Broken Industry: Can’t Read Plans!

When Builders Can’t Read Plans

It’s a sentence that still surprises people:"Most General Contractors can’t read plans."

Shocking, right? But it's true—and it’s a symptom of a much deeper issue in our industry.

Recently, I came across yet another example of this on Facebook: a GC completely lost trying to interpret basic construction documents. I sent it to one of our most experienced and trusted GC partners. His response was honest—and eye-opening:

“No one can read plans. It’s part of a 30-year decline in carpentry. It started when union carpenters shifted into metal stud framing and temporary structures. They lost the ability for custom framing. By the early '90s, most building turned into production framing—pre-packaged, simplified, and standardized. You didn’t need to read plans anymore. Truss manufacturers handled overframing. One skilled guy leading 4-5 others, none of whom were ever taught how to read drawings. The superintendent became the only one checking plans—and even then, barely.

“An entire generation of skilled labor retired. No time, no incentive to train the next one.”

And there it is. A slow, steady erosion of skill—replaced by speed, templates, and “good enough” execution.

So, how do we fix this?

Let’s start by acknowledging the gaps:

• In Washington State, there is no technical knowledge requirement to become a GC.

• You don’t have to prove you can read a plan, use a framing square, or understand structural intent.

• We don’t require training in key areas like:

  • Interpreting blueprints

  • Building code literacy

  • Construction sequencing

  • Material knowledge

  • On-site troubleshooting and decision-making

And it’s not just the builders.

City building departments have also shifted focus. Overwhelmed and understaffed, many have traded technical oversight for rigid checklists. Designers, architects, and engineers are more concerned with checking boxes than creating clear, buildable documents.

And let’s not forget homeowners. Of course they can’t read plans. Why should they? The format hasn’t changed in decades. We keep presenting homes in technical documents designed for a generation that no longer exists.

It’s time to rethink how we design for building.

We need a new way to create construction documents—something more intuitive, more useful, and aligned with how people actually build today. We need better tools. We need collaboration with experts in tech and AI. We need disruption.

If you’re in tech, architecture, AI, or just someone who believes homes should be built smarter—reach out. Let’s design a better system, together.

Because homes are only getting more expensive. Labor is only getting scarcer.
And we can’t afford to keep building like it’s 1985.

Visual PNW: Building Smarter, Not Harder

At Visual PNW, we’re committed to transforming the way homes are designed and built. We combine practical experience with forward-thinking solutions—bridging the gap between traditional construction and modern innovation.

Our goal is simple: empower builders, homeowners, and designers with tools and clarity that drive better outcomes.

The future of building starts here.