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How To Remodel Basements And Attics

Various materials, such as concrete, are also represented by symbols. Several typical symbols are shown in Fig. 1. As nearly as possible, symbols should be drawn to the same scale as the other parts of the drawing they belong to. In subsequent pages you will learn how to make drawings to scale. The process is easy.

Now, suppose that one could actually saw or cut through a typical basement, from one side to the other, so that the cut would be horizontal and about five feet above the floor. Further suppose that we could remove the whole house above the cut so that we could look down on the part of the basement left below the cut. Part B of Fig. 2 shows what we would see. This illustration is called a perspective, or picture like drawing, because it looks something like a picture. It is easy to understand this perspective because it shows walls, window openings, laundry tubs, posts, etc., as they would actually appear in a picture if we could cut the basement apart as originally supposed.

The perspective drawing shows the following items by number:

1. Chimney base 2. Windows near tubs 3. Laundry tubs 4. Hot water tank 5. Posts 6. Coal bin 7. Unexcavated area 8. Unexcavated area 9. Foundation 10. Chimney

11. Clothes chute 12. Window opening 13. Storage shelves 14. Water closet 15. Stairs 16. Coal chute 17. Lavatory door 18. Closet 19. Coalbin door 20. Furnace

Locate all of the foregoing items in the perspective drawing. This procedure will help you to better visualize the perspective drawing.

Part A of Fig. 2 shows a typical plan view of the same basement shown in the perspective drawing. The dashed lines labeled tubs, post and water closet will help you to find the symbols for those items in the plan view. All of the items indicated by name and number in the perspective drawing are indicated by the same names and numbers in the plan view. You can also make use of Fig. 1 to identify material and items in the plan view.