ELEVATION PLAN
An elevation drawing is an orthographic projection drawing that shows one side of the house. The
purpose of an elevation drawing is to show the finished appearance of a given side of the house and
furnish vertical height dimensions. Four elevations are customarily drawn, one for each side of the
house.
An elevation plan ordinarily includes the following:
• Identification of the specific side of the house that the elevation represents
• Grade lines
• Finished floor and ceiling levels
• Location of exterior wall corners
• Windows and doors
• Roof features
• Porches, decks and patios
• Vertical dimensions of important features
• Material symbols
Grade Line, Floors & Ceilings
• The reference point for most elevations is the grade line.
• All features, which are below the grade line, should be drawn with hidden lines.
• Examples are: foundation walls, footers & window wells
• Drawing a centerline through the house where appropriate indicates the finished floor-to-finished ceiling height.
• Common ceiling height in a garage is 8’-0”
• Most codes require that the top of the foundation wall be at least 8” above the grade.