What exactly are shop drawings?
Shop drawings are drawing sets which are designed to aid in prefabricating a component, or fabricating a component if some of the dimensions of the shop drawing are dependent on site variables (e.g. the actual dimension between two trusses). Shop drawings are usually far more detailed than design drawings, since they communicate fabrication and construction processes, in addition to a depiction of accurate dimensions.
What kind of shop drawings have you drafted in the past?
Shop drawings may be necessary for reinforced concrete builds, electrical infrastructure, HVAC ductwork and other MEP drawings (e.g. plumbing drawings), window and door assemblies, millwork for wood structures and assemblies, stone and tile arrangement for interior designs, glazing and storefront layouts, structural steel components, and more. Essentially, we can create nearly any shop drawing required for construction component prefabrications, fabrications, and installations.
Who uses shop drawings?
We offer shop drawings for various professionals in the construction and design fields. We often work with suppliers, manufacturers and fabricators, contractors and subcontractors, as well as engineers and architects. And we complete shop drawings for concrete reinforcement projects, ductwork, millwork, stone and tile arrangement, glazing and storefront layouts, structural steel components, and more.
Can shop drawings be included in a construction submittal?
Shop drawings may be included in a construction submittal. These drawings are often required and exchanged between architects, engineers, and construction professionals to communicate a depiction and the dimensions of components that are prefabricated or components that will be fabricated, as well as instructions on how to install said components. Shop drawings are often a crucial proponent of the construction process, since they ensure that all parties involved have a coordinated understanding of what is being fabricated and how it should be installed.
Are shop drawings necessary for a contract document?
Shop drawings are not considered a part of a contract document, and they do not define the work responsibilities to be assumed by the contractor or owner of the contract. The Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee notes their definition of “Shop Drawings” in relation to contract documents:
“All drawings, diagrams, illustrations, schedules, and other data or information that are specifically prepared or assembled by or for Contractor and submitted by Contractor to illustrate some portion of the Work. Shop Drawings, whether approved or not, […] are not Contract Documents.”
How much does a shop drawing cost?
That depends. Shop drawing costs vary from project to project, depending on the complexity of the project (e.g. complex mechanical systems drawings versus simple millwork drawings), and the projected amount of time that it will take to complete the drawings. It may also be necessary to revise a shop drawing after it has been created, which will cost more.
That said, here at DrafterMax, we offer competitive pricing for our shop drawing services. We also produce shop drawings at costs that are considerably less than having an architect create the renderings.
What’s the difference between as-built drawings and shop drawings?
Shop drawings and as-built drawings are different drawing sets. While shop drawings are intended to aid in fabricating building components (e.g. rafters, staircases, reinforced concrete slabs, etc.), as-built drawings capture the current construction of a building and/or its components as they exist today. As-built drawings may be necessary for renovations, or to perform an accurate appraisal of the building (among other purposes), while shop drawings are necessary to prefabricate or fabricate various detailed building components and systems.
What’s the difference between construction drawings and shop drawings?
Construction drawings are created and/or modified prior to and during the construction of a building. These drawings are generally larger in scale than shop drawings (generally showing depictions of an entire building or structure), and they may be modified throughout the building process, if the design should change throughout the process.
Shop drawings, on the other hand, are far more detailed, and they often include strict dimensions and step-by-step installation instructions for components and systems. Shop drawings aren’t working drawings (although they may contain dimensions that are non-specific or variable, depending on the construction as it comes to fruition), so they likely won’t be changed throughout the construction process.
Can you edit existing shop drawings?
Yes, we can edit and adapt existing shop drawings. We work with CAD files, as well as physical shop drawing copies, and we can recreate and adapt your drawings to produce a drawing that fits your current demands.