{"id":12781,"date":"2022-11-28T00:20:41","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T05:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dfdhouseplans.com\/blog\/?p=12781"},"modified":"2022-11-28T00:21:01","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T05:21:01","slug":"whats-up-with-blueprints-and-why-do-we-need-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dfdhouseplans.com\/blog\/whats-up-with-blueprints-and-why-do-we-need-them\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s Up with Blueprints and Why Do We Need Them?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you build anything that requires a permit from a building jurisdiction, you will need construction documents also known as blueprints for the project. Architectural blueprints are a type of construction drawing that shows how a building is designed so a professional knows how to construct and finish it. A blueprint shows how the frame of the building goes together. It also shows the location of doors, windows, plumbing, and electrical features. You will see what materials to use and where as well as the overall aesthetic. Construction drawings are created by a team of designers, architects, and engineers to bring together all the pertinent items required into one set of documents. Whether you’re looking at house plan blueprints or blueprints for a commercial building, the basics are the same!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Modern printed blueprints<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The History of the Blueprint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The word blueprint <\/em>comes from the past. Construction documents were created by taking a drawn image on semi-transparent paper weighed down on top of a sheet of paper or cloth. The paper or cloth was pre-coated with a photosensitive chemical mixture of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. When exposed to light, the exposed parts of the drawing (the background) became blue, but the drawing lines blocked the coated paper from exposure and remained white. So, the original blueprints\u2014cyanotypes\u2014really were blue! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process was developed in 1842 by John Herschel and remained in use until the 1940’s. First, the cyanotype blueprint got replaced by diazo prints. These inverted the colors\u2014they had blue lines on white paper\u2014and people called them whiteprints or bluelines. In today\u2019s modern world, digital construction files created on CAD (Computer Aided Design) software have replaced paper altogether. Why? Because PDFs of plans can be emailed directly to the consumer. Printed sets are still available to buy, but they aren’t as popular. Many people prefer sending their plans digitally to their bank, builder, building department, etc. Some people even bring them into the field on a mobile device. You can always print PDF plans at a local shop if you need physical copies! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A cyanotype blueprint<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Is Included in Blueprints?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A full set of construction documents includes a number of pieces. They typically contain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n