turn the details on the drawings into a profitable, quality, finished project that conforms to the plans and specifications. Estimating, purchasing, project management, and field operations all must be proficient in reading and interpreting plans and specifications so they can work as a team to get the project built on time, within budget, and in accordance with the intent of the plans and specifications.

Blueprint and specification presentation has changed in the last 20 years. The thick multiple sets of prints, specification books, and addenda have turned into electronic files that can be easily viewed from desktop computers, laptop computers, phones, pads, and tablets. Managing and storing all the documents is also imperative to correctly read the most up-to-date information, taking into account all changes. Document management sites have become popular, as they serve many purposes—from bid invitations, to uploading documents, to addenda and change notifications, to correspondence, to takeoffs. Superintendents and foremen are usually required to carry electronic pads or tablets with them so they can stay on top of the latest documents. Often, sketches are posted on the fly to clarify some details. On large projects, a mixture of both paper and electronic files is necessary to read and interpret documents, especially in the field.

Gaining proficiency in blueprint reading comes from a variety of areas. Basic and advanced courses in vocational schools, colleges, and universities in architecture, building construction, construction management, and engineering disciplines will prepare students for their careers in the construction industry. Apprenticeship programs also have classes in blueprint reading that will prepare people learning specific trades in construction.

Starting in estimating, plans and specifications are viewed to develop a comprehensive estimate. Estimators need to know where to look to find dimensions, details, products, and responsibilities of each trade to ensure that they are covering the entire project, without leaving a gap in scope or having it covered more than once, which will add costs and potentially make their bid higher than a competitor. They also need to spot potential conflicts in the plans and specifications to allow them to send Requests for Information to get the issue clarified, preferably before the bid is submitted.

Once a project is won, the files are turned over to purchasing. Purchasing agents need to interpret the plans and specifications so they can take the quotes received and write a scope as the basis for a subcontractor’s contract and what their responsibilities will be on the project. They need to spot details on the plans that need to be covered by a certain subcontractor and make sure all items are covered in the contracts they are writing.

Next, the project management team gets involved. They need to read blueprints and specifications to properly plan the project for schedule, sequence of construction, and coordination of the subcontractors.

Finally, field operations must execute the project and build it according to plans and specifications. Superintendents and field engineers need a good grasp of the documents to build the project according to the dimensions shown on the plans. With experience, superintendents have seen and encountered many different conditions, and they must use their knowledge to take the details and build the project correctly. This sometimes means they have to revise some details to achieve the desired result without sacrificing cost and quality.

The above scenarios also apply to a mason contractor on an individual scale. The estimator has to start with a full set of plans, specifications, addenda, scopes of work, and all other pertinent information. A quick perusal of the documents will allow the estimator to plan out the estimate, crew sizes, and what products will be used. Not all documents need to be read from cover to cover. The estimator must know where to look to find the information needed to develop an accurate estimate, using the products and methods they find in the plans and specifications.

Once the project is awarded, the mason contractor has to purchase the materials. Knowledge of details from the plans and specifications will allow for purchasing the correct materials for color, size, and quality. It is possible to use equal products to achieve the same quality and results while also saving money, which will make the job more profitable.

In the field, the mason foreman will be responsible for planning out the project and physically building it with the labor provided. Knowing the details and the schedule from the documents provided will allow the foreman to correctly place manpower and equipment to build the project. Details on the plans sometimes do not work with field conditions, so the foreman needs to know how to interpret and anticipate this while coming up with a solution to build the detail to achieve the desired overall results.

As you can see, having a comprehensive knowledge of blueprint reading touches all parts of a construction project. Developing those skills and knowing how to react to the interpretation using those skills will result in a better understanding of the project in order to achieve a quality, finished project that will satisfy all parties.

About the Author: Domenic Livoli is president of Livoli Estimating Service, specializing in masonry estimating since 1989. To view the services that he offers to mason contractors, visit his website at www.livolimasonryestimatingservice.com. To speak with Domenic regarding his estimating and consulting services, email: livoliestimating@gmail.com or call 508-529-0362.


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