Help Database

There is a wide variety of post and beam construction styles, and a variety of methods that you can model this type of structure in Chief Architect, as well.  In this example, a simple structure composed of posts, beams, and trusses is created.

To create the perimeter

1. Open the Chief Architect plan in which you would like to create a pole structure or select File> New Plan  from the menu to open a new, blank plan.
   
   
   
2. Select Edit> Default Settings from the menu, then double-click on "Framing" to open the Framing Defaults dialog.  On the POSTS/BEAMS tab:
   
   
   • Under the "Beam Initial Values" heading, make sure that the Under Joists radio button is selected and specify the desired Depth and Thickness.  In this example, 6" is used for both. 
     
     
   • Under the "Post Initial Values" heading, specify the desired Dimension.  In this example, 6" is used.
     
     
   • On the TRUSSES tab, specify the desired Member Depths.  In this example, the Top Chord, Bottom Chord, and Webbing are all specified as 6".
     
     
   • Click OK.
     
     
     
3. Select Build> Framing> Post  from the menu, then click in the drawing area to place a post at that location.
   
   
   
4. Click on the post to select it, then click the Transform/Replicate Object  edit button.  In the Transform/Replicate Object dialog:  
   
   
   
   
    
   • Check the box beside Copy and specify the number of copies you would like to make. In this example, 4 copies are created.
     
     
   • Check the box beside Move and specify the interval at which you would like the copied posts to be created. In this example, a Move interval of 120" along the X Delta is used.  
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and create the copies at the specified interval. In this example, a total of five posts spaced 10 feet apart are produced.
     
     
     
5. Select the five posts as a group. To do this, click and drag a rectangular selection marquee around them.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. With the five posts selected, click the Transform/Replicate Object  edit button. In the Transform/Replicate Object dialog: 
   
   
   
   
   
   • Check the box beside Copy and specify 1 copy. 
     
     
   • Check the box beside Move and specify the interval to move the copied posts. 
     
     
   • In this example, the posts are moved 24 feet "down" on-screen, or -24' on the Y Delta.
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and create the copies at the specified interval.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
7. Select Edit> Preferences from the menu, and on the BEHAVIORS panel, specify the Concentric Jump value as the desired distance between the outside of the posts and the edge of the structure's concrete slab.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Select CAD> Boxes> Rectangular Polyline from the menu, then click and drag a polyline that snaps to the outside of the array of posts.
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Concentrically resize the polyline so it represents the size of the slab you need.  To do this:
   
   
   
   
   • Click on the polyline to select it.
     
     
   • Zoom  in on a corner of the polyline.
     
     
   • Hold down the C key on your keyboard.
     
     
   • Slowly drag the corner outward until it snaps to one Jump increment, then release the mouse button.
     
     
     
     
     
     
10. Using the Wall or Raiing tool of your choice, draw walls that snap to the polyline as they are drawn.
    
    
    
    
    
    • In this example, Invisible Walls  are used.
      
      
      
11. Select Build> Floor> Build Foundation  from the menu and generate a Monolithic Slab Foundation.
    
    
    
12. Select 3D> Create Perspective Overview> Perspective Framing Overview  from the menu to see the results so far.
    
    
    
    
    
    
       

To add the roof trusses

1. Go Up One Floor  to Floor 1, then specify the two side walls as Full Gable Walls.  To do this:
   
   
   • Shift + select the two walls and click the Open Object  edit button. 
     
     
   • On the ROOF tab of the Wall Specification dialog, check the box beside Full Gable Wall and click OK.
     
     
     
2. Select Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu.  In the Build Roof dialog:  
   
   
   • On the ROOF tab, check Trusses (no Birdsmouth).
     
     
   • Specify the desired Pitch, Overhang, materials and other settings.
     
     
   • Check Build Roof Planes and click OK to close the dialog and build a roof over the structure.  
     
     
     
3. Select Build> Framing> Roof Truss  from the menu, then click and drag a line perpendicular to the roof ridge to draw a roof truss at that location.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Use the Move  edit handle to move the truss into position next to two corner posts on the left side of the structure.
   
   
   
5. With the truss selected, click the Transform/Replicate Object  edit button.  In the Transform/Replicate Object dialog:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Specify the distance and direction to Move the selected truss so it is centered over the posts. 
     
     
   • In this example, the truss is moved -6" on the X Delta. 
     
     
     
6. With the truss in position over the posts, Zoom  in on one end of it and use the Resize edit handle located on its long edge to increase its width to equal that of the posts.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. With the truss still selected, click the Transform/Replicate Object edit button once more.
   
   
   • Check the box beside Copy and specify 4 copies.
     
     
   • Check the box beside Move and specify the interval to move the copied trusses.
     
     
   • In this example, the trusses are copied at 10 foot intervals along the X Delta - just as the posts were previously.
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and create the copies at the specified interval.  
     
     
     
8. Create a Perspective Framing Overview to see the results.  Select File> Close when you are finished to return to floor plan view.
   
   
   
   
   
   

To add the beams

1. Zoom in on the two beams located at top left corner of the structure.
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Framing> Floor/Ceiling Beam , then click and drag to draw a beam between these two posts.  
   
   
   
   
   
   • By default, beams will snap along their centerlines as they are drawn, and you can snap them to the beams' midpoints.
     
     
     
3. Select the beam and use the Copy/Paste  and Reflect About Object  edit tools to make a copy of the beam on the other side of the post to its right.  To do this:
   
   
   • Click the Copy/Paste button.
     
     
   • Click the Reflect About Object  button.
     
     
   • Move your mouse pointer over the post to the right of the selected beam. 
     
     
   • When you see a short reflection axis, click once.  A reflected copy of the original beam will be created on the other side of the post.
     
     
     
     
     
     
4. Repeat step 7 to create beams between each of the posts along the back wall of the structure.
   
   
   
5. Shift + select the four beams and use the same procedure to create a set of beams along the opposite wall.  Reflect the beams about the ridge of the roof or the center of the room.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Create a Perspective Framing Overview  to see the results.