Typical Wall Details are a handy way to define multiple interior walls in great detail just once and then tag the walls on the plans with the appropriate wall construction tag. For the tag we use a simple short section line connected to a diamond in which the letter designation of the wall type is shown. This is especially handy when the plans are 1/8" scale or smaller because you might otherwise need enlarged plans just to show wall construction notes. 
Often there are variations on a wall type, which you can see in the example. We use subscripts to distinguish the variations on the plans and indicate the differences in the detail's notes. 
The Table Of Steel Stud Minimum Gages helps to limit even more variations on the wall types. The down side to relying on this table is that many contractors will ignore it. 
Typical Wall Details can be overkill if there are just a few simple types. 

Here is another take on Typical Walls from Life of an Architect.

Window Replacement can almost never be justified on the basis of energy savings, so aesthetics, comfort and deterioration lead up the reasons for replacement. It is important to know the conditions that the new window must fit into. 
The key features of the detail are:

• clarifying the sequence of events
• showing new lintel (if any) which was scheduled elsewhere on this sheet
• sub-frames for the window, which are often needed to get a good installation
• identifying surrounding conditions and what stays, what goes

Veneer Replacement does not happen often; but, as modern buildings that used veneers age, the frequency may increase. This detail shows the replacement of a 45 year old 24"x24"x2" stone veneer. The anchors corroded, which led to deterioration of the stone veneer as the corrosion expanded and cracked the faces of the veneer panels. In some places the anchors were no longer in tact to hold the stone in place.
The Veneer Replacement System that was selected was ARRIS•clip Renaissance® Units by Arriscraft. In this case the tricky part was that there was a story of brick veneer above that had been partially bearing on the stone veneer. The detail shows how we designed a custom stainless steel 'TEE' to transfer the support of the brick to the concrete foundation wall.  
The key issues that the detail resolves are:

• temporary support of the brick by removing the stone in sections
• a custom fabricated, non-corrosive, support that was configured to match the existing conditions (shimming was required in places)
• new slabs can be replaced without removing all slabs
• replaced the look of the original stone at lower cost

Exterior Masonry Cavity Walls consist of a weather-resistant exterior wythe of brick or stone or similar material and an inner wythe of concrete block. The cavity aids in preventing water penetration by draining any water out the base of the wall. 
Masonry backup of concrete block offers the advantage of being a load bearing structure, although it can be non-load bearing. The cavity can accommodate significant insulation with masonry mass on the interior. 
The key features of the detail are the:

• continuous cavity vent that prevents mortar droppings from clogging the bottom of the cavity
• masonry flashing to direct any moisture to the exterior
• weep vent to let moisture out of the cavity and to equalize air pressure in the cavity with the outdoors (a similar vent is often placed at the top of the cavity)
• identifying other components of the wall

Elevators have become necessary in almost every new building of two stories or more. Even without ADA requirements, society has come to expect elevators. When remodeling or expanding an existing building, adding an elevator can be a challenge. In new construction, an elevator is normally placed in a central location in the interior of the building. This can be very messy and complicated in an existing building, because of the need for a pit, structural modifications, and relocation of other utilities if they are in the way. For existing buildings it is more common to find a suitable location on the exterior to add the elevator as shown here. The exterior location may be more expensive because of the enclosure, but the interior location can be expensive too in an occupied building. 
The key issues of the elevator addition are: 

• Pit depth versus existing footings to prevent undermining
  
• Selecting the elevator cab size, speed, controls and finishes
• Designing an enclosure that does not detract from the existing building
• Coordination with electrical, HVAC and plumbing needs during design and construction - final inspections can take weeks after the elevator is ready

Concrete sidewalks are the common way to pave walking paths, and there is nothing exotic about this detail. The main point is that a detail like this can cover all the requirements for the walkways rather than having a specification for that purpose.  See the Comments below.

The key features of the paving are the concrete itself, reinforced or plain, base or no base, style and spacing of joints, finishing and curing. The concrete should be air-entrained to resist freeze damage. Reinforcing does little more than keep the adjacent panels in alignment over time, but that does eliminate trip hazards. Finishing can be as simple as burlap dragged longitudinally with sawn contraction joints. Or you can develop patterns with jointing, staining and texturing. 

