Grading Design | Site Grading, Architecture & Best Practices
Learn about grading design, site grading techniques, and architectural grading principles. Discover best practices for residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.
May 1, 2025
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Explore our professional drafting services in Los Angeles. From rebar detailing to structural and MEP shop drawings, we offer comprehensive CAD solutions to meet your project needs.
Rebar detailing is a critical service in the structural integrity of reinforced concrete elements. In Los Angeles—where seismic activity is a major factor—our detailed rebar drawings are developed according to ACI 318 standards and local building codes, ensuring safety and longevity. These drawings include bar bending schedules, lap splice lengths, anchorage details, and exact bar placement to prevent costly on-site conflicts. Rebar detailing significantly reduces material waste and improves overall efficiency, especially for infrastructure and high-rise developments.
Our steel fabrication drawings transform conceptual designs into shop-ready instructions. These documents include detailed specifications on cutting, welding, and assembly. We align every drawing with AISC guidelines, and our team ensures all fabrication elements meet tolerance thresholds, connection requirements, and finish standards. Steel detailing from our team supports clear communication between engineers, contractors, and steel fabricators, improving turnaround time and structural reliability.
Warehouses demand customized steel layouts to accommodate racking systems, heavy equipment, and high bay areas. Our drafting experts produce detailed drawings for trusses, girts, anchor bolt plans, and mezzanine supports, all designed to comply with IBC regulations and OSHA safety standards. We consider load calculations, wind exposure, and bay spacing to ensure your warehouse meets all functional and structural needs.
We provide drafting services for elevated platforms, catwalks, mezzanines, and maintenance decks, integrating safety rails and load-bearing designs. Drawings include structural steel layouts, grating patterns, access stairs, and connection details, all tailored to specific equipment footprints and safety requirements. Our industrial platform designs comply with OSHA 1910.28 and are essential for safe operations in manufacturing and process plants.
For office spaces, retail centers, and hospitality developments, our drafting services offer precision and code compliance at every stage. We support architectural intent with detailed structural, MEP, and facade coordination drawings. Our team understands Title 24 energy compliance and ADA requirements, and our documents streamline the permit and inspection process in Los Angeles’ fast-paced development market.
Drafting for high-rise buildings involves unique challenges such as wind loads, seismic reinforcement, and vertical transport systems. We develop coordination drawings for reinforced concrete cores, steel moment frames, elevator shafts, and facade systems, all integrated within BIM environments to detect clashes and streamline approvals. Explore BIM’s high-rise benefits via Autodesk’s BIM hub.
We provide code-compliant drawings for stairs and handrails used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Our layouts include riser heights, tread depths, handrail returns, guardrail placements, and anchorage details. All designs comply with IBC Section 1011 and ADA standards, ensuring both safety and accessibility.
Our services extend to all steel elements outside main structural frames—ladders, bollards, roof frames, and canopies. These elements, while often overlooked, are critical for site safety and function. We ensure integration with the larger structural layout and compliance with standards from the National Institute of Steel Detailing.
Plumbing systems in large buildings are complex, requiring accurate routing, slope specifications, and equipment tie-ins. Our plumbing shop drawings include riser diagrams, sleeve layouts, and coordination with structural penetrations. We follow the California Plumbing Code and provide drawings ready for permit submission.
We generate shop-ready HVAC ductwork drawings that ensure airflow efficiency and code compliance. Each drawing includes duct sizing, pressure classifications, insulation types, and diffuser locations. Our services meet SMACNA standards and are optimized for prefabrication and installation sequencing.
For architectural and industrial metalwork, we create sheet metal designs ready for CNC cutting. These include fabrication drawings for custom hoods, flashings, claddings, and ductwork. We follow ANSI and ASHRAE guidelines to ensure dimensional accuracy and airflow optimization.
Our BIM shop drawings bring together structure, mechanical systems, electrical layouts, and architecture into a single model. Using Autodesk Revit and Navisworks, we provide LOD 350+ models ready for fabrication and installation. BIM coordination reduces RFIs and change orders by identifying clashes before they reach the job site. Learn more from the National BIM Standard–United States.
Our MEP drafting services provide fully coordinated shop drawings for HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. We include load calculations, panel schedules, circuiting plans, and pipe sizing with insulation specs. Our drawings help you pass inspections and coordinate with other trades using IFC (Issued for Construction) and AFC (As Built for Construction) formats.
Structural drawings include details of steel, concrete, and wood framing systems. We produce anchor bolt plans, base plate details, beam schedules, and connection diagrams—all developed in coordination with structural engineers and in accordance with AISC and CRSI guidelines.
Custom cabinetry and fixtures demand accurate millwork drawings. Our services include detailed joinery diagrams, edge banding specs, section views, and hardware callouts that follow AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) standards. We work closely with architects and millworkers to ensure design intent is met.
