How to Draw House Elevations and Section Views

If you’re planning a building project and want to create professional elevation drawings and section views, you don’t need to spend hours drawing them manually. With Plan7Architect, you can automatically generate accurate 2D elevation and section views directly from your completed floor plan and 3D model. This function is integrated into the software and available with just a few clicks.

The software allows you to switch seamlessly between metric units (meters, centimeters) and imperial units (feet, inches) depending on your location or preference. Whether you are working on a European-style home or designing according to U.S. standards, the unit settings are fully adjustable.

As soon as your 2D floor plan and 3D structure are complete, you can select any exterior view (front, back, left, right) to create clean and detailed elevation drawings. Similarly, section views can be cut through any part of the house, showing you detailed internal structures such as wall compositions, ceiling heights, staircases, or roof profiles.

These features are particularly helpful when you need documents for permit applications, construction teams, or design presentations. Everything is export-ready and can be saved in commonly used formats like PDF, DXF, or image files.

 

What Are Elevations and Sections – and Why Are They Important?

Elevations

Elevations are the straight-on, vertical views of a building’s exterior. They typically include the front, rear, and both side views. These views display important elements like:

• Window and door positions

• Roof lines and slopes

• Facade materials and design features

• Balcony or terrace outlines

• External dimensions and heights

Elevations are essential for visualizing how a house will look from the outside. They’re also a requirement in most building permit applications, especially if your local authority needs to review how your design fits into the environment.

Sections

A section view is like a vertical “cut” through your house. It shows you the interior layout and structure, including:

• Floor levels and ceiling heights

• Wall thicknesses and internal arrangements

• Roof structure and insulation layers

• Position of stairs and intermediate landings

• Basement or attic levels if applicable

Sections are necessary to communicate construction details. For example, a contractor can see the placement and thickness of floors, the slope of a pitched roof, or how two levels connect with a staircase. These details are also useful for structural engineers, electricians, plumbers, and other trades involved in the project.

 

How Plan7Architect Helps You Draw Elevations and Sections

Plan7Architect makes it easy to draw and manage both types of drawings thanks to its automatic generation tools and intuitive interface.

• Elevation generation: You simply choose the side of the building you want to display (e.g., front or left side). The software then extracts the elevation based on your 3D model and produces a precise 2D view.

• Section tool: You define the section cut line through your floor plan, and Plan7Architect automatically shows the resulting cross-section. You can fine-tune this view by setting how deep the section reaches and which elements should be included.

• Automatic updates: If you change the position of a window, wall, or roof shape in your model, your elevations and sections are automatically updated.

• Editable details: You can label components, add dimensions, change line weights, and include section indicators like level markers and elevation symbols.

• Real-time preview: Before exporting, you can view the drawing exactly as it will be printed or submitted.

Tip:
Use layers and labels inside Plan7Architect to clearly differentiate between structural and non-structural elements in your section views. This can make your documents easier to understand for contractors or building authorities.

 

Supported Units, Formats, and Standards

Plan7Architect is designed to work globally, which is why it supports both European and American measurement systems. Whether you are working with meters and centimeters or feet and inches, you can switch units at any time in the software settings.

The program also supports international drawing standards and allows for customizable dimension lines, font styles, and annotations.

Export Formats Available:

All drawings are ready to be printed to scale and can include elements such as title blocks, north arrows, and scale bars.

Who Is This Feature Ideal For?

• Private builders and homeowners who want to apply for permits or visualize their home before construction

• Architects and freelance designers needing fast and editable elevation/section drawings

• Construction companies creating documentation for builders, carpenters, or subcontractors

• Real estate developers creating professional visualizations for presentations or sales

This feature is especially useful if you want to avoid hiring additional draftspersons just for creating technical section drawings or facade views. The automation saves time while maintaining full control over the details.

Additional Tips for Accurate Elevation and Section Planning

Drawing accurate views in Plan7Architect isn’t difficult, but a few best practices can make the process smoother:

• Check the cutting line for sections carefully to ensure it passes through relevant architectural features like stairs or open spaces.

• Use the labeling tools to add floor levels (e.g., ground floor, upper floor, roof ridge) and ceiling heights.

• Indicate the orientation (north, south, etc.) on all elevations for better understanding during planning and construction.

• Turn off unnecessary layers for clean, readable outputs.

• Set appropriate scales (e.g., 1:100 for full building, 1:50 for detail sections) before printing or exporting.

Tip:
If you’re working with a pitched or complex roof, use the 3D preview first to check where the slope intersects walls or windows before finalizing your section line.

Conclusion: Fast, Easy & Professional Elevation/Section Drawing

With Plan7Architect, creating clean, detailed, and technically precise elevation and section drawings is no longer a manual task. You can rely on the built-in tools to automatically generate all necessary views from your 3D model, then export them in professional formats for construction or approval.

Whether you build in meters or feet, Plan7Architect adapts to your workflow and simplifies the entire planning process — even for users with little prior CAD experience.