Creating a Beam

QUESTION

How do I create a beam?

ANSWER

Floor/Ceiling Beams and Roof Beams are not automatically generated: they can only be drawn manually.

There are three types of beams you can create in Chief Architect: floor, ceiling and roof beams.

To configure beam defaults

1. Open the plan in which you would like to add a floor or ceiling beam, select Edit> Default Settings , navigate to Framing> Manual Framing, then click Edit. 
   
   In X16 and prior select Edit> Default Settings , navigate to Framing> General Framing, then click Edit.
   
   
   
2. On the Beams panel of the Manual Framing Defaults dialog that opens:
   
   
   
   
   • Control the Construction of both the Floor/Ceiling and Roof Beams.
     
     
   • Control the Width and Depth of both the Floor/Ceiling and Roof Beams.
     
     
   • Control the Ply Count* of both the Floor/Ceiling and Roof Beams.
     
     *Available in X18 and newer.
     
     
   • Use the Placement and Align Exterior With options to control where the beam is located when manually drawn in. 
   
   
   In X16 and prior, on the Beams panel of the Framing Defaults click on the appropriate Edit Beam Defaults button to open the Floor Beam or Roof Beam Defaults.
   
   
   
3. Click OK and Done once you're done with your changes. 
   
   

1. In your 2D plan view, select Build> Framing> Floor/Ceiling Beam  or Roof Beam , depending on the type of beam you want to create.
   
   

   Remember the floor framing is drawn on the floor below the floor in question. If you want to draw a floor beam for Floor 1, draw this object on Floor 0.

   
   
2. With the Floor/Ceiling Beam  tool active, click and drag within a floor/ceiling platform to create a floor/ceiling beam.
   
   With the Roof Beam  tool active, click and drag within a roof plane to create a roof beam. 
   
   
   
3. You can then use the Transform/Replicate  or Multiple Copy  edit tools to replicate the beam across the room or structure.
   
   

   Note: Information on using these tools can be found in the program's Help documentation. Additionally, you can review the following training video on using Multiple Copy.