ParsReport / Guide
How to mark up construction drawings in the field
A simple, consistent way to put field problems on the plans so the office can act on them.
Marking up drawings on site is how field problems reach the office in a form people can act on. A good markup answers three questions at a glance: where is it, what is wrong, and what needs to happen.
Use a small, consistent set of marks
| Mark | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Cloud | An area that changed or has a problem. Clouds are the standard way to say "look here". |
| Arrow | Pointing a note at one exact element: a duct, a door, an outlet. |
| Text | Short, factual notes: what you found and what is needed. Keep it to one line where you can. |
| Pin with photo | Showing the real condition at that spot. A photo pinned to the plan beats a paragraph. |
| Dimension | Field-measured distances that differ from the drawing. |
Colors that mean the same thing every time
Pick a convention for the company and stick to it, for example red for problems and corrections, blue for information and as-built notes, green for completed items. Consistency matters more than which colors you choose.
Work on the current set
- Mark up only the latest issued-for-construction sheets, and note the revision.
- When a new revision arrives, carry open marks forward so nothing is lost.
- Keep a list of marks per sheet so you can see what is still open.
Measure from the PDF carefully
Many sheets are printed or exported off scale. Before measuring, calibrate the sheet with a known dimension (a grid line spacing or a dimensioned wall) and check it against a second one. Field-verify anything critical before ordering material.
Send it where it is needed
Attach the marked-up sheets to the daily report, the RFI or the punch list they belong to, so the person reading it sees exactly where the issue is. See how to write a construction daily report.
Do it on your iPhone or iPadParsReport puts plan markups, photos pinned to the sheets, daily reports and job costs in one app, and sends a clean PDF before you leave the site. No account; your reports and photos stay on your device.
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