Evolution

Alan, I couldn't get the stairs to draw at all. IOW, straight, U or otherwise? If I drew the straight stair, floor one then floor two then attempt to click for the landing it did nothing at all. The U-shaped had to be placed outside the plan, then adjusted to the clear dimension then shift select to drag it into place, but it would do the sloped ceiling for the flight up from the landing etc. I tried just creating an open to below room and placing the stairs that (for whatever reason) is not working. I really don't have to have the stairs in my remodel plan but wanted to show them in case the AHJ says something about them. We aren't modifying any of the core area (at least not for now)

I continue to work on the as-built interior of the Charitable Foundation Remodel, I am doing this design for and now stuck on the stairs I am only doing the remodel of the 2nd floor, so the only walls you will see on the first floor are the main stair well, janitor and restroom core (which are fire walls). My building is approx. 10' floor to a drywall (fire rated) ceiling. All finished ceilings are 9' lay in (which I have not modeled yet). I have drawn the walls in on the second floor based on my actual as built dimensions. I attempted the u-shaped stair with the stair tools, of course starting with the U-Shaped stair tool and placing it in my plan, then attempted to open and adjust it to work, and as you guess by my title (Stairs for Dummies) I am just that. I haven't been able to get it to work. There is a stair to the attic from the second floor The Training video is nice, but doesn't exactly model the condition I'm dealing with. I tried the straight stair tool, starting on the first floor, then clicking at the top for the landing, before turning up from their but that didn't work either. I'm posting the latest iteration of the plan, and thanks for your VALUABLE TIME & HELP! Orphanos Foundation Renovations.plan

Thanks again! I'll play this one over and over until I think I can catch the model up.

That fixed it. Thanks!

I assume once I've drawn the porch in using railing set to invisible?, made it a room (name it porch) then (go to second floor make it open to below?) go up to the (non-existent) 3rd floor, make it also open to below, check ceiling and roof over this room that the issues in the screen captures will be corrected? 1. The fascia is notched at the recesses in the walls on front and rear (this not correct) 2. No soffit Orphanos Foundation Renovations.plan

Steve, I have watched the video you did to help me, starting a stopping at crucial points, working my model as I go along with your video. I thought I was following you point by point and so far everything has worked the same way it is working for you in the video, except when I get to building the false chimneys. I have my construction lines transferred up to the attic. I pulled the Conc Caps on the second floor roof level back (made from roof planes) and added the new roof cap on top of the chimney. I also, made sure my attic walls are indeed attic walls, and go up to the attic level and grab my 6" brick wing wall and draw the wall same as you. It appears to be the same results. Then back down to the roof level on 2, I hit the "Q" key to grab the wall cap on floor 2 and drag it out to make the roof cap for the chimney, remove ridge cap, gutter, frieze board change material to concrete and draw the cap the same way you did and it all seems to be working fine. I open the wall dbx, transform replicate and raise it 48" (instead of the 60" you raised yours). Select the roof cap transform reflect about to place it on the other end. But when I open the 3D, everything looks good, except the Chimneys? I deleted everything from that point and watched your video again.....and swear I'm doing it the same way you are, but not getting the same results. Do you mind taking a look to see what step I may have missed? Orphanos Foundation Renovations.plan

Steve is really the bomb to help with this sort of stuff!

If I had it do over again, I would've gotten the sims card for my Surface Pro. Hot spot tends to be a lot slower, but be sure you have unlimited data. JMO

Thanks again Steve. I actually know how to joint roof planes using the (2) key. It was the part where you grabbed the edge of one roof plan and dragged it past the (wing wall) and created the first roof plan cap, in the video. I grabbed the roof plan edge and hit the "Q" key, and was able to drag the edge over and create the roof plan (used for the cap). Your videos are soooooo helpful!.

Build it using manual roof planes then. This help should work for what you need. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00441

So Larry, I've watched your video several times. I started a new plan, setting all my default ceiling heights to 120 (per my as built). Along with some other defaults relative to this build. I've actually had the video start-stop playing and working on my new plan file as I tried to follow you. You work so fast, and I can't catch some of the little things you are doing, but I stop and go back again and again. I had already set up the different walls for the wing wall, the end walls in my defaults. I couldn't figure out which was the best to use for the wing walls so I just used the 6" exterior brick existing I created. Some of the little things for me that you make look so easy, is as pictured in the snips, where after you've built the roof you grab the roof plane line and drag it out to build the parapet cap / roof. I've attempted that maneuver a hundred times (so it seems) and cannot for the life of me do what you are doing. Plus I have all these UFO's showing up and haven't been able to figure them out? In playing the video back it sounds like you're saying hit the 2 key grab the line and pull it out, but if you are that isn't working for me? One other thing, I'm using the 6" brick wall type (I made it 6" brick existing for my plan) I have the definition set up just like yours, but when I draw the wing walls on floor 1 and 2 they won't line up with the end of the wall in between and create a slight offset. The parapet wall worked fine, as I drew the wing wall, then deleted the wall in between, grabbed the wing wall and pulled it through like you did. I'm posting the new plan I started, you may see my mistakes quicker? I know the foundation looks quirky at the moment, but I'll get back to that. The foundation will be 8" CMU (concrete filled) with the same brick veneer running down below grade (which is 54" below fin floor). I used copied paste in place, and also copy transform replicate exactly as you did. I'm trying to figure this out as much as possible on my own. I have three different practice plans. This one is the latest, and as close as I've been able to follow your video. (EDIT) I finally figured out it was the "Q" key!!!!! not 2 ha! Now if I can get the last part of the video right, to build the chimney correctly. I pulled the parapet roof's back and the area stuck up like a chimney, but of course the back side didn't have brick on it. So I've got to do it like you did, only so far it hasn't worked for me! You make it look so easy and do it so fast its frustrating (LOL)! Orphanos Foundation Renovations.plan

Yes, as it appears the inter casing laps the DW and the exter casing laps the veneer. I thought I tried that and it just moved the frame out?!?!? I'll go back and check that box then. Thanks again Eric.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Steve, you make it seem so simple and I really like the way you did it. Another one of those videos I am going to watch over and over again

Eric if you look closely you see the jambs stop on the veneer (usually about 2") but the jambs on this one actually run out to the face of the Wood architrave and the casing sits on the face of it. It's no big deal, but I have seen it a few times.

