PDFs Are No Substitute for Paper Prints

A while back I received an email containing the words no architect ever wants to hear during construction:

“We didn’t know it was going to be like that!”

My first reaction was, “What do you mean? It’s been on the drawings for over a year!”

Then it hit me.

I had never provided my clients with a full-size printed set of the drawings. They had been trying to understand the design by viewing PDF files on their cell phones.

That experience taught me an important lesson.

Years ago, before PDFs became the norm, architects routinely had their drawings printed full-size on paper. Rolls of plans were delivered to clients and contractors by mail, courier, or simply handed over in person. Everyone worked from the same large drawings.

Today, things are very different. Printing costs have increased, electronic file sharing is quick and convenient, and since the COVID pandemic many building departments no longer even accept paper plans—they require electronic submissions.

PDFs certainly have their place. They’re fast, inexpensive, and make it easy to send drawings anywhere in the world in seconds.

But in my opinion, they are a poor substitute for full-size prints when it comes to understanding a building design.

Even after decades of experience, I still prefer reviewing my own work on paper. Somehow, mistakes and inconsistencies that can hide on a computer screen seem to jump right out when they’re printed full-size. I honestly don’t know how some contractors and subcontractors prepare accurate bids using nothing but PDFs. Even with a large desktop monitor, it’s surprisingly easy to overlook an important note, dimension, or detail.

For homeowners, the challenge is even greater.

Most clients don’t spend their lives reading architectural drawings. Expecting them to fully understand a design by pinching and zooming on a phone or tablet simply isn’t realistic. A printed set allows them to spread the drawings out on a table, study the relationships between spaces, make notes, and compare one sheet to another far more easily.

Better yet, I like to sit down with my clients and review the drawings together. Those conversations often lead to excellent questions, clarify expectations, and occasionally uncover something that should be changed before construction begins. That’s time very well spent.

The cost of printing a few sets of plans is tiny compared to the overall cost of a construction project. If those prints prevent even one misunderstanding or one construction mistake, they have more than paid for themselves.

Technology has given architects wonderful new tools, and I wouldn’t want to go back to the days before electronic drawings. But sometimes the old ways are still the best ways.

This experience reminded me of that.

From now on, I intend to make sure every client receives a full-size printed set of the drawings. It’s a small investment that can save confusion, improve communication, and help everyone involved share the same vision before the first nail is driven.

0 Comments

Previous Post Next Post

PDF's Are No Substitute for Full-Size Paper Prints

Leave a comment

Archive