QualicoreHomes

Is it possible to set the automatic height of a rafter lookout so that it is automatically 1-1/2" above the rafter? I use rafter lookouts for strapping on the roof so I need to uncheck Automatic Height of the rafter lookouts and raise them manually by a 1-1/2" so they will lay on top of the rafters. Not a big deal except that as soon as I change anything about the rafter lookouts they all become horizontal which is (I think so anyways) because the Automatic Height is unchecked. So I was hoping that somewhere in the settings it would be possible that the Automatic Height would automatically be 1-1/2" higher and make this a whole lot easier.

Yes if you would be willing that would be really nice!! My oldest version on my current computer is X9, I started with X7 but I never had that installed on this computer but I assume I would still be able to if that's needed. Is that old enough?

Thanks for the advise everyone, much appreciated!! I have decided that in order to get this working properly we will have to sink the area under the deck by about 18" so this gives me about 24-30" of room to work with for decking boards, sleepers, slope and ceiling joists etc. When I have this more completed I will post a cross section of the deal and let you have the final say

Thanks for the tips!, also the video! He raises an interesting point about the details also; I realize he uses sketchup but he doesn't draw too much detail in his model he says but draws separate individual details or vignettes for this which I don't do but instead I try to get the model cleaned up and more detailed.

Thanks for the replies, I'm a little hesitant to post the plan because it is in the preliminary stages and I'm still learning the ropes of this program, kind of like hanging out with the big guys when you're still growing . I agree and am hesitant to draw this. To make it even worse is that the ceiling of the first floor and floor of the second floor are only 2x10's so not much to work with for sloping when underneath this deck needs to be living space. The customer has a home that he wants to convert into separate living quarters, one on the main floor and one in the basement and then a bachelor suite on the second floor with this deck attached. Thanks for the advise!! Roof_Deck_Plan.plan

Hello Chiefs, I have a designing question which I hope I can throw out on this tread also. I have been asked to design a deck on a roof or deck in a roof (not sure what the right term is) which I have not done before. Personally I do not like water on a (almost) flat surface and I'm wondering about which drain system to go with. Would you recommend a floor drain in the middle of the deck or a deck sloping to the end of the roof with a channel or scupper draining onto the roof? I have attached a picture of the last scenario? Some of you must have done a lot of these and I was wondering which would be the best way (or if there is another would love to hear that too) is for designing such a deck. Thanks in advance!!

Thanks for the reply! I did also send a request to Technical Support about it.

This is kind of what I am after; an open area in the attic with only trusses and no actual walls. I can get this accomplished if I stretch the ceiling past the interior walls but as soon as the ceiling plane comes close to the wall it snaps to the stud area and the wall below shoots up to the roof. I tried to create a separate wall for only these applications (vault wall) and change the "building platform to exterior layer" to the drywall hoping that that would change the snapping behavior but it did't work. Does anyone have an idea why my ceiling won't snap to the outside of the wall below and not have the wall underneath go too far? Appreciate the help! Stop_Ceiling_@_Wall_Above (eric) a.plan

Thanks for your reply and hints, much appreciated!! If the stop at ceiling above setting only makes the wall go up to the lower ceiling is there a way that you can balloon it through to the next ceiling and (not above that to the roof structure)? I can make it work with a work around but I find I have to clean up a lot of walls for the cross sections in the construction drawings.

What I have done before is check / use the "absolute" measurements of windows or doors to get them all at the same elevation or height.

It just wont do it . I tried that also to move the ceiling plane over a wall

The walls that are under the vaulted ceiling work ok but the walls that are on the "edge" of the vaulted ceiling and border a room with the flat ceiling go all the way through.

Thanks for the replies, I tried that also Eric but on mine the wall goes all the way to the top of roof and I want to keep that space open for the rafters.

