Details and schedules
Details explain how things go together; schedules list what goes where. Learn how to decide what needs detailing and how to make schedules that builders trust.
In this lesson you will
- Decide what needs a detail
- Draw clear, buildable details
- Build door, window and finishes schedules
- Keep details and schedules consistent with the rest
What to detail
Detail where materials or systems meet and something could go wrong: weatherproofing at windows and roofs, junctions between different wall types, thresholds, stairs and balustrades, fire and acoustic separations, and anything unusual. Typical conditions can use standard details (office or manufacturer), adapted to the project.
Drawing a good detail
Draw at a scale that shows every layer (1:5 or 1:10). Show materials with consistent hatches, label every component with consistent wording (keynotes help), dimension critical sizes and falls, and show the sequence builders need — flashing laps, membrane turn-ups, sealant joints. Reference manufacturer requirements where they govern.
Schedules
Generate schedules from the model or blocks wherever possible so they match the drawings. Every mark on a plan must appear in a schedule, and every schedule row on a plan.
| Schedule | Typical columns |
|---|---|
| Doors | Mark, location, size, type, material, fire rating, hardware set, frame, finish |
| Windows | Mark/type, size, sill height, glazing, operation, frame, finish |
| Finishes | Room, floor, skirting, walls, ceiling, notes |
| Hardware | Set number, items, manufacturer, finish |
Common mistakes
Reusing a standard detail that doesn't match the project.
Adapt standard details to the actual build-up and check with manufacturers' requirements.
Labels using different names for the same material.
Use keynotes or a fixed vocabulary matching the specification.
Schedules typed by hand from the plans.
Generate them from the model or check every tag against the schedule before issue.
Exercise
A window head detail and schedule
- Draw a 1:5 window head detail through an external wall, labelling every component.
- Create a window schedule for five windows with the columns above.
- Check every tag on the plan appears in the schedule.
You should end up with: A buildable detail and a consistent schedule.
Checklist
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Lesson quiz
Which location most needs a detail?
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Free KitWren tools that help
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