How to make construction drawings?

[Bjober]

I seem to notice that many young people entirely lack practical interests. They read all kinds of things online, build houses and entire cities in Sims and similar games. All four of my children have become like that. But I also notice that sometimes it becomes difficult to solve practical problems when nothing reacts like it does on the computer. Building blocks don't stick if you choose wrong, but when you choose right, they snap into position even if you drop them a bit carelessly... reality seldom works like that. When I look at a truss, I see lots of information in it. First of all, it's obvious that the snow load comes from above, pressing down the roof and trying to push the walls apart. That's why a truss looks the way it does. Do you have roof loads in Sims? Wind loads? I strongly believe that one needs practical experiences to understand the theoretical. Then I believe it doesn't matter what one does, as experiences in one subject can often be transferred to other subjects. The practical skills are hidden in the brain and help when constructing something. You get a feeling in the body that guides theoretical thoughts in the right direction. You gain the ability to see how drawn images of machine parts would behave in real life. Oh, how rambling... but there might be something to it.

 

[seniorkonsult]

Yes, mekano is probably better than lego.

 

[richardtenggren]

Now I work in a different trade and am relatively new compared to many others in the thread, since I graduated in -14.

I started working as a summer job as a designer already after the first year of high school, which I think was very beneficial for me, even though I already had quite a bit of practical knowledge from following my father when he was working with tools since I was little. So I've always been taking apart and putting things back together

Being interested, curious, and eager to learn things is important! You should probably be a bit fearless as well.

Then it's important to try things out, some people ask first before they have tried themselves, instead of starting on their own and then asking for feedback or discussing solutions. My feeling is that it comes from laziness or lack of interest.

I have been asked myself what a center marking on a drawing is by someone who should have studied technical drawing (mechanical), which felt somewhat concerning.

To learn, maybe you can plan a future house? At fiskarhedenvillan, there are instructions on how their houses should be built that might inspire you, otherwise, as previously mentioned, suppliers almost always have info, even Swedish wood has principle solutions.

Everything really is about physics, even construction

 

[GoC]

Not that I remember much of the theoretical part from my 4-year technical education in construction. But there was at least significantly more connection between practical use and theoretical calculations. We got to do carpentry for molds, cast, and lay bricks. Make roof trusses, etc. Also calculate the strength in trusses with Cremona's force plan, etc. Draw and get an understanding of why constructions were the way they were. Unfortunately, a sadly defunct engineering program. But significantly more adapted for real working life.

 

[seniorkonsult]

I probably remember most of the theories as well because that's what my knowledge is based on.

 

[GoC]

I probably remember most of the theories too because they are the foundation of my knowledge.

I ended up on the construction site instead, so there wasn't much house building. But it was only in the fourth year that one "specialized" in house or road construction.
But regardless, it provided a good understanding of how and why.

 

[roli]

I ended up on the construction site instead, so there wasn't much house building for me. But it was only the fourth year that you "specialized" in house or road construction.
But regardless, it provided a good understanding of how and why.

Same here, now more of a bridge designer.

 

[Mhange]

Hello!

Having completed the Master of Science in Engineering program at the same school and now occasionally hiring people with equivalent degrees, it might help that the industry's expectations (were?) that building engineers should be able to execute a technical solution efficiently, and the Master of Science engineers develop and optimize new solutions. It sounds like you might be aiming for a level of knowledge where you can also develop, and be the target audience for the final two specialized years? Indirectly, you have a good foundation it seems, you can calculate all the things you mentioned individually, which indirectly gives you a whole wall (correct U-value + correct durability + correct moisture safety + correct surface material + correct space for installations, etc., etc.) but putting together all these skills from each course and optimizing entire buildings I remember as Master-level. If you want to start with the construction of exterior walls from the inside out, building physics books are usually a good starting point.

What you're asking for (Why execution is done in a certain way) is partly in these books that were course literature in the courses I took: "Praktisk husbyggnadsteknik" K Sandin, "Praktisk byggnadsfysik" K Sandin, "tillämpad byggnadsfysik" B-Å Pettersson, "Byggnadsfysik - så fungerar hus" C-E Hagentoft, "Introduction to building physics" C-E Hagentoft.

 

[byggingenjören97]

Some of Sweden's best? Did you do the thesis with me and @patrikd84 ?

Hahaha It was actually an educational experience. Got to watch and listen to how they work with Karlatornet Really cool even if you didn't understand a thing about their calculation meetings

 

[byggingenjören97]

I thought that today's education was like before, i.e., when you draw something, you know what you are drawing. I thought that was what you learned. Moisture problems, the purpose of insulation, load-bearing capacity/strength—you've read about that, right? Roof covering/tiles/sheet metal protect against water/moisture problems together with paper, reinforcement in concrete for tension-compression and bending, etc., insulation against heat/cold, foil internally against moisture in insulation. You don't learn to draw in a couple of days; you must first know what you're drawing and why. You learn this in school or by reading about the function. Drainage collects surface water and prevents moisture from lingering against the foundation wall. There's plenty of literature about all these functions, as well as in material descriptions. Visit construction sites! Building documents 90 show detailed solutions. Otherwise, we're back at the school bench, learning why different things are mounted, for example, on a foundation wall or wall.

