What is a roof plan and why is it important?

What is a roof plan and why is it important?

A scaled drawing, or diagram, of a planned roof development, is called a roof plan. Your contractor will use your roof plan as a visual aid during the entire length of the project. A roof plan often includes the dimensions of the roof, which includes the design of the roof, its shape and size, and the material placement — vents, drains, valleys, and slopes, etc. When planning for new roof construction or repairs and renovations of an existing roof, the roof plan is crucial. Don’t be surprised if the plan changes as the project is underway.

To determine what needs to be done for your project and the materials needed, a roofing contractor will complete a survey of your roof. Small jobs only require a basic roof plan, which focuses on the roof shape and the material placement. On the other hand, larger jobs will use an architectural roof plan, which includes much more detail about the design and materials placement.

Who will use the roof plan?

While you may be consulted and kept in the loop during your project, your contractor will be the primary user of your roof plan. Your contractor can help you better understand your roof plan, by answering any questions you may have.

Sometimes you will need to present a roof plan to your local officials to get permission to complete your project. If this is the case, your contractor should know what the process is and can take care of this for you.

What does the roof plan look like?

A roof plan will usually just be a 2-dimensional drawing that depicts your roof from a bird’s eye view. The plan is written to coincide with the scale of your home’s floor plan. It will often include notes that detail specifics about the pitch of the roof, as well as its ridges and slopes.

There will not always be a separate document with the roof plan, as some will be a part of the larger site plan.

A roof framing plan focuses on the structures and supports used to construct the roof and is different from the standard roof plan. Projects that are more complex will include a roof framing plan, in both residential and commercial projects.

In this type of plan, the measurement details of the framing materials are included, as well as important construction and positioning information. A roof framing plan is required in new development projects in order to determine how the roof will be framed and supported. In more complex projects, a framing plan will contain more information on the specific framing material.

How to design your roof?

Many people only dream of designing a custom home, and you are ready to do just that! In order to design a successful building plan, you must take into consideration the things you need to do to comply with the law and the things that will make your home a comfortable place to live. You will need a footprint, a floor plan, schematics, and a roof design.

When designing your roof, you must consider the function of the roof —a protective barrier— not just what looks good. You must take your time in designing the roof of your home because it is an important protective barrier and oftentimes, it is more visible than the walls! You must fully understand the measurements of roof design as well as important information about the location of your property— climate and size. Follow these steps to design a roof for your home:

• On your graphing paper, draw an exact replica of your home or White Rock dental clinic floor plan. You need to be extremely accurate with the measurements.
• Next, identify the roof angles in relation to the vertical and horizontal rises from the structure to measure the pitch of the roof. Then, identify where the roof pitches come together and draw the intersections. Annotate where the run-off will happen with the ravines and slopes. Keep water run-off and melting snow away from your windows, doors, and walkways by directing them elsewhere. Your local hardware store will carry adjustable triangles that will help you plot your roof angles. These triangles will save you a lot of time because you won’t have to worry about measuring the rise and run on your own.
• Include a variety of shapes with specific areas of your roof that may require a certain style. Some examples of styles used in residential roofing systems are A-frame, gambrel, gable, shed, and mansard. This is not an exhaustive list but does represent a majority used. Each style has features that are designed for various aspects of a roof —run-off, solar panel positioning, temperature control, and appearance. After you have decided the styles you need and their location, you are ready to draw the measured roof application.
• From shingles to metal panels, include notes on the drawing about these various materials and details. The roof is an important part of your home’s visual appeal, so be sure to include your topical treatments in your plan as well.
• Finally, you should have a professional draftsman assess your work, including your chosen measurements, styles, roof pitches, and finishes. A professional not only has experience designing roofs using detailed measurements but also has access to software to help check your calculations for accuracy. They can determine if your design will present problems for you, such as ice buildup, water and snow run-off problems, etc. Think of them as an editor for your roof plan.

Who Do We Recommend To Design Your Roof Plan?

If you are in our service area, then we welcome you to have a free consultation with us! If you are in the Burnaby area, we recommend you to speak with one of the top rated Burnaby roofers, Vantage Roofing Ltd.!