Our facade detailing services support complex envelope systems including unitized curtain walls, rainscreens, and sunshades. We detail mullion layouts, bracket anchorage, glazing seals, and thermal breaks, ensuring energy performance and code compliance. Refer to ASTM E283 and E330 standards for performance metrics we adhere to.
We deliver rebar shop drawings that align with formwork and concrete pours. Our bar schedules include clear placement, lap splice locations, and bundling logic. These help contractors stay within tolerance and improve project sequencing.
We produce shop-ready steel drawings for columns, beams, gusset plates, and bracing. Each drawing includes weld symbols, finish codes, and bolt torque requirements. Our services support modular construction and Lean principles.
Precast concrete drawings include embed locations, reinforcement cages, connection plates, and lifting details. Our work meets PCI standards and integrates seamlessly with erection sequencing plans. These are essential for panelized construction in urban projects.
We manage document evolution from concept to as-built. GFC drawings reflect the final approved construction set. IFC versions are issued for construction use, and AFC drawings incorporate field changes post-completion. This tracking ensures accountability and precision.
We detail reinforcement for slabs, footings, beams, and columns using bar bending schedules, dowel locations, and coupler positions. Our team ensures drawings align with both structural intent and constructability, minimizing delays during concrete placement.
Our wood framing services provide layout drawings for trusses, joists, shear walls, and headers, tailored for stick-built or panelized construction. We integrate nailing patterns, connectors, and blocking details per APA guidelines and CBC requirements.
Using professional drafting services minimizes errors before construction begins. Clear documentation reduces rework, ensures material accuracy, and shortens review times. A NIST study found that improving design communication can save the U.S. construction industry $15.8 billion annually. Our detailed shop drawings contribute to this cost-efficiency by eliminating ambiguity and reducing miscommunication between trades.
With coordinated drawings, teams across disciplines can work from the same source of truth. BIM and CAD technologies enable real-time collaboration, allowing for faster approvals and fewer change orders. Drafting services serve as the foundation of effective communication between architects, engineers, and contractors—helping you avoid RFIs, delays, and costly misalignments on-site.
In a jurisdiction like Los Angeles, code compliance is non-negotiable. Our drawings align with the CBC, Green Code, seismic design standards, ADA, and more. By catching issues early, our drafts eliminate delays in the permit process and protect you from costly fines or legal complications. We ensure your drawings pass scrutiny from plan checkers, inspectors, and regulatory bodies at every level of review.
Our team brings together over 15 years of local experience in drafting, engineering, and construction documentation. We’ve worked on everything from small residential additions to major high-rise developments. Our expertise allows us to anticipate jurisdictional requirements and fast-track approvals. Our professionals stay up to date with evolving code requirements and software updates, ensuring your project is compliant and future-proof.
We use AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, SolidWorks, and Navisworks to provide high-detail, parametric, and coordinated drawings. With cloud-based workflows, our clients receive real-time updates and easy version control. This tech-forward approach means faster turnarounds and fewer revisions, while also enabling seamless integration with consultants, builders, and fabricators.
We know that delays in drawings mean delays on site. That’s why we offer express service options, fixed delivery timelines, and responsive customer support. Our streamlined process allows us to meet aggressive deadlines without compromising quality. Whether you're working on a single tenant improvement or a multi-phase commercial development, we adapt to your timelines and budget.
The cost of CAD drafting services can vary depending on the complexity of the project and the type of drawings needed. Prices can range from $50 to $150 per hour or more, depending on the scope.
Freelance drafting services typically cost between $30 to $100 per hour, depending on the experience of the draftsman and the project's requirements.
AutoCAD drafters typically charge $40 to $120 per hour, depending on their experience and the project's complexity. Some may also offer flat-rate packages for specific deliverables like floor plans or rebar detailing sets.
Drafting services create detailed technical drawings used in construction, architecture, and engineering projects. These drawings help guide the execution of designs, ensuring accuracy and compliance with building codes. The scope may include floor plans, sections, elevations, details, and schedules, often coordinated in both 2D and 3D formats.
Generally, a draftsman is more affordable than an architect, as they focus on creating technical drawings rather than providing design services. However, the cost difference depends on the scope and complexity of the project. Draftsmen are ideal for translating approved designs into buildable documentation, especially in projects where the design phase is already complete.
Construction in Los Angeles comes with unique challenges—tight regulations, strict building codes, and high expectations for quality and speed. Drafting is not just a technical task; it's the blueprint for your project's success. Whether you're developing a high-rise, renovating a commercial space, or detailing a custom millwork piece, professional drafting ensures you stay on schedule, within budget, and fully compliant.
To tackle these demands confidently and maximize your project’s potential, you need a partner that offers precision, speed, and deep local expertise. That’s exactly what Gleky delivers. Our team becomes an extension of yours, providing high-quality shop drawings, seamless collaboration, and responsive support—so your project moves forward without surprises.
Ready to make your next construction process smoother, faster, and more accurate? Click here to get started with Gleky and schedule your free consultation today.
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