Obviously I didn't know what that little sneaky box was. Should've tried it! Thanks Eric

IT would be of advantage to you to fill out your signature, include the software version, as well as your computer hardware for future assistance. Go to your profile, select it go down to the drop down menu and select signature, fill that out. Have you searched the CA library files for Stucco? If they don't suit you, you can use the photo to make a copy of the texture, then import it as a new material and add it to your user library. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00767/creating-a-new-material.html

Moving on!

Getting on with the plan for the Non-Profit, as time permits, modeling the front entrance (which will pretty much remain unchanged) is full height of the two story with French door / side lites / transom first floor, large fixed window with arch top. My question is three-fold. 1. The jamb on the existing Door/side lites/ transom is full depth of the wall. I searched the forum for a similar question as to how to (if possible) show this ( I know I know others have asked similar questions), but key words didn't bring anything up. Only option in the door or window DBX is to set it flush to the interior or flush to the exterior. Or did I miss the option for a through jamb? 2. The entire front entrance is solid wood (not siding) and acts as an "Architrave" for the entire front entrance. I Figured that out by adding wall breaks, then making a copy of the wall, and changing the brick to 3/4" solid wood. I assume that's the way you would model it? Since it is as built it probably doesn't matter anyway, as long as I get the look right. 3. The Fixed Window is another issue, trying to get the muntins to look correct that is they follow the radius of the arched top, but I couldn't find an option to do that in the Window DBX? So I guess the only way to do it is with P-solids for them?

Larry, I was practicing with the plan Mick did. My plan (which is currently awaiting my trying to achieve the same thing Mick has done) is in a separate folder. what I have, in fact set up the default floor to ceiling dims, including the crawl space, and also, edited the Roof, attic floor, second floor and first floor construction to the correct framing. For now, I could open that plan and do the reno of the second floor, I am hoping by practicing with Mick's plan I could learn his process so when I do start the exterior, it would be easier. Yes you're def correct, trying to learn others process without actually understanding how they went about it is all but impossible. I hoping for now (checking with the building dept) that all they will require for this first phase is the as-built and remodel floor plan so we can get started on that work. as always thanks for your input!

Thanks Mick. I'll have to put it down for now. Have to get back to schematic budgeting. I'll update this one when I get a chance to work on it again.

Mick, I needed to adjust the floor to ceiling heights on each floor to 10', and as I suspected doing so screwed up those end walls after adjusting the second floor. Attempting to raise the end walls individually didn't work either. Adjusting the crawl space and first floor to their correct as-built height worked fine, of course it is the second floor that didn't. My assumption would've been since the end walls are just that, exterior walls, when I adjusted the crawl space and first floor, they adjusted correctly, so why didn't the second floor cause the end walls and roof line to raise? Do I need to do a transform replicate and raise the roof the difference from it's current height above the second floor to the as-built height? Will the end walls automatically raise to the correct height? Or do they have to be adjusted manually somehow?

Mick, I had to move the walls in order to get the as-built dimensions correct. Starting with the foundation I expected once I entered the correct as-built dim's, I could go to each subsequent floor and just do align with the floor above or below, but that option did not appear in the usual tool bar? I spent some time looking for it at any rate, I did the reference floor plan and attempted to line all of them up. Thanks for the help!!!!!

BOY!!!!! is this one a challenge?!?!?!, but at least I'm not in a rush to get the Exterior Elevations (at least for now). If I can get the interior dimension correct and work on the remodel plan that should suffice. I just don't want to get so far I have to start over on the plan to get the exterior correct. I'm working with your model Mick as it seems to be the closest to the actual plan. Problem one is the end walls (that run plan N&S) and extend past the walls (that run plan E&W) are 16" thick at the extensions, but the P-N&S wall in between the P-E&W are (10 7/16") Brick with air barrier, 2X6 and 1/2" DW. I made a copy of the Solid wall you did, modified it to (6" brick existing 10 7/16") and I was going to put a wall break in the N&S walls intersecting the E&W walls and use the Solid wall you modeled for the extensions, but I can't break the wall for some reason. I decided to work on the roof at that point to adjust it to the correct dimensions but again for some reason was unable to move the attic walls correctly to get the look. Maybe you can take a look at what I've done so far and give some more advice? I have attached the plan. Orphanos Foundation Renovations.plan

Mick, I had to set it aside for now, working on a Schematic budget on a large project and pricing schematic drawings is always fun!!! (NOT). I did open your plan and it does look like the direction I need. I'm thinking I might open your plan and look at the defaults, may have to reset? ceiling height is 10' (fire rated) on each floor, and a dropped "lay-in" ceiling at (-12") below that on each. Right now the priority is to get the as-built right, then do the remodel. Thankfully they only need the second floor at the moment for building permit, then I'll get back to the first floor remodel, and finally the exterior (as their budget allows). Hopefully I can get back to it today. 1+ for the help (I'd give you 10 but CAF won't let me ;-) ) Larry, you're help is always appreciated!!! Hopefully I can make some progress today between juggling all the other items on today's agenda!

Jorge, you're a lot smarter than I and certainly more adept at using the Software than I; I will give it a try and see what happens.