Paramount

Update: I called in about my z-fighting ticket today that got elevated to a "developer" and the status I got is that there is a known issue with doors that is being worked on. I have it on my soffits too we'll see when I get notified of the fix. They said I am good to keep working it only affects 3d.

I find this thread interesting since I am in the same situation... Here in corporate America and in many parts of the industrialized “efficient” world nobody “owns” a design and nobody is solely responsible for its outcome, especially drafters. Since the creation of Integrated Products Teams (IPTs) over a decade ago, Engineering designs have many internal and external clients, customers, not just the end user. I think they figured out long ago no one person can not effectively design, knows it all, regardless of their ego, so in the “Design_Build Team” camp production efficiency and recurring cost prevails, given other requirements are met (IE: Structures, codes, specs, etc). R&D non-recurring cost takes back seat since it is short lived. Good thing the days of unqualified Engineers and drafters making build decisions and having never built anything to speak of are gone. I think that issue is more of problem in the home building industry than any I have ever seen. Ironically, I still work around corporate types that like to try and make decisions builders or trades should make, or clients…that is when things really get screwed up! In large corporate production several names end up on the drawing(s) including Operations or Manufacturing, several Engineering types, a drafter does the modeling and drawings and ends up in the “drawn by” block, although not always, some Engineers can draw faster than they can explain. That’s why I try and keep up. I use CA and other CAD/CAM as one of my tools to communicate but, it does not do my designs I do and the rest of my team. More applicable to production builders than one-off but, the concept of satisfying many, not only the end user (client) but also downstream users (trades) remain the same. I am constantly asked to put my name on drawing’s I do not fully agree with nor did I design in whole. If I spend too much time debating with internal or external clients that is when my reputation gets tarnished, if I suck it up and make it work that is when it gets better. They present the challenge, whether I agree or not, I reach into my tool box and make it happen within my constraints (code, etc). My reputation gets ruined if my tool box is not full of tools. In this case, it is going to take more than opening windows, whole house attic fans, and geometry to satisfy the design, internal/external clients.

I suggest you present the best possible options to satisfy the customer and protect your reputation. I'm not sure if you are a Professional Engineer or Draftsman, big difference in expectations. If you are not and Engineer ask the client to hire one, otherwise the client is the Engineer.....I get release of liabilities signed if I feel threatened for errors and omissions legally as in health related issues the client is generating which is not clear in this thread. "guest WILL hear and smell the occupant" Are you talking about human waste? If this is human/ergonomics and/or mechanical Engineering you first need to define the exact problem with values. What DB, what level of sound dampening are you wanting to resist? There are also ways to mitigate and reduce odors passively and actively. Post options of CFM/DB values or have you done that research? What manufacturer are you making assumption by? When will the client use the fan and will it actually bother them? "I've tried to explain to her that the noise of a 600 cfm vent in the living room is unpleasant" Where are you getting your statistics from not that it matters, only the clients opinion matters if it is a custom. Again, lack of data. Same as above. Open floor plans with kitchen/living great rooms are popular here. Whether they have a window in the kitchen is irrelevant since it gets too cold in winter to open it and air does not remove alot of odors that attract to certain mass because the surfaces of the room are not Engineered correctly. The other data this thread is missing to give good advice is a floor plan, section cuts, etc...

I see in the past this subject has been batted around. I read the ref manual did not go over the "count" column and how it is calculated for other than framing choices such as linear feet, buy & cut list, mixed, specified in "Structural Member Reporting Defaults".. I exported to excel no formula's. I created a simple 10' x 10' x 10' calculated the siding and wall board take offs that did not agree with the list by 17 SF. Be nice if I could bounce my calcs off the programs to see where we disagree? Unless it is adding waste but I'd still like to see that percentage in the program so I know?

Ok thanks for the help I'll try it when I get home from work. Yes Curt I need more hours and I'll eventually get fluent. I wish I could spend more time on Chief, CATIA is getting most of my time these days since it pays more. Other than what I am inadvertently leaving out of Chief, my design-build methods are non-mainstream. Nice singing gents, you all should start a Barbara shop quartet, add some pony walls to your gigs

Curt, I tried this with a 3 inch concrete default pony wall the changed to stone same issue and the connect walls tool did not work for me. What gives? I can't understand why a standard stone veneer pony wall is this difficult to create. If I wanted brick no prob? My plan is above if you or anyone wants to try it I'd greatly appreciate it

Ok thanks! I don't now it I'm using the wrong function but I did not see stone veneer in the program like brick so I created a pony wall. I'm trying to install a veneer like this: http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Siding-Stone-Veneer/N-5yc1vZc85v There is no sub framing/insulation like EIFs. Then I need to figure out how to add a stone upper drip sill. I design aircraft all day using CATIA for 3D, and Autocad for drawings I am not that found of, my spec homes evening's and weekends. The product design is different than object in Chief so it's throwing me a little.