Hello, can I get some help on the following question please? I can not seem to get the "Stop At Ceiling Above" function to work as I think it should. In my mind it tells me that using this function the wall should extend to the ceiling that is directly above it. In the attached plan I'm trying to make a vaulted ceiling with the walls on the end of the vaults to extend to the top of the ceiling and it doesn't want to do that. I can get it to go to the top but then it extends into the rafter space and since we use trusses I don't want anything in the rafter or truss cavity area since that keeps the model clean for the construction drawings. The ceiling plane itself is also not 100% right because the inside height needs to be 109-1/8" but I need to set the outside height to that measurement to get it close. Appreciate your help in advance! Sorry the plan is messy, just starting out on the construction drawings. Stop_Ceiling_@_Wall_Above.plan

Thanks for the advice!! I usually back clip my cross sections also but lately I need to see a part of the section view "deeper". Appreciate the help!!

I was mostly concerned about the floor trusses but with this advise I fixed both. Thanks for that golden tip!! Typical of me not to think outside the box . With creating another layer set I was able to have the ends of all the trusses showing in the one section view but only the face of one truss in the other section view so that works great! Appreciate your help!

Hello Chiefs, Is there a possibility to have all the truss webbing line up so it looks better on a cross section view? I usually set the Back Clip to only include one truss (24") but there are occasions that I need to see "deeper" then 24". I tried to "custom make" the truss in the CAD view option but to no avail, they keep coming on the screen differently. Thanks in advance for your input!

Thanks so much again, I had thought about that but was worried that this would totally mess up with the foundation but not so. Thanks for enlarging my understanding of a pony wall!

I thought I was trying something really simple but I guess not for me. I'm filling in between two storage sheds and all I wanted was a foundation wall with the upper wall centered on top. I went in the wall define box and did the offset to foundation but it wouldn't move. Now for some reason the one wall wants to offset by 10+" or so. Any suggestions? Offset Wall.plan

Thanks Solver and CHief58, you are both Chief #1 I think

I would like a simple label that shows only the width and height of a window as shown on the picture. No problem for a single unit by selecting the "specify label" box and making that label. However when it concerns a mulled unit and I select "show components labels" (Since the mulled unit will be purchased as individual windows the window manufacturer needs to see what size of window), I can't select "specify label" anymore but can only use the "automatic label". So my question is: Can the "automatic label" be changed into showing only width x height? if not is there a way to still show 3 labels for a mulled unit showing the width x height? Thanks Chiefers!!

Sorry for the slow response, I was away from the desk for a few days. Thanks Mick and Eric for looking at the plan and helping to solve it, very much appreciated!!

I should maybe add that I can adjust the walls on the inside to have the drywall come up to the ceiling manually but on several threads it is recommended to not do this but leave the walls to "Default Wall Top Height" so I was wondering if there was another way of getting this accomplished.

Hello Chiefs, I'm still working on this plan with a loft and want to get this completely right. I made ceiling planes to allow for a vaulted ceiling but didn't change the structure thickness of the roof because the ceiling slope is different then the outside roof slope so the thickness changes. (is there a way to do this). I think this structure thickness is giving me difficulties because there is a space between the top of the wall and the bottom of the ceiling plane on the inside. On the cross section view it does show that the wall goes up to the right height but the drywall on the inside doesn't. In the cross section view I can also see that the ceiling goes to further then it should (I assume because it extends to the bottom of the roof structure) Also, on the second floor I made the outside wall a "Truss Heel Wall" which is made up of only of siding and air, I did this so that there wouldn't be a wall going through the trusses but I'm not sure if this is making it go funny (it seems like this wall is above the empty space though). Can anyone see what I'am doing wrong and give some advice how to do it the proper way please? Also, the closet by the front door doesn't have a shelf ceiling as it should either even though it is selected in the room specs. Hopefully not too many questions for one thread and that my description makes sense. Appreciate your input in advance!! Loft_Plan.plan

Sorry didn't see your second post, roofs remain tricky. Thanks again!!