Ridge_Runner

Good point, Scott. Your example is exactly the way we build garages here. Almost all of the designs I do are on crawlspaces or basements for the main house. However, slabs are becoming more popular, mainly on "Barndominiums."

Man, that thing must weigh close to 20 pounds! Might, over time, require shoulder surgery!

I've noticed these weird pop-ups as well in the materials side. I change to a different material, usually in the framing stage, say fir framing to OSB, and when I close the dbx I get a pop-up that says something like, "Chief renamed the material 'wire mesh' to 'wire mesh 2' or something like that. That seems to be the "go-to" material for these; I believe it has always been that material that is referenced. Strange thing is I wasn't even close to that material in the process.

Looked at this one myself as a road machine. Price is good but the dual core processor and only 2GB of dedicated graphics card memory might be a bummer for those who do more raytraces. I don't think the touchscreen will benefit CA from what I have read.

I downloaded this tool some time back and it is great; some of the best seamless brick textures I have found. They do not, of course, have all brick designs, just their Acme products. That said, their selection is quite large. One of the greatest things it does is allow you to change the color of the mortar on the fly from several color variations. You can then build several course styles, such as running bond, and save the image as the texture. Very easy to use and the price is right.

Thanks for the video, Michael - very helpful. +1

I wish!! Usually you are right, but a few weeks ago a framer/builder called me because I had used a bastard hip on the rear of a porch to tie into the rear main roof line. He couldn't figure out how to do. Kept telling the client he would have to redo all of the porch framing to make it work. To keep the client from exploding (which he was on the verge of) I did a 3D overview of the framing and sent him a couple of jpg's to his cell phone. So that's the way you do it?

Same here. I live in the southeast and we use dormers on many projects. I have tried to use the auto dormer feature on some occasions but usually go back to manual because of the type of struggle Joe is experiencing. The auto is just too unstable, especially in a situation where they open into a living area. I also agree with Jon - the framing usually has to be adjusted and additional WMR's or polysolids added. I will try DJP's method on the next one and see what happens - thanks DJP.

One step forward -- two steps backwards. Such is life.

Good tip, Eric. I had forgot about that tidbit. Thanks. +1

Thanks, Curt, for this reference material link. The last few years clients have come out of the woodwork wanting "Barndominiums" in this area. Houzz and Pinterest currently rule! I have done several and continue to do them; have one in the works now. Thanks again.

Good one Yusuf.

I have changed a few of the OOB hotkeys to my liking. But my best investment was in a programmable keypad (Genovation ControlPad CP24). With 24-programmable keys I can easily program about any multiple key command and save it. I use it with my left had which keeps my right hand on the mouse and is a great time-saver for me. I sometimes wish I had ordered the 48-key version; maybe someday. Having read this post, the units with a "M" button or buttons might be a better way to go so you can double or maybe triple the key combinations on the same pad.

Many of the contractors in my area add a 2x on top of the 3/4" Advantech over the rimjoist as a nailer for the rafters. When using deep i-joists it just isn't possible to go down to the plates.

Dsyoud, your diagram only shows a min. 4" wide support shelf if I am reading it right. Where is the 12" foundation shelf? Is that preformed slab actually supported over a Celotex bearing? That's a new one to me.

I cannot get my emails to go thru at the address SusanC shows <marketingideas@subzerowolf.com>. Is this the correct one? Have tried it several times and get the following every time: Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message to the following address. <marketingideas@subzerowolf.com>: No mx record found for domain=subzerowolf.com Anyone else having this problem?

Email sent. Thank you.

That eye dropper has gotten me in more trouble on walls. It totally screws up the changing of any walls later by just modifying the defaults for that wall type. I struggled with it for a long time in a template plan until I figured out how it worked (at least for my workflow). Change the wall material definition in the wall dialog box, not with the eyedropper. My 2 cents.

Nice, Shane. That truss collar takes me back to the years I did industrial design work. Steel was king - no wimpy wood then!

Why not run it first at a much smaller size so you can get an idea of changes needed (especially lighting) and then up the size after those are adjusted?

I learned from these guys some time back to save my schedules in CAD Details. If you use some type of SAM method or, like Eric says, save it to your template plan, it will be available for all new projects.

You can manipulate the Chief-generated lines in layout but not any true CAD lines you have added to the view, plan or section. The layout Edit Lines will not allow you to pick the CAD lines; at least that is the way it has always worked for me.

Thanks, Yusuf. I am going to try this using your settings as a good starting point.

I like these, Yusuf, especially the first one you posted. How much "tweaking" did these take?

Thanks, Michael. Makes my brain fell better at least.