robdyck

I'd gladly give out CAD files of an unfinished floor plan, and at no cost! What's anyone gonna do with them, they'll be complete crap, right? Would you have any use for someone else's unfinished plans in dwg format? Heck no! Emails: they'd already have their email communications with you. It would be a privacy no-no to send them copies of your communications with someone else, unless they want to pay for your time to get signed release from all other parties (and they will not want to pay you for that). Renderings: I'd gladly send them 4 exterior renderings (from each corner) in vector or standard technique. I would not give out a Chief file, nor would I even mention a Chief file.

For a little experiment, try this in your beam label (Note: UNCHECK "Use Default Formatting"), then try changing the width from 3.5 to 5.25. (%width/1.75%)-1 3/4"x%depth%" %type_name% %name%

This is the same type of glitch that's created by having multiple SVP's open and toggling between views. SVP's will regain their functionality simply by double clicking on the SVP in the project browser, even if it is already open. It resets the SVP.

Is the wall niche layer turned on in that camera view?

If you want separate tread / riser material like in your picture, then you will need to use landings. If you're ok with 1 material, then it can be done by using no stringers, tread overhang of about 18", and tread thickness equal to the unit rise. That would get you pretty close.

It hasn't been happening lately. I made a couple of workflow changes: Turned off preview panel in library browser change default camera views to vector view (which has never caused a crash)

I would use a polyline solid. If framing needed to be shown in a plan set, I'd handle that using CAD in a section view.

When blocking a cad detail for use in other plans, it can be a good idea to make sure that all items do not follow any layer settings. This way, when unblocking, there will be no unintended display changes if one plan has different layer properties than the original plan from which the cad block was formed. Another good practice when exploding a cad block is to open 'Object Properties' immediately after exploding and review the layer properties to make sure they are all displayed.

Just moving cad boxes / polylines / blocks apart in the camera (like the lapped siding cad block for example). No touching the model! Lap siding, SDS Screws, sealant, WRB, VB, and my 2x6 / 2x4 lumber cross boxes. The rest is Chief Auto detail, then touched up all the fill patterns. A colored section view saves a lot of fill and provides great context...if you have affordable color printing available. Those 2x4's are nailers, one to support the drywall (because the wall is framed to u/s of floor sheathing, and the other nailer, flat-wise is for crown molding.

It can be especially simple if you make an electrical schedule including only the columns "description" and "quantity". Then a couple of simple formulas, and a bit of copy/paste.

Generally, I'd move that major roof plan back at least 2'-0" (but only if it would work out with the rest of the house, ie the part we can't see to the left of your image)

Glad to hear you're doing well Joe! A 'simple' way would be to complete your electrical plan, then create an electrical schedule, then copy that schedule into a spreadsheet and assign values to each items. You could of course assign values to each item in Chief, but I'm not sure it would be faster. That being said, it could be worth doing if you're interested in creating your own library of electrical items and reuse them. To accomplish this you could use the OIP or Components.

Generally, if the model's layers are very close to real, then it's quite easy to move them apart a bit to allow space for thin items. When and if they need to stay in place, then membranes items can be shown in place with a heavier dashed line and flashings can be shown in place with a heavier weight. This is really only effective for detail scale, not so much for general sections at 1/4" scale or less.

Tip for newbies: If hatch patterns already exist in the camera view, then this also turns them into a dog's breakfast of different lines, which makes working with that cad detail a bit of a nuisance. The method Joe describes is generally how I draw details for complex projects that need to stay live. A couple of other tips: back clip about 24" as a rule of thumb create a white line border template to aid with cropping so all details remain the same size. include a white line offset from the view to aid with text leader line snapping turn off connections for both ends of text leader lines. Ensure the detail camera label is titled exactly how you'd like it to appear in layout, and use this automatic label for the layout box.. This will greatly improve drawing coordination. Once layout boxes are positioned in layout, then all details can have their drawing number set in the project browser without opening each view. Avoid redundant specifications (i.e.) there's no need to callout the spec of a steel beam in a detail if it is called out in the plan. Rather callout the connections, or install dimensions, etc. You may be surprised how little cad work is necessary in a detail like this.

