What are Millwork shop drawings?

I hear this somewhat often "What are Millwork shop drawings?"

There may be no singular simple answer. Ask more than one person and see if you get the same response some people may have no idea what you are talking about.

Depending on whom you ask – Owners, Architects, Contractors, or Millwork Manufacturers, you may get widely different opinions, including arguments as to what constitutes proper Millwork shop drawings as opposed to just regurgitating the Architects or Designers drawings.

Lack of clarity on the contract documents creates a great degree of complication and frustration for the Millwork industry. That is why Millwork Shop drawings are a valuable tool for Architectural Millwork and casework shops. Millwork Shop drawings must typically be accompanied by additional information such as product and technical data, and specifications. Each individual project requires a set of submittals unique to that project’s designs and field conditions. We see some Single-family or small home construction projects that may forgo the process altogether but large office buildings will definitely require a much more stringent planning and oversight process.

Simply put Millwork shop drawings are meant to show a specific level of real world buildable fabrication and installation detail that are typically not represented in the Architect or Designers drawings. Many designer drawings vary in levels of detail and may require the help of an Architectural Millwork Draftsman to refine the details.  Many contractors’ waste valuable time and money submitting under-developed Millwork shop drawings that continually get resubmitted and redlined. That is why we work to help our clients get it right the first time around!

A quite common misconception about Millwork shop drawings is that they are suitable for fabrication purposes right from the draftsman. First of all never build from a shop drawing unless it is stamped approved by the Architect.

Some Casework Shop Drawings where there are high tolerances solved with fillers a basic shop drawing can be used for fabrication however, they generally must be taken to the next level which is field dimensioning and additional detailing for clarity and fabrication requested by Owners, Designers or Architects. 

If you need Help with your Millwork or Casework Shop Drawings Call Cad-Con Design 772-408-8175 or visit CadConDesign.Com  #MillworkShopDrawings #CaseworkShopDrawings