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A sectional drawing

I’ve never had any training in architectural drawing. I know what a section is, but I’m not sure how to draw one. How detailed does it need to be? If you cut a building at one point, do you show details from walls or things further back, or just the lines of things you cut through?

Sorry if that makes no sense. I don’t know the right terms. Can someone explain it or share a link to help me understand section drawings better?

Walter has reacted to this post.
Walter

A section drawing is basically a vertical cut through a building, showing what you would see if you sliced through it at a particular point. The main goal is to reveal the internal structure and details that aren’t visible in a typical elevation or plan view.

To answer your question:

  • You only show details of the elements that are actually cut through—walls, floors, structural elements, etc. These should be drawn with heavier (thicker) lines to emphasize that they’ve been sectioned.
  • Features that are beyond the cut line (in the background) are shown with lighter or dashed lines, depending on their importance.
  • The level of detail depends on the drawing’s scale and purpose. A large-scale section (e.g., 3/4"=1'-0" or 1"=1'-0") shows major elements like walls, floors, and roof structures, while a detail section (e.g., 1/2"=1'-0") might include insulation, fasteners, and specific material layers.

If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend looking at architectural drawing guides or tutorials. There are some great ones online on this site I think, or will be shortly hereafter.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you need more clarification.