Dermot is correct, it won't work. You could use a ramp with the same type of railing. Just make the railing tall enough and bury the ramp inside the wall below. You'll need to manually adjust the slope to match the pitch of your stairs. Now if only a ramp could be dragged to a height in section view...

30 degree winders can be fairly simple... once you know how! You will nee walls on both sides of the stairs and you will need some CAD reference objects to help with snapping along with some CAD reference lines that layout the accurate start and stop lines of the upper and lower sets. Once these are in place, begin by drawing and placing the upper and lower sets. Then, draw the middle sat at a 45 degree angle, ensure it is fully within the inner and outer walls, then change it to a curved set use the 'Change to Line / Arc' tool. Check 'winders' on the middle set and fiddle around with the snapping. It will take math, some accuracy and a lot of practice!

To use a railing wall in that location, you will need to make it a pony wall and then manually adjust the elevation of the lower wall top.

Perhaps someone more familiar with your regional codes can chime in but this would seem at least somewhat relevant: R404.1.5.2 Concrete wall thickness. The thickness of concrete foundation walls shall be equal to or greater than the thickness of the wall in the story above. Concrete foundation walls with corbels, brackets or other projections built into the wall for support of masonry veneer or other purposes are not within the scope of the tables in this section. Where a concrete foundation wall is reduced in thickness to provide a shelf for the support of masonry veneer, the reduced thickness shall be equal to or greater than the thickness of the wall in the story above. Vertical reinforcement for the foundation wall shall be based on Table R404.1.2(8) and located in the wall as required by Section R404.1.3.3.7.2 where that table is used. Vertical reinforcement shall be based on the thickness of the thinner portion of the wall. Exception: Where the height of the reduced thickness portion measured to the underside of the floor assembly or sill plate above is less than or equal to 24 inches (610 mm) and the reduction in thickness does not exceed 4 inches (102 mm), the vertical reinforcement is permitted to be based on the thicker portion of the wall.

For I-joists? Yes. Every I-joist supplier shows a typical bearing condition for I-joists on top of the foundation wall. If you're looking for an industry standard for a foundation condition where the top of the foundation is corbeled, there may be an IRC code reference. There is a code reference for this in the NBC, and what you have drawn would not comply (structural / energy efficiency).

A couple of reasons: kPa of slabs is not as high as that of foundation concrete (building code) Project Timing: Cribbers, Framers, Plumbers, Flatwork. This is especially true for the crappy half of the year when it's freezing and it's much easier to provide heat for plumbing ground work and placing slabs after the structure is framed.

I use a lot of wood-frame load bearing walls on the foundation level. These are typically constructed with the wall framing sitting on top of a footing which is located directly under the basement slab. When I check "Balloon Through Floor Below" the bottom plate remains on the basement slab instead of going through it. From reading Help, I gather that this setting really only works when there is another wall directly below, which would mean there'd be no effect when the wall is on the lowest level. I'm curious about other Chiefer's experiences, has anyone figured out a way to achieve the desired framing automatically? Is it possible? I know I had one plan where it worked on one or more, but not all of the bearing walls. I could not figure out why or how it happened and changed the rest of them manually.

Yes, I have it permanently stopped. My experience has been that the crashes are unpredictable and random. I've been able to make some great RTRT renders with no issue, then at other times, Chief will crash repeatedly when selecting an electrical outlet from the library or generating a standard render. I appreciate the advice though, and your consistent posts about driver updates!

My quickest suggestions: build foundation foundation walls > balloon through ceiling change deck room type to balcony. Edit floor structure layers using a plank-type material for the sheathing.

Post the plan.

Hmmm, with this new driver I wonder if I'll be able to consistently use a rendering technique other than Vector View? Perhaps the SSA price increase will provide Chief with the resources for improvements! I was actually expecting Chief to release X14 as a complimentary upgrade for all users with Alienware / Nvidia 3080 systems.