Doug_N

Nice work around. Ryan, thanks!!!

Concrete stairs are neither radical nor new. They are common and used, perhaps on more than half of all projects in one place or another. CA made a great step in making a railing wall that would follow stairs allowing for great flexibility in railing styles. Unfortunately some common stairs can't be done at all using the stair tool. One example is stairs like this

Stair framing to show up in framing views. Open back stairs with closed risers. Independant tread overhang on front and sides Waterfall stair profile for concrete stairs. Auto change material for concrete stairs. Ability to set up run and rise parameters to match building code (min and max run and min and max rise) Ability to set up tread depth default. Abilty to set up stringer size as a lumber size (2 x10 or 2 x 12 for example)

I never was very good at leaving milk and cookies out. By the time Santa arrived, I had eaten the cookies and drank the milk! Lol

Thanks for the great feedback. Some really creative ideas!

Thanks Gene, that doesn't help in this case because the starter is a set of volute balusters.

If the newel post at the bottom of the stairs is different from the other posts along the staircase, how can that be achieved?

The masonry should be completely supported. As a suggestion you could do a pilaster under the overhung column areas.

You may also want to have the railing and the columns to be independent from one another. Here is a short video that I did on that topic.

Strange but when I opened the drawing from the drop box, both windows seemed ok. Now this has nothing to do with the problem, but the statistics can all be handled with macros as well as the window labels. Saves you tons of typing, and keeps everything coordinated. Change a window and the label updates automatically. I like the font and the drawing style, very nicely done and arranged.

Stairs are a special case because they can be seen in a stairwell, but then that is true for other objects when a floor section is classed as "open to Below".

Scott, I can hardly wait. I am still amazed at the changes in X15. Now you drop this little teaser on us!!! Argggg, it is like when I was a kid waiting for Christmas morning.

Great solution thanks. I contacted the company which is actually local to me.

I will look into that. My question is how do I detail that on the architectural drawings.

The intricate design and shape. From the picture you can see how complex the shape of the arch and shoulders are.

Just a few notes on your post. This section of the forum is for making suggestions to the developers of CA about features that we would like to see or problems that require correction. There is no confidentiality, whatever you post is feely seen by all or any member Members of the forum make suggestions on techniques (in the Q&A area) about how to achieve a desired result. I doubt that anyone would guide you through the permit process of any particular jurisdiction. If you would like to learn about the building design field, there are several options open to you. Here are a few suggestions: go to architectural school, work for a design company, work hands on for a contractor, buy and read literature on how to design houses. Look at other designs for houses and buildings online.

And most of us have the road rash to prove it!

I have used Moasure and tried using it for a while, but found the rate at which you had to take measurements (the time between measurements is limited or the device loses reference) to be not practical. I gave up on it. One very useful but cumbersome device is the Leica 3d disto. Sort of a poor man's robotic laser distance and angle measuring device. It will measure elevations of surfaces as well. It is very accurate and creates an AutoCAD file in 3d. It measures key points, very good for measuring the face of a building for example. When I say poor man's, i mean in relationship to a total station for example. Not cheap as this will set you back just shy of 10k.

Hi Eric, I might be out of line here, but I think once the bottom section of the roof is curved, you leave the world where auto build is allowed. Also

what Steve said!

DB's suggestion is a good one, but you could also do it as a solid and apply materials to it. Create several layers of the solid (one for each material required) and then apply the materials. You can then change that to an architectural block and orient it as required in your model. The advantage to DB's solution is that all of the layers are handled by the DBX along with materials. Converting it to a symbol keeps the different materials, so those can be edited as required after the fact.

How would one go about doing construction documents for such a complex dormer? I have done conceptual drawing for the client, but my brain has frozen on how to actually build this. The house has standard framed construction with stone veneer. I am thinking that the dormers be done in stucco. Any thoughts?

Hi Scott, you don't often post, but when you do it is worth reading (or watching).