LEARN TO READ & UNDERSTAND CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS, HOW TO READ SITE PLANS LESSON #1

In this video series I take you through the steps that you need to know in order to effectively read construction drawings. This video focuses in on a residential site plan, the goal is to get you to identify lot lines, building set-backs, elevations, symbols and hatchings often used on site plans. Visualization is an important element in reading drawings and I talk about having a process that you go through when reading drawings.
I reference my textbook Understanding Construction Drawings for Housing and Small Buildings by Tom Stephenson, It can be purchased on Amazon.com
If you wish to see the other videos in this series review my playlists on my channel, click subscribe and the notification icon. If you have questions leave them in the comments section and have a wonderful day!
Other videos in this series:
Print Reading, Understanding Construction Drawings
Lesson 1 Site Plans Doncaster Lot 61 • LEARN TO READ & UNDERS...
Lesson 2 Site Plans Whittington • LEARN TO READ & UNDERS...
Lesson 3 Commercial Site Plans • HOW TO READ A COMMERCI...
Lesson 4 Elevation Drawings Doncaster • LEARN TO READ & UNDERS...
Lesson 5 Floor Plan Drawings Doncaster • LEARN TO READ & UNDERS...
Lesson 6 Floor Plans Basement Doncaster • LEARN HOW TO READ FLOO...
Lesson 7 Framing Basics • WOOD FRAMING BASICS EX...
Lesson 8 Floor Plans and Elevations, Doors • LEARN TO READ FLOOR PL...
Lesson 9 How to read Construction Notes • HOW TO READ CONSTRUCTI...
Lesson 10 Details Wall Sections • LEARN TO READ CONSTRUC...
Lesson 11 Roof and Wall Intersections • HOW TO READ WALL & ROO...
Lesson 12 Reading a tape measure • HOW TO USE & READ A TA...
Lesson 13 Brook Drawings Introduction • LEARN THE PROCESS OF H...
Lesson 14 Brook Drawings Elevations • HOW TO READ & VISUALIZ...
Lesson 15 TACBOC addition part 1 • HOW TO READ CONSTRUCTI...
Tom Stephenson is a national award-winning professor (George Brown College, University of Toronto) and best-selling author whose background in education spans nearly three decades. His diverse teaching disciplines include construction project management, business management, human resource management, architecture, carpentry, and brick and stone masonry. As a dual-professional, Tom is called upon by industry leaders to translate knowledge, reinvigorate corporate culture, and inspire innovation in emerging and established companies across Canada. Before breaking into the academic realm, Tom acquired more than a decade of practical project-management experience, operating a mid-sized Toronto-based general contracting firm. He is also the author of the newly released Planning, Scheduling, and Control of Construction Projects with American Technical Publishers and the four best-selling editions of Understanding Construction Drawings for Housing and Small Buildings with Nelson Publishing Canada. Tom most recently received the Toronto Construction Association’s 2020 Chancellor’s Award for “helping his peers become more ethical, knowledgeable and professional.” A champion of change management, Tom takes pride in helping students and businesses navigate uncharted territories, take calculated risks and rise above the status quo. Some of the companies he’s worked with include Mattamy Homes, EllisDon, BIRD Construction, MCA, Maple Reinders, and Tucker HiRise, University of Toronto Project Managers.

[@williampraetorius1817]

I just started a new job for a local engineering firm. I have been in construction for over a two decades but still so much to learn in the management side of things. Your videos have been an absolute asset to me, can’t thank you enough.

[@pernaboys]

Thank you professor. These videos are invaluable, especially for people who don't always have access to first-hand knowledge in North America.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Great, I hope they help you to improve and grow in your profession

[@zochbuppet448]

Tom, thank you for for posting your lectures for this series and all your uploads.
I was surprised that you had uploaded your lesson on the the first residential construction class class 2 years ago, as very few professors in Ontario and Canada upload their lessons. I always have to watch videos from what instructors or people in the U.S upload even material dealing with law, as some of the land laws are similar or the same

[@TomStephensontraining]

Yes well what I did is shoot seperate videos forcwhat I was going to cover for the online class and that way I could have more discussions in the live online and if I did. Ot get through everything i could reference the videos. And why not make that public if it helps people. Thanks for watching.

