DRAWZILLA

Here is the business and profession code in California. http://wp.aibdca.org/business-and-professions-code-section-5535-5538/

If you build it out of real block walls , you can insert a masonry fireplace in the wall, or if it's metal fireplaces then its even easier to insert using a pass-thru opening

Todd, if you make the framing sub- fascia's gable and eave 1/16", the exterior surface will go to the top of the beams

I use 5 or 6 different layers for callouts , section, and camera views, then you can turn on a off as you want. The use of anno-sets also helps to get the view you want ,quickly, once set up. The use of plan notes has also helped with all the clutter in a plan. The plan notes schedule is a custom schedule but once set up you don't need to worry about it again.

Cloud storage would also be great, I think Cloud rendering is probably the future of all software NVidia already has something like that where you can run 8 Chiefs all at the same time and ray-trace in real time except they were using another program, it was sweet though. It a bit expensive.

None of that will work until Chief get the framing correct, as we all know Chief will not reduce the ridge/ hip depth at the eaves/ overhang, It sticks out the bottom and it shows on the interior and exterior elevations, so I have to reduce those to be the same depth as the rafters to show correctly in section and elevation views. That alone will make the materials list wrong but there are others also.

I like 8.1 better, its a newer O.S. and will last you longer but you may have to update some device drivers.

I thought X6 was pretty bug less to me, toolbars can be turned on and off, It has to be a setting somewhere, try the custom toolbar section.

My advice is to get yourself a good structural engineer and work with them so they get to know you, and then they will stamp your plans (after they mark it up),for submission to the cities. I've been doing that for 40 years, never a problem.

Chief has nothing to do with complying with title 24 requirments, you have to do that on your own. Right now Chief will only export to "Rescheck" and will not export to anything for California. Hers testing can be required on any sized addition, it depends on what your doing.

I have never used the framing bearing Joist direction lines on my plans, I have to turn them off and create my own. It would be nice if it had a better DBX that would also show well in the plan.

I have added this to my suggestion list of top 10 things to fix or add to Chief. They know about it.

Speaking of electrical, the (OC) occupancy sensor switch, has been changed to, (VS)Vacancy Sensor, b/c they really just turn off when you leave ,and do not turn on when you arrive in the room. At least here in California. The cad block should be changed or add a new one in the future

Remember using grayscale, you can loose the fill if it's too light.

Or you can just resize it in the layout and then save to your lib. I always save details to my lib. Too many details in a cad box might slow the program down. This works as long as you don't care about the scale of the details. For me it doesn't matter, I don't want anyone scaling the details anyway.

Ceiling height is usually the wall height within Chief. Use the perspective framing overview camera for a framing shot.

A lot of those I do are filling in between the beams with insulation on the existing. They would rather have the energy savings then the view.

Weird, I just closed and opened, but at first I deleted them manually without re-starting.

You have to uncheck "Has ceiling" in the roof plane DBX.

I would model it just like it is, the spaced beams would be the rafters, no ceiling finish.

Yep, close and open is the answer.

File size really doesn't matter with SnagIt b/c you just send a link to your customer, and the video stores on their site, you can download anytime you want.

The tubs in the lib. have water already in the tubs, with and without ,both are available.

I use 2 plans New and Existing. I use the masked floor plan for demo walls.

Yep, if the plan is in the prelim stage, then it always comes forward. If it's in the final stages then I look at it seriously, and bring it forward.