Yes, we have read about moisture flow, load-bearing capacity/strength, about reinforcement, etc. So we aren't that naive. But we only covered the basics in a very theoretical way. Learning to draw is at least the easiest part to learn in the education compared to everything else. But when we did it, we only learned to draw. That is, the drawing technique itself but not the theory behind it. No one explained why you draw the way you do, and we didn't have any literature or anything about it. We just learned the drawing technique. So, not the physics behind the drawing. That's what interests me. I have no idea what roof covering/tiles/sheet metal, foil, or what a foundation wall is for. We never learned about that in school. They just told us, "this is how you draw." Okay, but why do you draw like that? We never learned that. We haven't even learned in school why different things are mounted, for example, on a foundation wall or wall. I agree that it's bad on the school's part. But it doesn't seem to be a real problem since all construction engineers from here do well in their professional life after graduation. It doesn't seem to be something expected of us to know as newly graduated.

Where can I find this literature you're talking about? How can I visit construction sites? I can't just walk onto a construction site and look at the construction without permission. Even if I did get it, how would it help me understand why things are built the way they are? Just staring at a construction doesn't take me far if no one can explain why it looks the way it does. Building documents don't explain much. They just say "build this way." Okay, but why should it be built that way? That's what interests me.

 

[byggingenjören97]

I seem to see that many young people entirely lack practical interests. They read all sorts of things online, build houses and entire cities in Sims and similar. All my 4 children have become like that. But I also notice that it sometimes becomes difficult to solve practical problems as nothing reacts like in the computer. The building blocks don't stick if you choose incorrectly, but when you choose correctly, they snap into place even if you drop them a bit carelessly... reality seldom works like that.
When I look at a truss, I see a lot of info in it. First of all, it’s obvious that the snow load comes from above, pushing down the roof and trying to force the walls apart. That’s why a truss looks the way it does.
Do they have roof load in Sims? Wind load?
I strongly believe that practical experiences are needed to understand the theoretical.
Then I think it doesn't matter what you do because experiences in one subject can often be transferred to other subjects. The practical skills are hidden in the brain and help when you need to construct something. You get a feeling in your body that guides theoretical thoughts in the right direction. You develop the ability to see how drawn pictures of machine parts would behave in real life.

Oh, what a ramble... but maybe there is something to it.

I agree with you! Practical experience is unbeatable! But all civil engineers today don't seem to have any problems in the workforce despite lacking practical experience. So it doesn't seem to be a major problem, really. I think otherwise it would help quite a lot if one had, like, a 2-week internship at a construction site during education.

 

[seniorkonsult]

Yes, now it's difficult. Interning at a construction site lets you see how things are built, but there's hardly anyone there who explains why. So a book on "How to build a house" supplemented with the physical properties is needed. Interning at an architecture firm probably offers more at the beginning.

 

[seniorkonsult]

Learning to present on drawings is largely acquired in the profession. By looking at drawings from previous projects the company has executed and getting feedback from more experienced colleagues.
The book you're referring to seems reasonable at first glance. TS can borrow it from the library!

There is a book series called "bygghandlingar 90" which is very worth reading.

A new book on presenting details that seems good has also been published.
[link]

 

[byggingenjören97]

Hi!

After completing the engineering program at the same school and now sometimes hiring people with equivalent degrees, it might help to know that the expectations of the industry (were?) that building engineers should be able to execute a technical solution well, and the civil engineers develop and optimize new solutions. It sounds like you might be aiming to have such a level of knowledge that you can also develop, and you are the target audience for the last two specialized years? Indirectly, you have a good foundation, it sounds like you can calculate all the things you mentioned individually, which indirectly gives you a whole wall (correct U-value+correct strength+correct moisture safety+correct surface material+correct space for installations, etc.) but assembling all this knowledge from each course and optimizing entire buildings, I remember as Master's level. If you want to start with the construction of outer walls from the inside out, building physics books are usually a good start.

What you're asking for (Why the execution is a certain way) is partly found in these books that were course literature in the courses I've taken: "Practical Building Construction" K Sandin, "Practical Building Physics" K Sandin, "Applied Building Physics" B-Å Pettersson, "Building Physics - How Buildings Work" C-E Hagentoft, "Introduction to Building Physics" C-E Hagentoft.

That might be true as you say! That it is at the Master level I am a newly graduated Bachelor of Engineering. So I might be wondering about something that is learned in the Master I actually wanted to pursue a Master but since I am a Bachelor of Engineering and not a Master of Science in Engineering, I am not eligible to pursue just any Master. If I want to pursue the Master oriented towards building construction, I have to take 3-4 courses outside of my program just to qualify to apply for the Master. Several courses are also given concurrently (same day and time), so I would have to attend school for 1-2 years just to apply for the Master Also, I am extremely burnt out from school. So it feels quite unworthwhile. I think it's more worthwhile to advance career-wise in 3 years than to study for another 3 years just to gain specialized competence. Therefore, I thought I could read a bit about it on my own out of genuine interest I will definitely take a look at the books you recommended I have already reserved many from the library

 

[byggingenjören97]

Yes, now it got difficult. Interning on a construction site lets you see how it's built, but there's hardly anyone on site explaining why. So a book on "How to Build a House" with the physical properties is needed.
Interning at an architecture firm might be more beneficial in the beginning.

I'm looking for a job now, not an internship. I might already start working as a designer in 3 weeks. I was wondering if there's any way I can educate myself until then.