parkwest

On 4/11/2024 at 4:45 PM, stevenyhof said:

 

Unlike AutoCAD and others, Chiefs walls, roofs, etc. all work together within a relationship with each object/element to seam things together. Softplan and Cedreo use this same type of relational modeling. Some just do it better than others. 

 

To answer your "interesting" query, I have been designing with CAD since the late 90's. It does not take me long to know if a piece of software can do what I want or not. Even when Chief shows us things like auto trusses, I step out of the box for only a moment (meaning, do something a bit more complex) and Chief falls apart. It is these types of things that I would test or spend a few minutes in forums to find out what others are running into to not even bother with a trial. I know of Architects that do such complex work that Chief needs to turn into a manual solid tool (like AutoCAD) just to pull it off. I love Chief and it's automation, but I have also spent time building tools, solids, materials that help me where Chief's automation fails. So far I have been drawing about 120 plans a year with Chief on my own, and few are very simple like they were just 10 years ago when every builder and realtor were building spec homes. 

 

You've been here for almost 10 years. I see you have Softplan on your list of tools you use. What is your thoughts on Softplan vs Chief? 

 

Shoot!  I thought you were going to give dating advice for when you are dating models.  ;-)

 Anyway, I have to run or else I will be late for my appointment...

3 hours ago, stevenyhof said:

It was a number of things I do not really recall, but a number of the questions people were asking and the answers that were given. I could tell in a few minutes that Chief was ahead of the game with this type of relationship modeling.

So you never looked at the free trial before investing?  Interesting.

What does “with this type of relationship modeling” mean?

Thank you for your input.

On 2/29/2024 at 5:47 PM, stevenyhof said:

The best is always to go to the software forum and spend a few minutes there. 
I did that with Softplan - https://softplan.com/forum/ - Helped me to like Chief better.

I couldn't find a forum for Cedreo - that says a lot

Hello Steven, I am curious how spending "a few minutes" on the softplan forum made you like chief better?  What caught your attention?  Thanks!

Here's a couple more software suggestions you may want to take a look at.

I have not used Solidbuilder in years but you wanting to see how everything goes together... well, this software should do the job.

https://digitalcanal.com/solidbuilder-design-software-programs/

And I can't believe not one person on the Chief forum didn't mention SoftPlan.

https://ww2.softplan.com/

SoftPlan would be my choice to do what you want to do with your designing of the houses you posted on pininterest.  In SoftPlan, you pretty design it how you are going to build it.

Like others have said, you might want to have more than one tool in your tool pouch, if you know what I mean.

What is a 2 story porch?

This has just started popping up on the last few library updates, Can anyone tell me what it means or what I need to do to get the "lost" libraries to be found on the server?

Master carpenter, master plumber, Master's degree and master builder???  All of them slave owners???

For all the newspeak people, Chief has to go along with the term of architect, which definitely has an air of superiority to it's name.

If anyone is really concerned about masters and slaves just take a look at your paycheck deductions and your tax returns... and think it was illegal to collect taxes on free Americans until they passed the 16th amendment in 1913... just a little over 100 years ago.  For the first 150 years we got to keep and spend our own money.

5 hours ago, CarsonBDesign said:

Obviously I'm new here-thanks for your clear insights.  What about Autocad vs Chief?  It's a fairly big investment thus the questions.

Maybe if you could tell us what exactly are you wanting to do with a cad program, we might be able to help you.  Are you doing only interiors? 3D modeling?  Or full construction documents?  Are you working solo?  Or do you need group capabilities?  Do you plan on doing one of a kind custom homes?  Or is your focus going to be remodeling?

These are just a few questions that came to mind that might help you in your search for a software solution.

I updated chief this morning and didn’t have a freeze yet today .  I was about fed up with this stuff, but life is good again.

Anyone else have good results from the last patch update?

Thank you!  

I am not finding the topic in the search.  Can anyone remember where this topic is?  I am working on a tight deadline and was hoping to find this symbol somewhere...

Thank you,

On 7/17/2022 at 2:55 PM, Kbird1 said:

@parkwest

 

David is in Idaho IIRC

 

www.idahocustomhomes.weebly.com

 

M.

Thanks, Mick!

You might want to try Simpson Deck Planner.  It might be better suited for what you want.

https://www.strongtie.com/products/go/software/deckplanner

8 minutes ago, Kbird1 said:

 

Was going to be my next suggestion too, as I think you'd need to goto AZ to represent yourself in Court or have someone do it for you = $$$$

 

M.

Check the court you will be filing the claim in and see if they do teleconference or zoom meetings.  Since the scamdemic, this is a new option to “going to court”

4 hours ago, ericepv said:

I've been down the small claims route before (and yes, I already have the paperwork) but my main concern is collecting even after a judgement in my favor. As I am out of town (NY vs AZ), I may need to hire a Marshall if the defendant still refuses to pay even after a judgement in my favor. Based on what I know so far, a lien provides much more incentive to pay up.

And you believe foreclosing a lien on their house will be cheaper and easier???

Have you looked into filing in small claims court?  Would be a lot quicker and cheaper than foreclosing on mechanic’s lien, imho.

Check the county where the non-payer lives for starters.

Thanks Mick for the reminder.  Been playing with x14 and might have missed this.

I took a quick look at what you have so far and there are quite a few things that need to be cleaned up, adjusted or fixed.

Most ICF's I have experience with come in 4 foot length... may I suggest that you adjust your exterior dimensions to reduce waste.  And, eliminate all fractional inches for your exteriors, including opening locations.

May also want to flip the layout so the garage is in the NW corner of the house to help reduce winter winds hitting the house directly.

I am sorry but there is no pizzazz to your front elevation...

Check your wall type and make sure you are using exterior railing, instead of interior railing.

Can you draw your beams in free-hand?

I started using Kofax Power PDF Advanced... so far, so good!

3 minutes ago, ricatic said:

Interesting clip above...but as a concrete placer for over 50 years, I would be unhappy about the total waste of money putting the wire mesh down...other than the slab thickenings, none of the wire mesh was on chairs or sitting above the sub-grade...and no one was pulling the wire up by hand...I could just hear my dad yelling "pull the wire up...pull the wire up...it ain't worth nothing sitting on the bottom"...

 

Regards

 

Rick

I believe in this case, since it is a basement slab, they are using the wire mesh solely as an attachment point for the slab heating system to hold the tubing in place during the pour, hence the lack of chairs or any effort to pull the mesh up.

On 1/13/2022 at 11:21 AM, robdyck said:

A couple of reasons:

• kPa of slabs is not as high as that of foundation concrete (building code)
• Project Timing: Cribbers, Framers, Plumbers, Flatwork. This is especially true for the crappy half of the year when it's freezing and it's much easier to provide heat for plumbing ground work and placing slabs after the structure is framed.

I am curious why you don’t pour the slab first and then frame the load bearing walls?