Exterior Masonry Walls normally consist of a cavity wall with a weather-resistant exterior wythe of brick or stone or similar material and an inner wythe of concrete block or structural metal studs. The cavity aids in preventing water penetration by draining any water out the base of the wall. 
Masonry backup of concrete block offers advantages of load bearing structure, as shown here, and a durable interior finish. The cavity can accommodate significant insulation with masonry mass on the interior. 
The key features of the section are the:

• coordination of structure and exterior closure
• establishing vertical heights
• identifying the materials of the exterior closure
• identifying auxiliary construction required, such as, drainage, backfill, waterproofing

What to do about trenches? When you let the contractor, or your engineer, decide what to do about trenches, the results can be troubling. Not immediately, but excessive settlement often telegraphs the presence of the trench a year or so later with a noticeable dip in the ground. Under pavement this will lead to early failure. Building floor slabs may take decades to fail, but the mess it causes is completely out of proportion to doing it right the first time. 
This type of detail sets a higher standard. Flowable fill means weak concrete that can be excavated with a backhoe. Properly backfilling a trench is labor-intensive to do it correctly, which is why it won't happen unless you are standing there and insisting on it. Flowable fill costs the same as properly backfilling and compacting - with the benefit of actually getting what you have paid for.

Wall Infill At a Removed Door and Frame often occurs as part of a remodeling project. The older the existing construction the less likely that the wall thickness matches modern construction. In order to avoid lumps or depressions in the finished wall, a detail like this is needed to match the thickness of the existing. The key to the detail is the split studs which the contractor will have to construct from ripped studs. Where the existing wall is thicker than normal, two rows of staggered studs can make up the thickness. Although this detail is labor intensive, there rarely are very many places where it will be needed. This concept applies to wood stud construction too.

Schedules on the drawings can have many advantages. The information is always available to the contractors. Specifications are simpler since the variable information is on the drawings. You can create a master schedule , insert it into the drawings and edit it when you are ready to make the decisions.
The Painting Schedule and the Sealant Schedule can cover the entire topic by specifying both what to use and where to use it.
The schedules below are samples of edited schedules that we have used.

Lintel Replacement in Brick Veneer is often necessary after 40 or 50 years if the original installation was flawed. In this case plain steel lintels without flashing or weep holes had swollen to more than twice their original thickness, which heaved the veneer and caused large, long cracks to appear. 
The solution is simply a new lintel installed in proper fashion. Most masons can manage the support of the veneer above when the span is 3' to 6' as was the case here. The detail provide instruction for the sequence in which the repair should be made.
The key features of the detail are the:

• the lintel, scheduled elsewhere, is hot-dipped galvanized steel
• flashing was impractical because of the veneer anchors
• the elevations showed the amount of tuck pointing required to repair the cracks after the veneer settled into its original position.
• windows are often replaced because of the difficulty of working around them

The Raised Counter Detail provides a counter integrated with a raised floor so that the clerk can be seated while the patron is standing . Without a platform, the patron looms over the clerk. Eye contact between clerk and patron is normal. An alternative solution is a tall counter at which the clerk sits on a stool. It is preferable for the patron to remain standing to keep the transaction from taking longer than needed.
See 'Comments' for ADA considerations.

A Finish Schedule is the traditional way to show what the finishes are for each interior space of a project. For new construction that approach works very well. For remodeling or renovation the table format of the Finish Schedule doesn't lend itself to the many variations that you encounter. The Finish Key is much more flexible by allowing detailed descriptions of the intended work. In a schedule these descriptions become footnotes, easy-to-miss footnotes.

There are several ways to use a key. Below is my favorite. The symbol is placed in each space directly or indicated by leader arrow. Each wall is tagged with its finish. The center space is used for flooring and base (ceilings can be added). The descriptions can reference the Specs or they can be the Specs. 

