Architectural Drafting Course

Lesson 1 • Basic Geometric Construction

Introduces geometric methods used to construct accurate shapes and angles. These constructions underpin floor plan layouts and elevation geometry.

Lesson 2 • Line Types and Weights

Defines standard line conventions including object, hidden, and centre lines. Correct line weight usage is foundational to readable architectural drawings.

Lesson 3 • Sheet Layout and Title Blocks

Covers standard drawing sheet sizes, borders, and title block content. Proper sheet setup is required before any professional drawing is started.

Lesson 4 • Introduction to Drafting Tools

Covers manual and digital instruments essential for drafting. Builds tool familiarity as the baseline for all subsequent drawing tasks.

Lesson 1 • Elevation Drawings

Covers exterior and interior elevation construction from plan data. Elevations communicate vertical relationships, materials, and facade composition.

Lesson 2 • Section Drawings

Explains cutting-plane placement and section view construction. Sections reveal structural and spatial relationships hidden in plan and elevation views.

Lesson 3 • Plan Views and Floor Plans

Teaches the horizontal cut convention that produces floor plans. Learners draw walls, openings, and interior features at correct scale.

Lesson 4 • Coordinating Multiple Views

Addresses alignment and cross-referencing between plan, elevation, and section sheets. Coordination prevents conflicts and ensures drawing set consistency.

Lesson 1 • Schedules and Data Tables

Covers door, window, and finish schedule formats linked to drawing annotations. Schedules consolidate repetitive data and reduce errors in construction.

Lesson 2 • Elevation and Vertical Dimensions

Teaches floor-to-floor heights, ceiling heights, and datum-based elevation notation. Vertical dimensions link structural, mechanical, and finish systems.

Lesson 3 • Dimensioning Fundamentals

Introduces dimension line components, placement rules, and readability standards. Accurate dimensioning is the primary means of communicating size to contractors.

Lesson 4 • Architectural Dimensioning Conventions

Covers masonry, stud-frame, and finish-face dimensioning strategies. Each structural system requires a specific dimensioning reference point.

Lesson 1 • Stair and Level Change Drawing

Covers stair plan symbols, rise-run notation, and multi-level floor plan coordination. Stairs connect floor levels and must be accurately represented on each plan.

Lesson 2 • Doors, Windows, and Openings

Teaches standard door and window symbols, swing directions, and rough opening sizes. Correct representation ensures accurate schedule and construction coordination.

Lesson 3 • Residential Space Planning Basics

Introduces functional zoning, circulation paths, and room adjacency for homes. Space planning decisions directly shape the floor plan layout.

Lesson 4 • Kitchen and Bathroom Layouts

Addresses fixture placement, clearances, and work triangle principles for wet areas. These spaces require precise dimensioning due to plumbing and cabinetry constraints.

Lesson 1 • Layer Management and Standards

Establishes layer naming conventions, colour assignments, and lineweight settings. Consistent layer standards enable drawing exchange and plotting control.

Lesson 2 • Drawing and Editing Commands

Teaches fundamental draw and modify commands for producing precise architectural geometry. Command fluency directly determines drafting speed and accuracy.

Lesson 3 • CAD Interface and File Management

Covers workspace setup, file formats, and project folder organisation in CAD software. Efficient file management prevents data loss and supports team collaboration.

Lesson 4 • Layouts, Viewports, and Plotting

Teaches paper space layout setup, viewport scaling, and plot style configuration. Correct plotting setup ensures drawings print at accurate scales for construction use.

Lesson 1 • Wall Assembly Details

Teaches wood-frame, masonry, and composite wall section components. Wall details communicate insulation, sheathing, cladding, and interior finish layers.

Lesson 2 • Roof and Eave Details

Covers rafter, truss, and flat roof section details including eave and ridge conditions. Roof details must address structure, insulation, ventilation, and weatherproofing.

Lesson 3 • Door and Window Details

Addresses head, jamb, and sill conditions for doors and windows at large scale. These details coordinate framing, flashing, and finish trim for weathertight installation.

Lesson 4 • Detail Scale and Drawing Conventions

Explains scale selection for details and conventions for material representation at large scale. Detail scale choices affect legibility and the level of information conveyed.

Lesson 1 • Site Plan Components and Conventions

Introduces property lines, setbacks, easements, and building footprint placement. Site plan conventions differ from floor plan conventions and require specific notation.

Lesson 2 • Topography and Grading

Covers contour line reading, spot elevations, and grading plan notation. Grading information is essential for drainage, accessibility, and foundation design.

Lesson 3 • Parking and Paving Layout

Covers parking bay dimensions, drive aisle widths, and paving material indication. Parking layouts must meet accessibility and circulation requirements.

Lesson 4 • Utility and Infrastructure Layout

Teaches representation of water, sewer, electrical, and stormwater systems on site plans. Utility coordination prevents conflicts during construction and permitting.

Lesson 1 • Permit Submission Requirements

Covers typical drawing content required for building permit applications. Understanding submission requirements ensures the drawing set is complete and approvable.

Lesson 2 • Drawing Set Organisation and Numbering

Covers standard drawing set sequence, sheet numbering, and index sheet preparation. Organised drawing sets reduce contractor errors and streamline permit review.

Lesson 3 • Structural and MEP Overlay Coordination

Introduces overlay techniques for aligning architectural drawings with structural and MEP plans. Overlay coordination identifies conflicts before construction begins.

Lesson 4 • Coordinating Architectural Drawings

Addresses cross-referencing plans, elevations, sections, and details for consistency. Coordination errors are the most common cause of construction conflicts and variation orders.