Framing Issues - Persisting & a New One

[coastdesign]

Good afternoon! 

I was having my foundation walls set 3" off from the wall above.  I appreciate everyone's input so that I could fix that one on my own.  
I just downloaded CA 18 Beta to upgrade.  

My issues are with the sill plate.  I have to add it manually to a plan, have always had to do that, not sure what setting is wrong.  I sure have gone through the posts here and can't nail it down.  

Then, while I am asking, might as well see if I can get some help on other things.  

 

The left side shows what my settings are producing.  The right side shows what I am trying to add and I put these items in green for illustration purposes.

 

1.  I am to have a double sill plate lined up with the exterior of the wall, each sill plate is a 2x6 for a total finished dimension of 3" x 5.5".  

2.  There is to be a double rim joist that lines up with the framing of the exterior walls.  Each rim joist is a 2x10 for a total finished dimension of 3" x 9.25".  

3.  There is to be a header over the window and that is to be a 6x6" with finished dimensions of 5.5" x 5.5".  

4.  There is to be a double top plate, each plate is a 2x6 for a total finished dimension of 3" x 5.5".  

 

New Item

5.  I have never seen this before, not sure why the top of the foundation is sticking out like this, I didn't have this issue in CA 16, what I was using this morning.  

 

While we are having fun, does insulations have to be added manually, or can it be added automatically?  I have my walls and floors and stuff set for:

Walls: R-19

Floor: R-30

Attic:  R-38 

but it doesn't show up automatically.  Not a big deal but it's always nicer to be able to minimize all the stuff I have to do for a section.  

 

I'm including an image as well as my CA file.  

Some help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

 

 

2025_06_27_690_SF_G23_Ceanothusy.caproj

[robdyck]

#5. First floor walls are marked as foundation walls. Uncheck that. Update the default exterior wall to match.

Framing: The wall framing layer needs to marked as Framing

 

Wall Insulation: For the wall above, select the framing layer, then click Edit Layer and check Auto Detail as Insulation.

Floor Insulation: Same as above.

 

Remove the pattern from the concrete material used for the footing.

Reset all walls to use default top and bottom heights.

Rim Joist:

[robdyck]

Ceiling Insulation: Increae the thickness to whatever thickness your R38 batts are.

[robdyck]

Sill Plates will not generate until you change the value of the width or depth of the sill plate for each wall. Close the wall dialog, then re-open and reset the values to what's desired. Ensure auto-framing for all assemblies is on to see the updates.

[coastdesign]

Thank you very much, Robert.   
I am excited to try this out.  

 

Thanks again.  

Hope you have a great weekend!!!

 

Chris

[coastdesign]

6 hours ago, robdyck said:

#5. First floor walls are marked as foundation walls. Uncheck that. Update the default exterior wall to match.

Framing: The wall framing layer needs to marked as Framing

 

Wall Insulation: For the wall above, select the framing layer, then click Edit Layer and check Auto Detail as Insulation.

Floor Insulation: Same as above.

 

Remove the pattern from the concrete material used for the footing.

Reset all walls to use default top and bottom heights.

Rim Joist:

Hello, Robert.  
On this last one, how do I "Reset all walls to use default top and bottom heights?"
So far, your clarity is exceptionally helpful, look forward to fixing the walls and hopefully getting this all to work out (I haven't changed the rim joist setting yet, will do that after I fix the walls).  
Chris

[coastdesign]

Ok, I was able to figure that setting out.  Here is what I found so everyone else has the same information.  

 

To reset all walls to their default heights in Chief Architect, you can quickly use the global reset tool or adjust them in the Wall Specification dialog. [1, 2]

Option 1: Using the Reset to Defaults Tool (Fastest for the whole plan) [1, 2]

1. Navigate to Edit > Reset to Defaults from the top menu.
2. In the dialog, set your Reset Scope to either the current floor or All Floors.
3. Check the boxes for Wall Top Heights and Wall Bottom Heights.
4. Click OK.

[coastdesign]

Robert,

 

Thank you for getting me so close.  

I went and changed the global settings.  Yet, that didn't seem to change what was existing so I redrew the walls to get it to work out better.

 

The framing is looking much more like it should now.  Awesome!  

There are two things that I can't figure out where I went wrong.  
1.  The insulation doesn't show (I am providing a screenshot to show the layer is on).  

