The purpose of this Learning Unit is to enable a mason to read and interpret simple construction drawings and sketches for housing projects and to mark out houses.
By the end of this Learning Unit
ï€ Read and interpret
ï€ Set out foundations, walls,
ï€ Transfer and maintain
houses have diverse
Reading
and interpreting construction drawings
This section describes how to:
ï€ Read and interpret basic work
drawings, sketches and basic specifications,
ï€ Identify and interpret
abbreviations and symbols on plans and work drawings;
ï€ Identify any preliminary work
from plans, and drawings; and
ï€ Use plans, drawings and
specifications to determine the quality and types of
Summary
Construction drawings
for houses consist of:
(i) Plans; showing
all walls and openings as seen from top (bird’s eye view) with
(ii) Sections;
showing levels, dimensions and construction details in a vertical view
(iii) Elevations: showing the
outside (face) of the building.
Reading and interpreting basic working drawings and
sketches
The purpose of
drawings is to present clear, concise and easily readable information on a
ï€ Overall length and width;
ï€ Dimensions of parts of the
construction;
ï€ Position and size of windows and
doors;
ï€ Function of areas such as
kitchen, toilet, etc.;
ï€ Scale of the plan.
It is often necessary to show the
details of a building that are normally hidden. To do this it
ï€ Foundation shape and sizes and
positioning of reinforcement steel;
ï€ Floor and ground levels;
ï€ Roof design;
ï€ Window and door heights.
An elevation is the view from one
side of the construction when looking at it from outside.
ï€ Shape of the building from each
direction;
ï€ Height of the construction;
ï€ Positions of doors and windows;
ï€ Window details and height;
ï€ Roof shape.
Setting out
This section explains
how a rural mason can set out the works as per sketches and
Setting out the building perimeter
The first activity of
setting out is to clear the ground of any debris, vegetation and other
Work method:
1. Measure the length A to B of 4
2. Hold the zero point of the
tape
3. A second person holds the mark 8.0 metres on the tape measure on peg B,
4. A third person holds the tape measure on mark 5.0 metres,which will lead to point C when the tape measure is pulled tight.Set a peg on point C.
5. Extend the now perpendicular line from point B to point C to any length as required
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3,4,5 Method |
Labor:
· Rural mason
• Laborers to assist
Tools:
• Tape measure
• Hammer
Material:
• String
• Pegs
Quality
checkpoints:
· After constructing the right
angle check again that the triangle lengths represent exactly the
· Ensure that all reference pegs are firmly fixed.
Work method:
1. Clear the ground where the
house will be located and ensure that it is level.
2. Place solid pedestals on all
corners, approximately 1.5 m away from the planned outside
3. Ideally all pedestals should
be of the same height and keep the string well off the ground.
4. Mark the center of the outer
walls using a string line and tape measure. Fix the string tightly
5. The string lines should cross
each other at a right angle. Use the 3:4:5 string method to
6. Check the diagonals. For a perfect layout they must be of equal length..
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Setting out of building |
Labor:
• Rural mason
• Laborers to assist
Tools:
• Tape measure
• Plumb bob
Material:
• Bricks, blocks or stone
• Cement mortar for
• Strong string
Quality
checkpoints:
· Make sure the
pedestals are solid enough so they do not easily shift.
· Check that the
measured dimensions on the ground conform with the drawings.
· Check that all
corners have a right angle and that the two diagonals are or equal length.
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