robdyck

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Everything posted by robdyck

  1. robdyck
    Edward, do you bother with adjusting the light fixture display to 'sit' correctly on the sloped ceiling? Just wondering if it's a necessary level of accurate modeling for showing your client? You could set the pendants to be higher, then use a different symbol overlaid in the same location as the pendants to represent the fixture base. That might be a bit quicker than making a new symbol. Just thinking out loud about how I'd do it if I had to...
  2. robdyck
    That answers that. I figured it would be compliant with your local codes and my comment was more of a curiosity than 'advice'. I was curious though so I did a quick search and I have to admit, it doesn't get as cold as I would've expected in NY. The insulated water line used to be acceptable (by some) where I live. Especially when magical spray foam was used!
  3. robdyck
    Pot filler on an exterior wall? Summertime use only I assume.
  4. robdyck
    In Canada, it'd be fair to say that the full price for Chief X10 Premier is equal to a month's salary. The annual fee for SSA is relatively similar to 1 monthly payment on a car loan. Lots of room for interpretation there but it's a starting point.
  5. robdyck
    Hmm...I can't think of too many small businesses that can be started for under 10K. You can start a drafting business for literally the price of the software, a fairly basic laptop, and a business license. But of course the expense is relative to the income you can generate and do operate a home design / drafting business, you wouldn't have to have any other software unless you chose to. Perhaps it'd make sense to compare it as a percentage to your potential annual income. What does an average draftsperson earn in Spain?
  6. robdyck
    Generally speaking, the floor truss should connect directly to the sill plate. Every additional and unnecessary connection weakens the lateral support provided by the floor truss to foundation connection. This may be addressed in the applicable building code.
  7. robdyck
  8. robdyck
    Here's the jpg. Really simple. I usually set the size to around 200" give or take and a Gretzky transparency level.
  9. robdyck
    He's gonna need a helmet when he tries to peek over the edge!
  10. robdyck
    Besides, shouldn't that kid be wearing a helmet or a leash?
  11. robdyck
    Good eye Michael. Diminishing pickets looked gross, so I used a tempered glass panel. It doesn't show up well in that rendering, but it's really well noted in the construction drawings!
  12. robdyck
    The window reflections are all my own trickery; my own glass material with a texture applied. Re: lighting; that's a good question. I had an "added light" in the room which was still on. I place one in each room because I don't usually show any light fixtures. Later, I threw in the recessed lights to show the client.
  13. robdyck
    Hey Doug, Here's a fairly simple method: In elevation view, draw a polyline the size of the window directly over the window. Turn on "polyline labels" and use your newly created macro as the label. Depending on your settings, you may need to create a new text style for that label and of course I'd suggest giving this polyline it's own layer, or placing it on the 'window' layer. I use this all the time to help me with my glazed opening calculations. I have macros that will display the area in metric and / or imperial.
  14. robdyck
    A recent project; All PBR
  15. robdyck
    Here's a couple that might be close examples...the bedrooms are with a watercolor, the main floor with a vector view.
  16. robdyck
    To correct this you'll need to do a workaround like using 'faces'. I just finished a project with timber frame trusses in a room that are visible from both side. The texture that is angled for the diagonal members of your timber frame truss will only appear correct on the face that you made them for; that is to say on your example 'good' it will be reversed on the opposite side. Like you said Johnny, we need to be able to 'explode' in order to get the correct materials on each face. This 'exploding' function applies to many things and could work to various levels. I ended up using 'faces' to get my timbers correct where the client could see all side in my renderings. I only did this because the scale of the project afforded me the luxury of wasting time like that. On a smaller plan, I can't afford the workaround.
  17. robdyck
    Select the rooms that have the cantilever floor, open the room specification dbx and under the materials tab, change the materials for 'cantilever underside' to 'insulation - air gap'.
  18. robdyck
    Rod, it only became a problem when I started switching to full color plans. Some of my clients prefer the full color option for the additional context it provide to trades and suppliers. The color fill offset is rarely a problem, but when it happens it's kind of gross to deal with. I haven't been able to recognize any pattern for when or why it happens, so I posted my workaround in hopes it would help some who are dealing with the same issue.
  19. robdyck
    Richard makes a great point. You'd probably be better off removing all drawings that indicate structural elements and outsourcing that work (which you can add a markup to) to the either a draftsperson or engineer, as required by the appropriate jurisdiction. Indicate in your general notes the engineer of record for the project and that those drawings shall accompany your drawings and that either set is incomplete without the other. Sometimes looking after the engineering yourself is beneficial and profitable, other times, best to let the client do it.
  20. robdyck
    I'm experiencing more color fill issues and wasting enough time dealing with this that I could just about learn a different software program. At any rate, until Chief fixes it, here's my workaround: -2 matching cameras sent to layout -camera 1(elevation or section view), sent to back, live view, all lines settings turned blank -camera 2(elevation or section view), sent to front, plot lines, NO color fill. Still a complete waste of time and energy and disk space and 2 layouts to update with each change, but at least it doesn't look like a 3 -year old got a hold of your pencil crayons. And you gotta love the support system of mailing letters back and forth to each other while the days tick by and your clients wonder where their drawings are...
  21. robdyck
    Perfect. Thanks to those who replied. This is a large garage with several rooms. I'll specify each room as garage type and change the names as needed. That should take care of it.
  22. robdyck
    My description of my labelling issue doesn't tell the whole story. The mentioned entrance is an entrance from the garage only to the the exterior only. It's essentially part of the garage, just a separate room of the garage, and so only an interior door is needed. The actual make and model of door is really not that important as the client will select it at a later date. For my purposes, I don't want it in the exterior door schedule.
  23. robdyck
    When using a door schedule, specifically a separate schedule for interior and exterior doors, is there a way to tell an interior door to be an exterior door and vice versa? Example: a door between a finished garage and an entry serving that garage. Right now, it relies on the room types and the door between these two rooms shows as an exterior door, when I'd like it to be an interior door. I'll probably have to change my garage room type to an interior room type...
  24. robdyck
    I use this layout method all the time. It's not as bad as Bill's but I'd prefer it dead on as well. In the attached jpg (made from the pdf of the final plans) I have very acceptable results.
  25. robdyck
    I did open up a support ticket and I'll post the results when I hear back.