Joe_Carrick

Here's my solution to "Buck Framed Windows" based on the way Chief works currently. The windows in this plan have their Frames sized to emulate a 2x4 Buck, 5/8" Drywall & 1" Stucco. The Frame is inset 3" to work with the 2x8 stud wall I'm using. Those values can be changed to match whatever your conditions are. Buck_Framed_Windows1.plan

If you who are not comfortable setting this up yourself - I can provide the setup for a reasonable fee. Once it's done and in your Profile Plan it's pretty much automatic.

Joey, All of your areas are possible just using macros assigned to default room labels and a reference macro assigned to the property line. All the calculations can be done within the display macro(s) and the whole thing put in a single text box. I have the text box in a CAD Detail that I send to Layout. Here's an example of what I'm doing - it's all extracted directly from the model using macros.

Scott, The one thing about this solution that has to be "touched up" is the wall framing above and below the window. Otherwise it covers just about all the bases. Also, you can't just slide the window to another location. The typical use of "Bucks" for Doors and Windows is a wood frame (1x or 2x) inside a masonry or concrete opening in the wall. This is to provide something to attach the Door or Window to. Using this principle in a thick stud framed wall is similar. The Wall opening is simply framed a little larger and the "Buck" is framed inside that opening. IMO this should be added to the Door and Window dialogs. Then it would be automatic and everything would work exactly as in the real world.

After a more thorough analysis, this would be easy to do if CA would add: 1. Recessed Wall (Bucked Frame) - Wall_Type and width required. 2. Separate Frame and Bucked Frame Materials 3. Recess Casing to Frame I am not going to make this suggestion at this time - maybe later. but it would need to be done for Doors as well.

Note: This could also be done without using a Custom Symbol but you would not be able to change the Frame to Stucco and you would still need to make the window wider and edit the label and the components dbx. There is no perfect solution.

It would be much better if Chief allowed the 2D Block to be offset in the y direction as is the 3D Symbol - actually, that should be automatic (maybe in X8). Then we could make the 2D Block be whatever we wanted and make the Plan View perfect. I tried using exterior casings to cover the ends of the studs but they can't be inset. Maybe Bill's "Blinds" method could be used for that.

OK, Here's what I've come up with. After inserting the Window Symbol in the Plan I had to do a few things: 1. Set the 2D Block to None 2. Adjust the Frame Size to 3" Wide (all around) 3. Set the Frame Depth to 4" inset 4" 4. Add Interior Casings (optional) Manually edit the Label to reflect the actual Window size instead of the Symbol Size. It isn't perfect, but it Frames as an 8" Stud Wall and there are no extra lines to remove. I haven't checked to see what the Schedule says, but it should be possible to modify anything that isn't accurate in the Component dbx.

Scott, I said I wasn't going to do this - but I think I've found a solution. I'm going to take Joey's method to create a Window Symbol which I will then insert into an 8" stud wall. I need to check on a couple of the settings needed but I think it will provide everything you want. Stay tuned......

Bob, I would use an 18" deep Base Cabinet in this case and a custom Counter Top. That's going to be much less expensive to build and install.

I think someone suggested that before - but you should send it in anyway. It's a really good idea.

Joey, Could you use a Pony Wall at the bottom and then just use the WMR above? At least the Pony Wall would auto frame.

Now, I suspect Scott will complain the upper and lower infill WMR don't "frame".

I love it. Nice job Joey!!!!! I'm definitely adding that to my bag of tricks.

Dan, Technically you may be right - the term "battered" means "inward sloping". However, in Architecture it generally means the outer surface is "inward sloping" while the inner surface is vertical. In my OP I stated: Please - don't complicate this by expanding the discussion to walls that are sloped on the inside and outside. Those are a very different item which would need to be discussed separately. The reason for this request is fairly simple: It's almost impossible to have a Door in a wall that slopes on both the interior and exterior surfaces - unless the wall is thick enough for the Door to still be vertical.

OK Scott, I stand chastised. I will refrain from suggesting any solutions to your problems from now on. I'm not sure how my solutions to "Construction Lines" is more trouble - I've been using it for about 30 years (AutoCAD at first) and it was one of the first things I set up in my Chief Profile Plan. I have the icon on my Toolbar to select the Layer and have a hotkey for it as well. BTW, if CA would fix the Custom Window Symbols as I have requested in the past --- we wouldn't be having this discourse about the "Bucking Detail".

Scott, That video has me ROFLMAO. Why don't you just create an Exterior Fixture Symbol (start with your Window) with the stucco surround? You can move that into the "Pass Thru" opening in any wall and resize it as needed to fit the opening. Yes, I know it won't show up in the Window Schedule but you can put a wall off to the side in your Plan and add as many extra windows as you want to have them in the Schedule.

Nick, I think Doug is saying that it could be easily done by programming - not necessarily using Chief as it now exists.

You might also want to check on the Home Designer website https://hometalk.chiefarchitect.com/ since there may be some differences between your program and Chief Architect.

That was exactly my take. I think that's what he eventually decided to do.

You'll have to talk to Scott about that - he was doing that originally.

Graham, That was my suggestion in Post #5 early this morning.

Change it on one Cabinet (1 base, 1 wall, 1 tall) and then select each of those and click "Set as Default"

The problem with that is that Chief hasn't given enough control of the 2D and 3D Window Symbols. This was an addition in X6 but it was never properly completed. It drives me crazy.

Bill, What do those look like in Plan View? Is the "Blind" a molding profile?