agr361 Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Is there a "correct way" to create siteplans? CA website says on one video to create a cadblock drawing with lines and reference the house plan file... Another video says use the terrain model and use "show label" to label the terrain, all within the same file.. What do you all do to create a site/plot plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renerabbitt Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 1 hour ago, agr361 said: Is there a "correct way" to create siteplans? CA website says on one video to create a cadblock drawing with lines and reference the house plan file... Another video says use the terrain model and use "show label" to label the terrain, all within the same file.. What do you all do to create a site/plot plan? "More than one way to skin a cat." Personally I create the terrain model and show label on a layer names Plot Plan.(remember to show angles and length and switch General CAD defaults to correct bearing style) Then I use a custom built reference set called Plot Plan Ref Set to show my roofs and a CAD house perimeter dashed line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agr361 Posted September 21, 2017 Author Share Posted September 21, 2017 Thanks, sir.. That is how I created my first several projects... Just thought I would seek some opinions from everyone else who has been using the software longer than two months like myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_Morrison Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Personally, I like the plot plan as a separate CAD detail with the Plan footprint. It's easy to bring in a DWG survey, then move and rotate the footprint on the lot with correct dimensions and site rotation using true north, and separate CAD style for bearings. If you do the plot plan in the main plan window, you won't get automatic labeling of boundaries that show correct angles without jumping through a few hoops with north rotation. Drawing the lot boundaries and converting to a terrain perimeter often doesn't work well if fences aren't within the site boundaries, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agr361 Posted September 21, 2017 Author Share Posted September 21, 2017 31 minutes ago, Richard_Morrison said: Personally, I like the plot plan as a separate CAD detail with the Plan footprint. It's easy to bring in a DWG survey, then move and rotate the footprint on the lot with correct dimensions and site rotation using true north, and separate CAD style for bearings. If you do the plot plan in the main plan window, you won't get automatic labeling of boundaries that show correct angles without jumping through a few hoops with north rotation. Drawing the lot boundaries and converting to a terrain perimeter often doesn't work well if fences aren't within the site boundaries, for example. I found this out with driveway aprons and sidewalks. They do not show up on full overview cameras... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMDesigns Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I have a simple basic method I use where the terrain and all items in that terrain work, as well as the property lines, house, and so on - all show up correct and easy to read @ 1/8" scale. It can be found at my site: www.chieftutor.com in the LAYOUT section. It is a short 10-minute video of "SO THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT...!!!" -Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 I keep all my site plan and everything live. I use a separate layer set, anno set and reference set for everything sent to the layout to show anything I want with different line-weights colors etc. Then if any change are made, its automatic, you only have to change it once and done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARMELHILL Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 I was just flipping threw some old topics and saw this. I'me going to rethink my process. I've been doing plots as a cad detail since 1997 in Vectorworks and then Chief as a detail starting in 2012 with the Input Method. I've recently started used Alaskansons macros for automatic FAR calculations. But the local towns are starting to get a little nuts. They want fences shown and legalized, amount of paving and impervious areas shown, sidewalks, etc... I'm going to look at this again and start doing them live. One downside, I don't like the north arrow not being up. That annoys me. So now I'll have to fiddle with the draw arrow north.I think this will be the way to go and get some macros involved that will automatically calculated impervious and pervious. Yesterday I had to buy a $400 rotary laser with laser receiver so I could measure the height of the roof ridge from the crown of the street. Another tool for the arsenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 18 hours ago, CARMELHILL said: Yesterday I had to buy a $400 rotary laser with laser receiver so I could measure the height of the roof ridge from the crown of the street. Another tool for the arsenal. I use a digital level and it gives me the exact roof pitch, I put it on the underside of a rafter for the reading but if you have a lot of soffits where your from then it get a little tougher , Sometimes I will use the fascia to get the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kbird1 Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 19 hours ago, CARMELHILL said: Yesterday I had to buy a $400 rotary laser with laser receiver so I could measure the height of the roof ridge from the crown of the street. Another tool for the arsenal. I'm wondering how you used it for doing that , I have one but usually do it like Perry , you can even use a Smart Phone and Level App these days.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 4 minutes ago, Kbird1 said: you can even use a Smart Phone and Level App these days.... Thanks for that, I didn't know, check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kbird1 Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 3 minutes ago, DRAWZILLA said: Thanks for that, I didn't know, check it out. At 1st I didn't trust it, so double checked it with other tools like a Digital Angle Finder I have and use in the Shop , but found it is pretty accurate as long as you calibrate it on a known level surface first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RL-inc Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Handyman calculator is another great free app. Same features as above and much more. Rise run Concrete calc Siding calc Etc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kbird1 Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 On 12/10/2017 at 4:24 PM, RL-inc said: Handyman calculator is another great free app. Same features as above and much more. Rise run Concrete calc Siding calc Etc.... Actually I have that too and a separate feet- inch calculator too, as Handyman is almost has toooo much stuff built in and too many menus..... so I find it easier/faster to access standalone apps... M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARMELHILL Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 I have a digital angle finder but don't care for it. I wore out my last laser level. It was time for an update. And this thing is accurate to 3/16" to 550 feet. I used it this week to take spot elevations to do a small topographic map for a handicapped ramp from a condo club house. I switched to live plot plans this week. One thing I never realized is that it's easy in Cad Details to set up seperate Cad Properties so the lot boundaries read as decimal feet without affecting the foot inch read outs I have in my floor plan views. It doesn't seem possible to have that in live view unless you chnage the settings each time u need it. It's annoying, and I can't stand to have my plot boundarys as foot, inches, and fractions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joey_martin Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 I also use Anno Sets to keep my site plan live and a part of my plan. As for the other tools, none of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARMELHILL Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I figured I would post this real quick when talking about calculators. Maybe a little redundant. There is the Handyman Calculator, Construction Master calculator from Calculated Industries Calculator (they have an android version too so you can use it on your Tablet, phone, and now on the newer Chromebooks that use apps), a cheap Construction Master no frills clone version from Craftsman, and there is also a length calculator built into the Windows calculator (I found it by accident a few years ago and always forget it's there). See attached pics. I'm sure there is a whole bunch of others on Iphone and Android. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kbird1 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 My Construction Master Pro is great , I just can't make myself pay another $30 for the windows version and the Android version too, when I have it... M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now