This Commercial Sink Vanity Counter consist of a solid surface material such as Corian or Silestone with underhung sinks. The plastic laminate front and ends conceals the plumbing for a more finished appearance. 
The removable panels allow the plumbing to be accessed for maintenance. 
The key features of the detail are the:

• configuration of the counter/apron solid surface material
• type of framing for secure support
• conditions at the wall and ends
• adjacent finishes could be shown here for coordination

A Bank Building
The project is a one story, 2,200 SF stand-alone Branch Bank building designed in 1994 for a regional bank. These drawings were prepared for private bid and were accompanied by a Project Manual (non included here). 

Special Features: 
The bank uses a colonial style and detailing to suit its rural location. 
There are 3 teller stations and 4 covered, drive-through lanes.
Casework is part of the design.
The Construction Type is 5B, un-sprinklered.
The building is Business Use Group.
Cost in 2013 Dollars is $600,000

Comments: 
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Details of Courtroom Furniture are a necessity. The configuration and appearance can't be left to the whim of the fabricator. The expectations of the fixed furnishings are for 50 years or more of service. Quality materials and workmanship are easily justified. It is not uncommon for specialized features to be required, making attention to detail all the more necessary.

These details represent one solution to the specific requirements of a unique installation. Similar details would be needed for other projects.

Fixed Furniture is often like a miniature project, requiring a layout, structure, enclosure, finishes, and utilities. 

Elevations and Details of Architectural Wood Panelling are a good practice. In some simple projects they may not be required. However, by detailing the conditions, you create a basis for requiring the level of design that you want the project to receive. 

These details are suggested to show and specify any special configuration, construction and materials required for the conditions required at the terminations, joints and door frames that occur in the panelling.

A specification or extensive notes are required to further tie down the materials and quality required for the project. 

Exterior Brick Beam is an unusual detail because the weight of the material often causes another choice to be made.  The key issue is to limit the deflection of the beam to prevent cracking in the stiff masonry. Another consideration is to prevent water from attacking the interior structural elements for durability and safety.
This detail is used in a non-load-bearing situation, but it could just as easily be load-bearing. A similarly detailed beam could also be used in the interior of a building.
The key features of the detail are the:

• structural supporting member
  
• attachment of the brick veneer to the backup
  
• flashing and weep holes
  
• a dependable coping system  
  

Low-Rise Curtain Walls consist of a metal framing system with glass (or similar) glazed into it. The curtain wall system prevents water penetration by sealing out water and draining any water that penetrates out thru channels in the framing members. 

Curtain Walls offer the advantage of being both window and wall systems. The mullion spacing should be arranged to accommodate floor, ceiling and wall intersections. See Thoughts on Curtain Walls.

The key features of the details are the:

• structural bracing for wind loads
• sill flashing to direct any moisture to the exterior
• sound separation at the floor slab
• identifying other components of the wall
• (see the key notes for materials used in this case)

Roof Access Ladders are a big help when there are multi-level roofs and it is not feasible to have interior access by way of a roof hatch to each portion of the roof. Using a standard loose ladder in this situation is risky for the user and for the integrity of the roof.
It is also helpful to have a permanent roof access from grade for one story buildings. But you may want to locate the ladder behind a fence, or inside a courtyard. The other solution is the  lockable cover for the lower portion that you see on nearly every fast food restaurant. Grade-set roof access ladders to roofs over 20' above grade require a cage.
Anchorage of the ladder is fairly simple in masonry construction. Masonry veneer or EIFS construction requires structural angles anchored to studs to carry the weight. Ideally, make provisions in the anchorage of the ladder that allows the ladder to be installed after the wall is complete. 

Where there are multi level roofs or a tall parapet, you will need to flash the roof into the abutting construction. Extending the roofing, say EPDM, up more than 18"-24" invariably fails.


The detail below shows all the relevant issues. Although the sealant is a maintenance issue, it is easy to inspect and repair. Counterflashing built into the masonry requires less maintenance; but it is harder to determine if it needs maintenance; and it is harder to repair. 

Anchoring the counterflashing to the surface of the abutting construction only works if the construction is basically smooth. Where the abutting construction is not smooth, consider providing a smooth panel for the counterflashing to attach to and then starting the other construction.

Also see our detail Roof Expansion Joint - New To Existing