How to Read a Building Plan — A Simple Guide for Indore Homeowners

Your contractor rolls out a set of drawings and starts explaining. You nod along — but honestly, it looks like a maze of lines and numbers.

You don't need an architecture degree to understand your own building plan. Here's what actually matters.

What's Inside a Building Plan Set?

A complete plan set has multiple drawings — each serves a different purpose:

• Floor Plan — top-down view of each floor showing rooms, walls, doors, windows

• Elevation — how the building looks from outside (front, back, sides)

• Section Drawing — vertical slice showing internal heights and structure

• Site Plan — how the building sits on your plot with setbacks marked

• Structural Drawing — columns, beams, slab details (done by structural engineer)

  
  

All of these are submitted for IMC approval in Indore. As a homeowner, focus on the floor plan, elevation, and site plan.

Reading the Floor Plan

Walls Thick parallel lines = exterior/structural walls. Thin lines = interior partition walls. Never modify thick-line walls without a structural engineer — they carry the building's load.

Doors Shown as a gap in the wall with a curved arc. The arc shows which way the door swings. Check every door swing — a door opening the wrong way can block a passage or make a room feel cramped.

Windows Shown as a thin break in the wall with three short lines across it. In Indore's climate — north-facing windows bring in light without harsh afternoon sun. West-facing windows in bedrooms and kitchens trap summer heat from 2 PM onwards.

Room Dimensions Always trust the written number over what the drawing looks like at scale. When reading room sizes, mentally place your furniture — a 10×10 ft bedroom with a double bed and wardrobe leaves almost no space. Comfortable double bedroom size in Indore homes is 11×12 ft or more.

North Arrow Every plan has a north direction marker. Orient the plan accordingly and check which rooms get morning sun, which face west, and where cross-ventilation will work. This directly affects comfort and electricity bills in Indore summers.

Reading the Elevation

Floor Heights Ground floor should be minimum 10 ft clear height for Indore summers. First floor can be 9–9.5 ft. Anything below 9 ft — ask your architect to revise before approving.

Window Height from Floor Windows should start at 3–3.5 ft from the floor for good ventilation when seated. Windows starting above 4.5 ft don't ventilate effectively.

Roof Flat RCC terrace is standard in Indore — easier for future floor addition and waterproofing.

Reading the Site Plan

Shows your building footprint on the plot with setbacks marked on all four sides.

Setbacks in Indore (IMC norms): Typically 1.5–3 metres on the front, smaller margins on sides and rear depending on plot size. If the plan shows the building touching the boundary — something is wrong.

Also check: entry/exit placement, open parking area, and drainage outlet direction.

3 Numbers to Always Ask Your Architect

Carpet Area — the actual usable floor space inside walls. A 1,200 sq ft built-up house typically gives 900–950 sq ft of carpet area. This is what you actually live in.

FAR (Floor Area Ratio) — how much total built-up area IMC allows on your plot. Your architect must confirm the design is within limits before submission.

Plot Coverage — capped at 60–70% in most Indore residential zones. The rest becomes setbacks and open area.

Ask These Questions Before You Approve Any Plan

• Which way is north and how does sunlight enter each room?

• What is my total carpet area?

• Are setbacks on all four sides within IMC norms?

• Are columns sized to support a second floor if I add one later?

• Where are the kitchen and bathrooms placed relative to the drainage outlet?

• Where will AC outdoor units go and are electrical points planned?

A 30-minute conversation around these questions before finalising the plan can save months of regret after construction.

Don't Just Nod — Understand What You're Approving

The building plan is where every future comfort or problem in your home is decided. Changes are free on paper. After construction, they cost lakhs.

Shriketu Construction Pvt. Ltd. works with Indore homeowners from the design stage — helping you understand your plan, verify drawings, and make informed decisions before work begins. If you want a team that explains clearly and builds correctly, they're worth a conversation.

Quick Cheat Sheet

What You See	What It Means
Thick parallel lines	Exterior / structural wall — do not modify
Thin parallel lines	Interior partition wall — flexible
Gap + arc in wall	Door — arc shows swing direction
Break + 3 lines in wall	Window
North arrow	Sunlight and ventilation direction
Dimension numbers	Room sizes — always trust written number
Setback lines on site plan	Mandatory open space — check IMC norms