[@ebenezeridowu9263]

Professor Tom, thank you for imparting this knowledge.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Ebenezer, I appreciate you taking the time for your kind words

[@Hute-qo4vh]

This is by far the best TH-cam channel regarding construction.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks so much Hute for the kind words, very appreciated!

[@militantessayons]

Thank you, From Alabama your courses have help me get a raise at work. This is very valuable information.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Wonderful! Happy to help you on your journey!!

[@mattreed3130]

Thank you professor, this was an astonishing video. Very well and clearly explained many things in this video that aren’t first hand knowledge for a lot of people like myself in the trade world. Very grateful

[@TomStephensontraining]

Wonderful, thanks Matt!

[@urfavinspectorRON]

Excellent presentation! Clear and concise! Thank you!

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks for the kind words

[@will2071]

Clear and detailed. Immensly helpful. Thank you.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Charles, very appreciated

[@AdrianL0131]

Thank you for this. I’m a construction management major and this video was far more educational than any lecture my estimating professor gave last year. Much appreciated.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Adrian, nice to see you work on learning yourself. It’s the best way to compound yor learning to the top of your profession!

[@user-yr6rl5mb9f]

Thanks for putting this out there, Stephen, greatly appreciate you Sir!

[@TomStephensontraining]

Great! Happy tgey help you!

[@TomStephensontraining]

They

[@ManroopKaur-tm2yb]

Thank you very much for sharing valuable and detail information.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Glad it was helpful! Always keep learning

[@brandiegoode7263]

Just finished the full 13 videos and subscribed to the channel. Thank you so much!!

[@TomStephensontraining]

Welcome aboard Brandie I plan to do many other print reading videos in the future.

[@HenryThe12]

Thank you Mr. Stephenson, this video was extremely helpful. I'm studying for a general contractor license and these site plan overviews are much needed since they are essentially excluded from real coverage and analysis within the exam's reference materials. I will definitely be watching the whole series to see some more examples!

[@TomStephensontraining]

Wonderful Henry, I’m happy they help you!

[@madjidghayemian8225]

Professor, your videos are informative and insightful than each other. Thank you so much for your hard effort in preparing future workforces. You are amazing.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks for the kind words Madjid, very appreciated!

[@AKLILUGEBREHIWET]

Thank you, Professor, for the amazing and interesting presentation! I really appreciated it

[@TomStephensontraining]

Happy to help!

[@mihalstefa7042]

Nice explanation, great lecture and also excellent video. Although I'm a beginner it's seemed to me like i was better than the professor. This means that the professor is the best one who deserves credit. I'm nothing! The only thing i needed is being in a classroom and watched and listen to him all day long.
Thank you Professor for what you are doing.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks so much for your kind words Mihal! Very thoughtful!

[@whyajeet7801]

Hi sir,
finally I'm writing my thoughts down here. Your channel has really inspired me. I spent a whole day going through your videos when I was preparing interviews for a site engineer role abroad, I'm soooo excited about this role. Even though it is true, I didn't realise how much this industry is worldwide saturated more importantly, how this has an effect on the everyday life of Indian engineers I grew up in India and 7 years before completed my B.TECH(CIVIL- ENGINEERING) and now I am doing normal civil engineer job in india !! This is so embraced and I feel this is a headache I still can't move abroad
I am trying it. I want to encourage Indian engineering students, especially those from the Indian community and with lack of English barrier and also it being their second language, to follow their dreams to become an engineer in Abroad.
Only one chance to give me I will perform definitely

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks so much for the kind words, it is great that you are also inspiring others. The nice thing about construction is there are a lot of tranferable skills from country to country. There are differences but the core methods of constructing projects are common as well as many methods. Thanks for supporting the channel.

[@mukeshpatel9072]

I agree with you bro, I have 38 years of experience in government job as a civil engineer, but I am not able to creck single interview. First is we Indian people have English is second language. We have a enough knowledge but in abord construction techniques in building id differe than India.

