Drawing floor plans

There may be occasions where you need to do a Takeoff or Design but are not able to get a set of Plans.

Although we are an Estimating Takeoff Software, there are a few ways to mock-up a rough Floorplan using our Tools.

1. Create a new a Project
2. Upload a blank Plan on the Plans tab
3. Click onto blank Plan to open it up
4. Set the Plan scale

Option 1 - Create a Stage and use Measurements

1. Add a Stage e.g., "Drawing";
2. Create Measurements (Count, Length and Area tools) to draw the Floorplan

• Start the Area/Length on a grid line for easy measuring of a room or Floorplan outline.
• Hold Shift to draw proportioned squares or straight lines for Area & Length Measurements.
• The grid size can be set to each room size
• Duplicate Counts, Lengths and Areas using our Actions Menu
• You can upload custom symbols into Groundplan for adding details such as door openings onto the Floorplan.
• Hold ALT/Option and press R to rotate the symbols before placing it onto the Plan
• All Areas, Lengths and Counts can be easily modified and moved using our Select tools

Area Tool

The Area Tool can be used to easily draw rooms individually or draw the outline of the floorplan.

Create the Area Measurement:
1. Click +Area
2. Add the description e.g "Room"
3. Choose the style options
4. Click Create
5. Select your Drawing Mode
By default, Freeform mode is selected.
If not, Click Square, then click Freeform

Use the Area tool to draw plans:
In Freeform mode:
1. Click to start
2. Click to change direction
Each click creates a point
3. Double-click to finish
4. Repeat as needed.

In Square mode:

1. Click to start
2. Move your cursor to the diagonal corner
3. Click again to complete the Area.
4. Click Done
   Click the Edit button to adjust the measured Area, add an Area cut-out or change the style

To make changes to the Area:

1. Press ESC to enter Select mode
2. Zoom in on the Area to select
3. Click to select the Area
4. Click, hold and drag the blue points to change the size / shape of your Area
5. Click Save

Length Tool

The Length Tool can be used to draw walls or windows
Create the Length Measurement:
1. Click +Length
2. Add the description e.g "Walls"
3. Choose the style options
4. Click Create
5. Select your Drawing Mode
By default, Freeform mode is selected.
If not, Click Square, then click Freeform

Use the Length tool to draw plans:
In freeform mode:
By default, Freeform mode is selected. If not, you can click the drawing mode button to select this mode.

1. Click to start drawing the run
2. Click to change direction as many times as required
3. Double-click to finish the Length.
4. Repeat as needed.

In Square mode:
1. Click Freeform, then click Square
2. Click on one corner to start
3. Move the cursor to the diagonal corner
4. Click again to complete the Length
5. Click Done
Or Click Edit to adjust the measured Length

To make changes to the Length:

1. Press ESC to enter Select mode
2. Click to select the Length
3. Drag and drop the blue points to change the Length
4. Click Save

Count Tool

The Count Tool can be used to add door openings, windows, wardrobes, etc.,

Create the Count:
1. Click +Count
2. Add the description e.g. "Door opening"
3. Choose the symbol & style options
4. Click Create


Use the Count tool to draw plans:

1. Rotate the symbol to the correct orientation
2. Click to place
3. Repeat as needed
4. Click Done
   
   

To make changes to the Count:

1. Press ESC to enter Select mode
2. Zoom in on the Count you want to select
3. Click to select a Count on the Plan

• To rotate a symbol: Click, hold and drag the rotation handle (blue dot)
  Hold Shift to lock the angle in 45º increments (counter-clockwise)
• To move: Click, hold and drag
  Move several symbols at once, using the Select Tool
• To edit the Measurement style: Click Settings, then click Style,
  Change the Symbol, Fill Colour, Stroke Colour and Size for all counts associated to this Measurement.

4. Click Save
   To cancel the changes click Cancel

Option 2 - Using annotations such as the Square tool and Pen tool

Use our annotations tool (Pen, Square, Circle, Ruler, etc.) to draw your floorplan.

Square Tool

The Square Tool can be used to easily draw rooms individually.

1. Click the Shapes Tools
2. Select the Square Tool
3. Click and release on one corner to start
4. Move the cursor to the diagonal corner
5. Click and release to complete the Square.
6. Repeat for additional Squares.
7. Click Done

Editing Squares:

1. Press ESC to enter Select mode
2. Zoom in on the Square you want to select
3. Select a Square on the Plan

• To move: Click, hold and drag
  Move several Items at once, using the Select Tool
• To change the Square size: Click, hold and drag the blue square points
• To duplicate: Click Actions, then click Duplicate
• To edit the Square style: Click Settings
  Change the Line Colour, Line Opacity, Line Width, Line Style, Fill Colour, Fill Opacity and Corner Rounding

4. Click Save
   To cancel the changes click Cancel

Pen Tool

The Pen Tool can be used to draw walls or windows on your floorplan.
By default, Straighten Lines is selected
If not, click Freehand (drawing mode) then click Straighten Line

1. Select the Pen tool
2. Click, hold and drag to draw the line
   Hold SHIFT to draw a straight line
3. Repeat for additional lines
4. Click Done

Editing Pen markings:

1. Press ESC to enter Select mode
2. Click to select the line you want to edit
3. Drag and drop the line to the new position

Saving and Re-uploading the floor Plan

Once the design is complete, save your floorplan to PDF and upload it back into the project, then begin your take-off or design as usual.

Blank Plan Samples