2.  The sill plates still aren't showing up.  I did check the settings and the layer is turned on.  

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

2025_06_27_690_SF_G23_Ceanothusy_Framing_Issues_V2.caproj

[robdyck]

Insulation is a CAD item that will only show up when you use the 'Auto-Detail' tool.

Sill Plates will not generate until you change the value of the width or depth of the sill plate for each wall. Close the wall dialog, then re-open and reset the values to what's desired. Ensure auto-framing for all assemblies is on to see the updates. For example, select one foundation wall. Select the Foundation Tab, and change the width of the Sill Plate to anything different than the current value (let's say 9"). Close the Wall Specification dialog. If you have auto-framing turned on, the sill plates should have built for that wall. Repeat that process to reset them back to 5 1/2". Do that for all foundation walls.

 

And you should still remove the pattern from the concrete material used for the footings. You don't have to do this, but I'm assuming that the current pattern selection is based on a misunderstanding of the function. When you have the Edit Material dialog open, you also need to got to the Materials List tab and set it to be Concrete. 

[coastdesign]

Good day, Robert.

 

I have changed the footings, glad you had me do that.  I don't know where that material came from but I sure never liked it.  

 

As far as the "Auto Detail" tool, duh!  I should have known that, won't forget it.  

For the insulation, it did create the wall and attic insulation.  That's cool!  It did not create the floor insulation for some reason.  As Meatloaf said "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad",

 

I still can't get the double Sill Plates to work.  I changed them, changed them back, turned on auto framing.  I don't know what I am doing wrong.  

 

Chris

 

2025_06_27_690_SF_G23_Ceanothusy.caproj

[coastdesign]

Okie dokie, I ain't no quitter.  I haven't figured out how to default the insulation to the correct layer/color but at least I was able to get the floor insulation to appear.  Making progress, just the sill plates are outstanding now at this point.  

 

Thanks again for your help.  

[robdyck]

@coastdesign

To notify me, you need to use the @ symbol before my username.

For the foundation walls, it's best to make sure the exterior and interior wall surfaces are using the default material.

 

You also need to edit default concrete material. Let's delete the pattern and make sure it's set to be concrete in the material list tab.

 

Now, let's select all foundation walls and uncheck 'Sill Plate'. This shouldn't be needed, but sill plates don't always play according to the rules. So, we adapt.

Then, try changing the sill plate setting for one foundation wall. Does it build? It does over here! So, now we can select all foundation walls and set the sill plates correctly. Do they all build? They do for me...so hopefully you get the same result.

 

Some extra cleanup:

You've got some rim joists hanging out in no man's land. And, just curious, do you actually want a 2x12 ridge if you are using trusses? 

[coastdesign]

@robdyck

Robert,

So, I have changed the default concrete settings but the sill plate seems to really hate me.  

The random framing member seems to have gone away on this more recent version. 

 

For the sill plate, I have tried it on the main level walls, turning it on and off, as well as the foundation walls, turning it on and off. 

I had it turned on both for the main level walls and for the foundation walls, each under the foundation tab of said walls.  I tried turning it on and off for each to see if it would build the sill plates and even that doesn't work.  

I am sorry to keep bugging you but you got me so close and I do appreciate the assistance.  If easier, you can call me on my cell phone:  310-867-3993 and we can do a brief screen share.

 

Chris  

Edited Sunday at 07:38 PM by coastdesign

[coastdesign]

@robdyck

 

By the way, here is my email address:  chris@californiamodularhouses.com

I can invite you to a screen share through Google or you can invite me, whatever works, if that is easiest.

 

Here is the most recent file.    

 

 

2025_06_28_690_SF_G23_Ceanothusy.caproj

[coastdesign]

No worries, I do understand that you probably got busy with other stuff on a weekend.

You got me most of the way there, I can manually draw in the site plates until I figure it out.  

For some reason it's also putting insulation in the floor decking but that is a one button fix, "Delete" and it's resolved.

 

Thanks again, Robert.

Chris

 

[robdyck]

I can spare some time today. I'll send an email and we can go from there.

[coastdesign]

Thank you very much for your help, Robert.  It is very much appreciated!  

I have automatic sill plates now!  Yay!!!

Chris