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An interior elevation is a 2D orthographic, scale drawing representing the vertical surfaces of a room from a straight-on perspective. This technical detail maps the heights, finishes, and placements of cabinetry, trim, and fixtures within a specific interior space.
The interior elevation specifies the vertical dimensions and material applications for walls, providing data not visible in a top-down floor plan. The drawing identifies the precise coordinates for the installation of components in spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms. These to-scale representations document the physical relationship between the floor, ceiling, and all wall-mounted architectural elements. In a interior elevation:
Walls and Openings: Outline of all walls, including windows and doors within the wall.
Heights: Accurate vertical dimensions, including finished floor level (FFL), ceiling height (AFF - Above Finished Floor), and structural ceiling.
Architectural Features: Location and dimensions of alcoves, archways, fireplaces, and niches.
Trim and Molding: Detailed dimensions for baseboards, crown molding, chair rails, and casing.
Floor & Ceiling Lines: Clear delineation of the finished floor, ceiling line, and any soffits.
Casework Configuration: Detailed layout of cabinets, shelves, drawers, and bookcases.
Dimensions: Precise width and height of cabinets, including backsplash heights.
Door/Drawer Swings: Dashed lines showing the direction of cabinet doors and drawer pull-out limits.
Hardware: Location and type of cabinet hardware.
Plumbing Fixtures: Location and mounting heights for sinks, faucets, and showers.
Appliances: Integration of appliances like ranges, microwaves, and refrigerators.
Lighting: Positions of sconces, recessed lights, and under-cabinet lighting.
Electrical: Locations of switches, outlets, and data ports, especially in kitchens and baths.
Material Annotations: Callouts for finishes such as paint, wallpaper, tile, wood paneling, or stone.
Pattern and Texture: Indicating tile layout, grout lines, and brick patterns.
Drawing Title and Scale: Clearly labeled (e.g., "North Elevation - Kitchen") with the appropriate scale (commonly 1/4" = 1'-0" or 1/2" = 1'-0").
Dimension Strings: Linear and vertical dimensions (using tick marks for measurements).
Elevation Tags: Reference markers on the floor plan that correspond to the interior elevation drawing.
Line Weights: Varying line weights to distinguish between items close to the viewer (thicker) and those in the background (thinner).
Dimensions: Indicate if items are centered ("EQ" for equal-equal) or have specific measurements.
Labels: Notes for all built-in items, materials, and specialized trim.
1:20 or 1/2" = 1'-0": For detailed interior layouts, particularly kitchens and bathrooms.
1:50 or 1/4" = 1'-0": For general interior elevations.
