Doug_N

Managed to get it done. This was really tough to do though .

Steve, great video, thanks for that!

I know how frustrating this can be when a dormer works in one location but not in another. There are probably lots of things that the automatic dormer tool checks for, such as interference with other building elements that are not apparent to the user. Fine tuning the parts is a bit of an art, and that is why this user group and some of the magicians here are such a great resource.

Yes, I forgot that setting. Good catch Brett, That helps a lot with this.

Here is a bit of fiddling with your design (Going to be a great house by the way) 221-Linwood-EC-COPY2.zip

That is what I was fearing. That makes the creation of construction documents soooo much harder.

In your survey you only asked if the user was a licensed architect or not. There are also (for houses) other licenses that allow for designers to design small buildings. My license is like a very limited architect's license. I am limited to 6,400 sq ft footprint and not more than 3 storeys. That leaves a very large market for me to practice in. I have tried to use Revit for house design, but it is really difficult to do, and really time consuming. While it is more flexible than CA, that flexibility comes at a very high price with the time to be proficient and the time to build a library that is useful in this field. At least in my opinion.

I am trying to make a mansard roof entrance with the barrel arch as illustrated, but I can't seem to make the curve eave edge. Anyone have a method for doing this?

Is this what you had in mind, or is the roof all on the same plane?

Well, using Revit to do a garage? Kind of filling a hand basin with a fire hose!

Do you mean that the flat roofs have different heights as well? Could you post a copy of the plan file?

None of the winders in the examples could be used in my jurisdiction, or, I suspect, anywhere in Canada. Wok-cz example doesn't count because they are not winders, and would be allowed. Here is the code for winders in stairs in Canada (using the Ontario Building Code version). Here is what the code says about the narrow end of tapered stairs (as in winders). Ontario Building Code - Volume 1, O. Reg. 332/12, Article 9.8.4.3. of Division B 9.8.4.3. Dimensions for Tapered Treads (1) Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Articles 9.8.4.5. and 9.8.4.5A., tapered treads shall have a run that, (a) is not less than 150 mm (5-7/8") at the narrow end of the tread, and (b) complies with the dimensions for rectangular treads specified in Table 9.8.4.1. when measured at a point 300 mm (11-13/16") from the centre line of the inside handrail. (2) Tapered treads in required exit stairs shall conform to the requirements in Article 3.4.6.9. (3) The depth of a tapered tread shall be not less than its run at any point and not more than its run at any point plus 25 mm . Ontario Building Code - Volume 1, O. Reg. 332/12, Article 9.8.4.5. of Division B 9.8.4.5. Winders A-9.8.4.5. Winders. (1) Stairs within dwelling units are permitted to contain winders that converge to a centre point provided, (a) the winders turn through an angle of not more than 90°, (b) individual treads turn through an angle of not less than 30° or not more than 45°, and (c) adjacent winders turn through the same angle. (2) Where more than one set of winders described in Sentence (1) is provided in a single stairway between adjacent floor levels, such winders shall be separated in plan by at least 1 200 mm (47 -1/4").

In Canada code requires the top of foundation walls to be at least 6" above grade. Unless the joists are suspended, then add another 10-14" for floor assembly which means that unless there is some grade ramp to the garage floor, there must be stairs from the house to the garage slab. (Or s sloping grade where the grade at the garage is higher than the grade at the house.) Typically, the garage foundation wall also is 6" higher than the grade (so the garage slab is a curb with cuts for doors at grade). I have seen very few houses with the garage slab at the same height as the main floor area. They may have a dropped room (mudroom or laundry) that is close to the garage level then a step up to the main floor) but still, there is a step from that level to the garage. It just works out that way.

For walls with exposed framing, create a wall type that has materials only on one side of the wall. For example, copy the wall type Interior-4" to say Interior-4" GOS (Good One Side). Delete the drywall on one side, then use that wall in your plan view. Generate all framing and take a look in 3d. I have included the sample garage plan in this post for your reference so that you can see the wall type as well. Joe makes a very good point about the ceiling, and in my jurisdiction, the walls would have to be drywalled as well so that the joints could be mudded and taped to mitigate the flow of fumes from the garage to the occupied space above. Garage Attic Space.plan

Hi Ryan, This is a pretty good work around and again, thank you for that. but a far cry from having something interactive that can be played with as the design migrates through client changes and plans examiners comments. I would suspect that accomplishing this using the stair tool should be something that shouldn't be too difficult to code for the wizards of bits at CA seeing some of the things that they have come up with so far. This would be easier to generate than a standard stair that is now included. This workaround does not fix 3d presentations because of the 1" side overhang as well. I have asked several times for them to separate the front and side overhangs, because on external concrete stairs (in my jurisdiction) the front overhang is required by code, and there is no side overhang in concrete steps in most cases. All of that being said, I will be using your great idea in projects that have below grade stairs to generate a section profile.

When automatic dormers are failing it is usually because there is not enough space vertically for the dormer to be created using the default settings. Here is a video about how to create manual dormers. (You should seriously contemplate upgrading to X15 if you are using the software professionally. It is miles better than X13). https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1521/manually-drawing-dormers.html?playlist=95

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?