Help Database

In Chief Architect X4, interior slab footings can be generated automatically, or created using the Slab Footing tool.

In Chief Architect X3 and prior, interior footings must be drawn manually using the Slab tool.   

To create a monolithic slab foundation 

1. Create the perimeter and bearing walls for the main structure on Floor 1 of your plan. The building for this example looks like this: 
   
   
   
   
   
2. From the menu, choose Build> Floor> Build Foundation .  In the Foundation Defaults dialog:
   
   
   • Specify the Slab Thickness. 
     
     
   • Click the radio button by Monolithic Slab to select that type of foundation.
     
     
   • In the Footing size section, specify the Width and Height of the footings around the exterior of the monolithic slab. In this example, they are 12 inches wide and 24 inches deep. 
     
     
     
      
     
     
     
3. Click OK to build the monolithic slab foundation with footings.   
   
   
   
   

To create an interior footing

The footing for the interior bearing wall is created on the Foundation level, Floor 0,  with the Slab tool.

1. On the Foundation level, select Tools > Reference Floors > Reference Display  from the menu to turn on Reference Display.  This allows you to see the bearing walls on the floor above as red lines.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. From the menu, select Build > Slab .  Click and drag a rectangle to draw a slab across the foundation plan at the location of the bearing wall above.  This will become the footing under the bearing wall. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. Select CAD> Dimension> End to End Dimension  from the menu. Click and drag a dimension line across the footing to measure its width.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click on one of the edges of the slab located by the dimension line to select it, then click on the dimension line.  In the Move Object Using Dimension in line text box that displays:
   
   
   • Enter the desired width of the footing, then press the Enter key on the keyboard. 
     
     
   • In this example, the footing is 12" (inches) wide.  
     
     In Chief Architect X1 and prior, the Move Objects Using Dimensions feature displayed a dialog box, rather than in-line text, where you can enter in the Distance value and click OK to apply the change.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
5. With the footing selected, use the Move  edit handle to center it under the bearing wall.  You can create additional End to End Dimension  lines to assist you if you'd like. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. If Object Snaps  are turned on, the program will snap the slab's edges to the edges of the foundation.  Temporarily toggle Object Snaps off and then use the edit handles to move the slab edges in so that they align with the edges of the footings rather than the edges of the slab.  You may find it helpful to toggle Grid Snaps  off, as well. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Select the footing and click the Open Object  edit button.  On the General tab of the Slab Specification dialog:
   
   
   • Specify the Top Height of the footing. Subtract the thickness of your foundation slab from the height of the slab's top edge, which is also the floor height of Floor 1.  In this example, Floor 1's floor height is 0 and the foundation slab is 4 inches thick, so the Top Height of the footing is -4 inches.
     
     
   • Specify the Thickness of the footing.  In this example, the thickness is 24 inches. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • If you would like this footing to be shown on the floor plan as a dashed line like the exterior footings, choose a dashed line style on the Line Style tab.
     
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and apply your changes. 
     
     
     
8. To see the results, select 3D> Create Orthographic View> Floor Overview  from the menu.  Then use the Camera Orbit Tools  or the arrow keys on your keyboard to rotate the view so that you can see the underside of the slab.