[@afoani2834]

Keep up the good work 🙌🏾

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Afoani

[@thecurious6721]

Hello Sir. Thank you so much. It is impossible to explain how I am grateful to you for posting these courses. I was looking for for similar course at least for 3 years and wasn't able to find anything on youtube. Everything explained very clearly, nothing missed. Thanks a lot. 🙏The only request... If possible, could you add some #hashtags under videos, so that others curious as myself could find them more easily? 😁

[@TomStephensontraining]

Yes I’m trying to improve myself on these aspects. I appreciate the feedback.

[@shahermosaad9426]

Thank you very much for your efforts.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Excellent, happy to help!

[@vivianv8937]

Thank you so very much for teaching

[@TomStephensontraining]

Glad they help you!

[@zulfiqarahmadorakzai9067]

Great video sir 👍🏻 plz make about electrical drawing construction proper with sites pics before and after pics, that will help to understand electrical drawing plz sir

[@darshanvalani9248]

lots of love from India. AS a Bim modeler that one thing is definitely the visualization and understanding of the drawing. if you understand the drawing you can do 3D modeling. otherwise, it isn't easy.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Yes, I believe visualization is at the core of designing and building effectively and effectively. All the best from Toronto!

[@osirisvazquez6301]

Thanks professor you're amazing 👏

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks so much!

[@0786RICARDO]

You're one of the few people creating material for understanding construction drawings. Thank you for that
Can you recommend material for construction drawings for electrical systems?

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks for the kind words. Nothing specific comes to mind for electric systems drawings unfortunately.

[@mendydray5652]

Thank you sir.!

[@TomStephensontraining]

You are welcome Mendy, glad the videos help

[@sorinpop2804]

Thank you

[@TomStephensontraining]

You are welcome Sorin, glad it helps. All the best!

[@murin7185]

😂hi, hope all is going well, I am going to study all this series informative lectures you shared

[@TomStephensontraining]

Hi Mark, great to hear from you. I hope all is well

[@charlieanstey9998]

Well done Tom.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Charlie, I’m happy the videos help you!

[@charlieanstey9998]

@@TomStephensontraining I am going to recommend it to my assistant's.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Great!

[@vivianv8937]

Professor Tom, you mention that minor change in elevations in acceptable based on site plan comparatively. what is " minor " change of elevations that can be acceptable? what is" dramatic " change of elevations ? have any specific definition for " minor " or " dramatic" change in elevations? Thank you.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Hi Vivian, usually contract documents/specifications will reference certain standards. Its in those standards that acceptable tolerances are provided. In Canada it is often CSA Canada standards association that are referred to.

[@DavidAlicker]

Hello sir, is there a video explaining how to get concrete takeoffs?

[@TomStephensontraining]

No not yet, at some I will try to do some simple ones.

[@mikec1620]

I am lost on where to place the different wall types that are in the structural plans. Please sir. I dont know how to do this. I am a Good Mason and have had my own company and .I need help

[@ismeldyvasquez4172]

Hi! If my construction drawings are in the imperial system the elevation for grading will be feet ?

[@TomStephensontraining]

Are you in Canada, if so most likely metric. If US than feet it will be. Other countries maybe different. Whatever it is the process will be very very similar. Hope that helps

[@osirisvazquez6301]

Is your book still available in Amazon?

[@TomStephensontraining]

Yes it is if you search my name it should come up. 4 th edition is the current edition

[@user-ym5ls5jb8q]

good

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Etif!

[@ToadStellar]

This is huge

[@TomStephensontraining]

Slowly by slowly I will be posting on this topic expanding through the different drawing types, I’m glad they help you

[@mikec1620]

Hello sir. I am a Mason who is Struggling Very badly and I have an opportunity to be a foreman for a company and I Know how to read dimensions and things in a residential foundation plan and I am lost in these plans that the company sent me. i lost my job and I have a family to support I just found your videos and I am wondering if you will help me. I am literally about to lose my house and I am desperate.

[@WhyIsItAlways7]

Google. TH-cam. Tons of free information. You got this.

[@matthewmorey7035]

One note , it’s never eat sour watermelon 😂

[@TomStephensontraining]

Lol

[@chrismatthews1762]

This guy cant be trusted. Its Never Eat Soggy Waffles

[@TomStephensontraining]

Actually that’s pretty good for the North East South West orientation explanation

[@amloviumexico]

Thank you

[@TomStephensontraining]

You are more then welcome, all the best!