reedie2000

Wow. Thanks guys, this is great. A lot to take in. Let me go through everything and think it out. Didn't process how thick the foam would need to be.

Sure Gene - whatcha think? Ten foot ceilings - well maybe 9' 9" with the joist extenders bringing the ceiling down just under the double top plate. I know I can get the structure to work if I had 2 million bucks but can I do it with more standard materials? Look at this one: https://www.contemporist.com/house-has-a-thin-floating-roof-that-extends-out-15-feet/ Sharing the floor plan with you as well. I have a bubble marked where I think I'll have to align a single bearing wall. This plan doesn't exactly match the earlier joist roof/ceiling plan, since that was a test and the framing is not correct in my model yet. You have to force Chief away from the standard way of framing I find.

Thanks John and Gene. I really appreciate the information. I'd like to keep the narrow roof profile if possible. I don't need an open web system for HVAC, so would prefer to stick to I-Joists if possible. I'll definitely check out ForteWeb! My previous contacts with Structural Engineers have been less than enjoyable. If you work with any in California you like, let me know.

So here's my first modern desert house with flat roof. I'd like to get a structural involved but I don't want to be totally embarrassed. I think I'm ok with things like shear walls but the roof is bananas. I've attached: 1. a render of the model (the roof profile shown is too thin, but that's the idea). Note the wide semi-supported gull-wing overhangs. These have grown and will likely need some steel. 2. A roof-ceiling plan showing the joist layout. Trying to keep spans under 23' or so; that seems to be the limit for 11 7/8" I-joists. 3. The draft roof CAD detail. I'd like to get integral headers within the ceiling/roof so the windows can be right up to the ceiling - note the joist extenders. Any and all thoughts welcome. Am I overbuilding? Do I not understand joists? Thanks guys!

All good advice guys. Much appreciated. 1. The guy wants a flat roof now. I'm concerned that ledger board wouldn't necessarily support one. 2. The building next door is an unconditioned garage. Not sure about the air and moisture sealing details. 3. I was able to get a non-locate wall up against the other wall, but still don't understand why I can't butt two actual walls up against each other. The program determines that the second wall should automatically replace the first when they get an inch or two within each other.

There's a guy with a small backyard ADU with a gable roof who wants to add on. I don't think he has the skills or the money to frame a new complex/intersecting roof, so thinking about just butting up another taller structure up against the existing one (removing the siding but keeping the roof except for the right eave). First photo shows the existing ADU, second photo is an example of the new combined ADU. Normally, I'd take down a wall and integrate the two better. Is butting them up doable? Dumb? The second issue is if the two are butted up against each other, I'd like to show the existing wall and the new wall next to each other, but independent. I've gone through all the videos on double walls and marriage walls but whenever I move the two walls up against each other, one always disappears. Does Chief make you build a double stud wall as a single wall type or what?

Looking with assistance with large custom home in New England. This is my largest and most complex project to date, and not local to the NE. Mostly done with Schematic and into DD in some places. Have a model that actually looks like a serious house. Primarily need help with: 1. Complex rooflines 2. Understanding / applying applicable the building code 3. Developing general and plan notes 4. Clean, detailed documentation Not a beginner with Chief, but definitely hoping to increase my productivity (I'm heavily discounting fees and writing off hours) so would love to find a person with a bent to mentoring / explaining rather than just whipping out the work.

I have a mostly flat lot with perfectly rectangular areas depressed by 10" here and there. I'm having the hardest time getting clean edges without a slope - there are a lot of pavers and wide concrete steps. In sketchup I could just depress an area but I am having the hardest time building small slopes. What is the best practice in Chief Architect for this kind of thing?

Thank you everyone

I'd like to indicate walls that will be demolished / added during a renovation. I want these to show in plan view but for the demolished wall, I don't want this to be a modeled wall. I'd rather not have to draw things on the document in CAD, but for it to be indicated as I work in plan view, but not show up in 3-D and be considered a component. Is this possible?

What is the best practice for creating a bridge / catwalk along a tall wall overlooking a vaulted great room? This is a common condition in my plans but I usually get a floating rail without any floor. For weeks, I've had trouble getting the bridge to generate. I have a second floor with bedrooms but I can seem to get any room definition on the floor above the great room.