Remodel floorplan question

[CurtisBros]

I'm new and frustrated; I hope this is the right place to post this.

 

I am doing a layout for an interior remodel of a couple of commecrial bathrooms. I need to move interior walls, fixtures, etc. I am making before and after plans for the permit.

 

Question: In my drawing, it seems logical to me to stack the old bathroom layout and the new bathroom layout on top of each other, keeping each on a separate layer. Then items that don't change can be seen on both, like the exterior wall lines. I can then make new interior wall lines.

 

Problem: There are exterior doors that will move, so my exterior walls will have different segments depending on old/new.

 

I guess I'm looking for over-the-shoulder advice on how to correctly setup a drawing when the same room will have two or more layouts, but many common elements.

 

Thank you!

[Tiger]

There a few ways to approach this, depending on how you want to work basically.

 

The simplest way is to lock the layers that you don't want to move. You lock the layer in the Layer Manager in the column with the padlocks. Click on the padlock for the appropriate layer to lock it, click in again to unlock it.

 

You could also make the original layout as a block (command BLOCK), then you can move the whole thing, but not the individual lines.

 

There's also the option to use x-refs if you have the original layout in a different dwg - if that is the case, and you want to learn more about x-refs, say the word and someone will point you in the right direction.

[sparkyuk]

For what its worth speaking as a elecrical installer i hate having drawings issued to work from, with the old and new on one drawing they have to much detail and get very clutted, I would rather see two drawings one before and one after, these can be on one drawing if size allows or on two drawings.

[ReMark]

Personally I like the idea of an "existing" layout and a "proposed" layout. I think the building department offical will appreciate it too.

[qball]

I use blocks. One old and one new as Tiger indicated. Then you can lay them on top of one another and "in-place block editor" and you can see the block you're not working on faded in the background.

[ReMark]

The problem will surface when the drawing is plotted. Eventually you have to bring a black and white copy to the building department. If the building offical has trouble discerning what is being shown he/she is going to reject it and it is back to the drawing board. Making it easier for them to understand is going to save you time, aggravation and ultimately money.

[Tiger]

Like Remark said, however you do it (and there are probably as many ways as there are AutoCAD users...) the main thing is that the drawing is readable and is interpreted as you want it to be interpreted. Never issue a drawing without plotting a hardcopy for yourself first, and have enough time to do changes after that. And don't be afraid to add explanatory notes on the drawing, better that than the building deparment not getting what you mean and turn down your design.

 

Oh, and as long as you have everything on separate layers, then it's no problem to do two drawings from the same model - ViewportFreeze is your friend

[Ryder76]

I agree with ReMark. An existing and proposed view of the remodel would be the way to go.

 

Working on large construction jobs where we have configuration control packages that is what is done to all drawings. There is a "before" and "after" drawing. It makes the changes very clear and understandable.

 

Just my 2 cents.