Ok Thanks Ray but I still do not understand. I tired to delete it and re-limit the wall to the edge and it won't go, snaps back. I don't understand why it put a bare trim board there to begin with? Is there a way to auto generate sills or do I need to create them? Anyone? My plan is attached. Thanks, need complete answers I am new to CA. ParaFlex_Test.plan

Thanks guys, got my template ready to go. Still waiting for a z-fighting ticket response.

I never told The Chief to put that ugly vertical edge trim bare board there did I? Also what happen to my sill between the stone and siding do I need to tell The Chief I want one of those? Chief and I seem to b e having communication issues lately

This may be a silly question due to my limited CA experience but is it bad practice to modify folders on your drive or should we only do the modifications through Chief software programs (eg. create new materials, library files, and folders) ? I followed the instructions for my z-fighting that didn't work so I submitted another ticket. Will inform the response. When I relocated my plan to 0,0 it put it in the upper right hand corner of my sheet with little room for terrain? I asked for a response to that too. I want to know the best place to start new plans in the future to min. z-fighting, and an easy way to do that (start at 0,0 ).

Mick, I submitted a ticket they were very fast and responsive. I'm quite please with their support and out here. The fix, close Chief rename the "Database Library" to old, Open Chief let it generate a new one problem solved. Import old files to new in Chief. From what understand material files do not store on our hard drives, they store in chief. No wonder I could not find them in my Chief folders on my hard drive.

Thanks guys for the help. My computer is MUCH faster and I thought I needed a faster graphics card. I see when it comes to foundations there are lots of setting's and I am beginning to see the light thanks to your help.

Also, see attached is it normal to have my wall bleed through garage trim like this. I noticed it happens in other areas too or is there a pixel setting I need to up?

Thanks for the help! I notice the rainbow tool changes my wall default setting. To save it for the future, go into the Wall's DBX>material tab>exterior wall>select material ,find the BBoard in the list and on the right add it to your library. Mick, See attached. When I tried this I get an error. If I try it again or save over the Bead Board my computer crashes. It won't delete from my user cat w/o an error. If you try and delete the other items in my library you get an error. I think my entire library is corrupt and it may cause model issues, loss of work? See PIC and model attached. ParaFlex.plan

I see I have undesirable footing's under my front and rear porches too I don't know why?

I don't get it, too many places to change foundation settings that can overlap. I attached my plan. I'm using a mono-slab on grade w/footings.Garage areas wants to be different and weird! I do want to add stone veneer siding pony-partial wall to my front exterior of around 3-4 feet high, both garages and entry way frontal areas. I have not figured out how to do that yet cause I'm a noober! Genesis_Front Porch Test_2.plan

Hi, what is the best way to change the color of this bead board I got out of the core catalog..I want the texture not the color but there are only the choices shown in the core catalog.

See attached. Can someone please tell me why CA is putting a recessed curb around my garages and how to get rid of it?

Finally got a chance to try this. Thanks for the help guys, I'm still trying to clean up the area. David your vids are great I like your jokes, way more entertaining than chief vids. I been watching them trying to learn more about the tools you taught me. That join roof planes tool you make so simple keeps driving me wacko! I'll keep trying may need some more help..but at least I'll have something roughed in if I do this time.... I was in Austin about two months ago visiting a magnesium home an Author of "Breathable Walls" George Swanson. Great guy and book.

Check out the attached pic next generation home dual entry doors to the owners suite and next gen suite. I am trying to model the covered entry areas where the walls come-up to a hip roof above the main roof. At 90 degrees there is another door that somehow needs a covered porch too ( no pic facing that direction). I got no idea how to attack this, tried creating a room and raising the wall heights above the ten footers and main roof I have everywhere else, didn't work. Then I don't know how to build the high entry frontal arches? Anyone care to load in my plan and give it a try? I'd suurrrly apreciate it! Genesis.plan

Graeme, I finally got it to behave the way I wanted. Some weird image shows up to show what part of an odd shaped room it is centering to...When moving the curser around looking for a CL it is difficult to tell what it being used. I read some just use lines but I wanted to know what is going on. Thanks for the reply.

I found some old threads on this but nothing that really answers my questions. Seems there is history to the issues. See attached. Anyone know what these leader’s defaults are? One is centering to the wall outer layer and one to the inner layer. I had this issue with walls until I changed change select objects auto interior/exterior default setting’s to “interior walls only” but locating doors does not seem to be looking at it?

Guess I'll try level zero see how it goes...Sounds like it takes some experience to establish a preference. Thanks again for all the help. Much appreciated

Because I got no idea what I am doing I thought I just marked it closed. I'd undo that but got no idea how?