Doug_N

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).

Rene and Alan are probably away ahead of me, but that kind of looks like glare, and that the external lighting (daylight) is set way too high. Try reducing the sun intensity for a start as Alan is indicating in his render settings.

This was a mock up that I did for a really giant deck project. The house was for rendering purposes only, and it was modelled from the customer's photos as seen here. You are welcome to the model, and whatever you can get from it. Test Log Cabin.plan

This is going to take a little work but the beginnings of the design can be done be setting two of the default project settings, one for roof overhang, and the second is to make the roof ignore the upper storey. Where the dormer windows are make holes in the roof plane. This will require a fair bit of tinkering with the model, built I have done a few that are similar. Post your work to date and I am sure that there are some of us that will take a crack at getting a roof and dormer working so that you can see how to arrange your workflow.

Eric, You make a very good point. Why even have a Facebook page for users, when the very best forum for users is right here! I followed the FB page for a while but found it frustrating and mostly trivial. I have work to do, and so no reason to follow two groups for the same purpose.