The plan: foundations, low wall, posts, frame, roof, overhang, curtains
A plan is not a drawing to look nice: it is the list of everything that must be built, with its measurements, in the order in which it is built. Whoever can read a plan can check the mason; whoever can make one can order the right quantities and refuse the quote that does not match. This lesson describes, element by element and with the dimensions, the 8 × 40 m house we have sized: from the footings under the posts to the curtains, through the low wall, the frame, the roof and its overhang. No drawing here: words, figures and quantities.
14 min read · 5-question quiz at the end
By Abdul Hussein ChoumanFounder of NEXTEKCI · Agnibilékrou hatchery since 2006This lesson is part of Designing and building a poultry house specialisation. It opens to every registered student, from free registration. Levels 1 to 5 and the tracks remain readable by everyone.
A plan is not a drawing to look nice: it is the list of everything that must be built, with its measurements, in the order in which it is built. Whoever can read a plan can check the mason; whoever can make one can order the right quantities and refuse the quote that does not match. This lesson describes, element by element and with the dimensions, the 8 × 40 m house we have sized: from the footings under the posts to the curtains, through the low wall, the frame, the roof and its overhang. No drawing here: words, figures and quantities.
- ✓Read the three views of a poultry house plan (plan view, cross-section, elevation) and find every dimension on them
- ✓Describe each element of the 8 × 40 m house with its dimensions: foundations, slab, low wall, posts, trusses, purlins, roof, overhang, wire mesh, curtains, doors
- ✓Calculate the main quantities: number of posts and trusses, m³ of concrete, blocks, m² of sheeting, mesh and curtain cloth
- ✓Spot on a quote the element that is missing or the dimension that has changed
- Reading a plan: three views and a scale
- Foundations and slab: what carries and what drains
- The low wall and the posts: the structure that stands up
- The frame, the roof and the overhang
- Mesh, curtains, doors and lobby: closing without suffocating
- The summary: the plan on one page
- Going further
- •Three views (plan, section, elevation), one scale (1/100: 1 cm = 1 m), dimensions read inside: you check with a ruler.
- •Foundations: footings 0.6 × 0.6 × 0.5 m under each post, ground beam 0.2 × 0.2 m, slab 8 cm on 15 cm hardcore, raised 30 cm, walkway 0.8 m; about 42 m³ of concrete excluding posts.
- •Structure: low wall 0.5 m (515 blocks), 28 posts 0.15 × 0.15 × 3.5 m every 4 m, eave beams 84 m, 11 trusses of 8 m, purlins 420 m.
- •Roof: slope 35%, rafters 5.5 m with 1.2 m overhang, 467 m² laid / 515 m² ordered, ridge vent 0.4 m with cap.
- •Closure: 230 m² of 2.5 cm mesh, buried rat strip, 200 m² of curtains rolling from the bottom upwards, doors of 1 m and 1.2 m, lobby of 2 × 8 m.