How To: Reading Construction Blueprints & Plans | #1

In this mini-series, we're going to cover Construction Blueprints from start to finish. Showing you guys everything you need to know along the way. We'll show you different details and what they mean, along with everything the Engineer & Architect call out.

If you want to learn how to read plans, I highly suggest you hit that subscribe button and get ready for the fun! These videos aren't exhilarating, but they're sure to teach you a thing or two..

[MattBangsWood]

This video is first of MANY.. I didn’t go in depth on many architectural details, as it’ll be a separate video. Bear with me, I’m not a public speaker, but I packed some info in here..

This video was SIMPLY flipping through the plans explaining the architectural.

I’m going to get framing started on this build, and film a couple videos showing the details in person and on paper.. It’s difficult to explain without showing in person.

[Ramesh-xfnv]

I am a general contractor in training. Learning to do residential and commercial and I have huge respect to people like you that take your time and drop some knowledge for people like me.

[dakotawilliams]

I dropped out of high school to pursue a career in the trades. Im 19, its an everyday fight but im determined to succeed. Thank you for teaching.

[TylerGugliotta]

Great video Matt! I'm a Construction teacher at a CTE center in VT. I linked this video for students in our Construction Drawings unit! The best take away about this is how so many carpenters on site don't take the time to learn. Often the foreman or lead carpenters are the ones on a job hording the plans and studying them at home but all you have to do is ask to learn. 🤗Thank you!

[pedroabeyta]

Thank you for this informative lesson. I'm a 63 year old retired teacher turned handyman. I decided to build my own house scratching my head while looking at the new plans. It was all foreign to me. I've watched a lot of YouTube videos, yours is one of the most informative. Another is Essential Craftsman. Now I am more confident with my plans knowing how to navigate through every little detail. Just finished charting my foundation using batter boards and Pythagorus calculations. So cool! Ready to dig the footings and so on. Thanks once again for your videos. They are extremely educational.

[carriecompton]

I'm an intern architect and I struggle with some of these drawings. I loved seeing it from a contractor's perspective. Please do more of these.

[daniellelopez]

I'm 36 with 4 boys and have always been interested in carpentry. I'm eager to learn as much as I can to help my dad grow his small stucco/construction business and make a career of my own building furniture. Thank you for sharing this information with us!

[matthewbaulier]

Very impressive walk-through - clear, concise, straightforward, and just enough detail to not bore, but making sure your audience is in step. Nice work! Also, great advice on taking a set of plans home and on your own time and speed, walk through them.

[ianjamesbrown-gorrell]

Greetings Matt. I lost my job during COVID and got picked up by a developer. Which has been trial by fire, so lots of fun & a great opportunity. As playing the single Dad slot with our 9th month old.
You're videos have been invaluable to me. To learn and achieving what my new boss needs to be done. (I watch at least 1-3 videos a day & keep on repeat)
Thanks for taking the time to do these. Will be signing up for you monthly subscription. I have learned a ton, look forward to more.
Cheers mate.
Ian

[richardbrophy]

a big thumbs up . I am 67 trying to break into house building ( I want to work 6 more years ). Still strong as an ox, but when it comes to plan reading, dumb as an ox too. So yeah, I will take plans home and study so I am more effective at work . Tired of avoiding the plans . I am a carpenter who don't do layout or use lasers, but I can build . Even at my age I will be absolutely delighted if I can stay sharp and keep learning .

[suzannegoodwin]

I got kicked out of high school and after being released from a detention center in jumped back into carpentry and never had anyone to teach me much about that profession and I'm still teaching myself everyday and I really appreciate this video and plan to go watch every other video you have. Thank you very much for your info on thus topic..

[MikehTheMan]

I am a Truss Designer in Arizona. I wanted to learn more about framing to better understand my trade. Your videos have helped me tons! hope to frame my own home here soon based off of what i learn from you. Thank you for doing this!

[mohamedsheikh]

You are a great young man, your dad gave you this gift, you will be an employer and not an employee . God bless you all .

[joedarkmatter]

4:45 Difference between architect and structural engineer:

"Architects make things pretty, and engineers make things work"


Beautifully put in concise way (:

[miguelbaguio]

Im a carpenter and masonry from philippines thanks i will keep watching this until i understand evrything. Thanks man you really are helping us.

[MattBangsWood]

Another thing.. When you do this every day, you tend to miss things when trying to explain it to someone who doesn’t get it.

If you seen something you’d like to recommend, or add.. Leave a comment! The more people chiming in the merrier!

[WelshRabbit]

For someone who claims to be a high school dropout, you clearly are a pretty well-educated young man -- certainly in what matters. Autodidact!!!!

[uclaalum]

Good job! I’m a lawyer, but framed my way through 7 higher education (I had no debt when I graduated). Keep up the good work!

[positiveaquatics]

“I dropped out of high school and went to framing” big respect

[purerage]

I did my Bachelor's in civil engineering, and it's a real embarrassment how little we were taught about plans. A few hours' worth of tutorials in a single second-year class was all we got. Only the students "in the know" about that being the limit of what we'd learn had taught themselves AutoCAD (which we only did a bit of) and reading complex drawings properly. Most of us coasted by with having a designated "AutoCAD/drawings" person in our groups, and learning via osmosis. So, here I am trying to understand all this properly. Looking forward to catching up with the rest!