Manually Modifying Deck Framing

QUESTION

I need to manually modify deck framing that Chief Architect generated in my plan. What are my options?

ANSWER

When a room is defined as a Deck in Chief Architect, framing is generated automatically. This is a fast way to generate posts, beams, joists and planking, but sometimes manual modifications may still need to be made.

By default, the various deck framing layers will not be displayed in plan view. Before making adjustments to your deck framing, you will want to enable the display of the various "Framing, Deck..." layers. To learn more about controlling layers, please see the Related Articles section below.

We first recommend using the automatic deck framing settings to reduce the amount of manual modifications needed. For more information about how to customize the automatic deck planking and framing, see KB-00794: Customizing Deck Planking and Framing Automatically.

In this article, we will cover the following topics for manual modification:

• Turning off automatic deck framing
• Adjusting deck framing attributes
• Modifying deck framing using the edit tools
• Editing deck posts and footings
  
  

To turn off automatic deck framing

1. Using the Select Objects  tool, click in an empty space in the Deck room to select it, then click the Open Object  edit tool.
   
   
   
   
   
2. On the Deck panel of the Room Specification dialog that opens, uncheck Automatically regenerate deck framing, then click OK. 
   
   
   Note: Grayed out options on this panel indicate that the Room Type is set to something other than a Deck. For framing to generate, define the room as a Deck, click OK, then open the room back up to specification to disable the setting mentioned in this step. 
   
   
   
   

To adjust deck framing attributes

1. Select one or multiple joists/beams/planks using the Select Objects  tool.
   
   Make sure to only select deck framing of the same type; do not select both joists and beams at the same time.
   
   

   Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on another framing member to add it to the selection set. For more information on group selecting objects, please see the Related Articles section below.
   

   
   
2. With the desired framing objects selected, click the the Open Object  edit tool.
   
   
   
3. On the General panel of the Framing Specification (Deck Joist/Beam/Plank) dialog: 
   
   
   
   
   • Adjust the Width, Depth, Length, and Angle to your liking.
     
     
   • Check the Raise/Lower checkbox, set your value, and click Apply to raise/lower the selected deck joists/beams/planks.
     
     
   • Change the Top/Bottom Height and Depth. 
     
     Use the different Lock radio buttons to keep that field from changing as the other ones are adjusted.
     
     
   • Adjust the Role and Type of the selected deck joists/beams/planks.
     
     
   • Check the Bearing Beam* checkbox to specify the selected deck beam as a load-bearing beam, which will affect how the automatic framing generates.
     
     
   • Check the Treated checkbox to specify the selected deck joists/beams/planks to be counted as treated in framing schedules and the Materials List.
     
     
   • The Concrete Beam Options* will become available if the Type is set to Solid Concrete.
     
     *Only applies if a deck beam is selected.
   
   
   Note: For more information on the options located on this panel, click the Help button at the bottom of the dialog to open your software's Help documentation.
   
   
4. On the End Profile panel:
   
   
   
   
   • Click the Add New button to select a molding profile to apply to the end of your framing members.
     
     
   • Set the Width and Height of the molding profile.
     
     
   • Adjust the Profile Rotation and/or Reflect Vertical/Horizontal, as necessary.
     
     
   • Set whether the end profile needs to be on the Start, End, or Both.
   
   
   Note: For more information on the options located on this panel, click the Help button at the bottom of the dialog to open your software's Help documentation.
   
   
5. Click OK to save your changes to the selected deck joists/beams/planks.

To modify deck framing using the edit tools

1. Select one or multiple joists/beams/planks using the Select Objects  tool.
   
   Make sure to only select deck framing of the same type; do not select both joists and beams at the same time.
   
   

   Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on another framing member to add it to the selection set. For more information on group selecting objects, please see the Related Articles section below.
   

   
   
2. Two powerful edit tools that are compatible with deck framing components are the Trim Object(s)  and Extend Object(s)  edit tools. Examples of using each of these tools are below. 
   
   
   In the first example, we have multiple deck joists that need to be extended to meet the deck beam, so the Extend Object(s)  edit tool is used to make the connection.
   
   
   • Select the beam and click the Extend Object(s)  edit tool.
     
     
   • Click and drag a temporary line, or fence, that runs through the joists that you'd like to have extended to your deck beam.
     
     
     
     
   • When you release the mouse button, the ends of the joists will have snapped to the edge of the deck beam.
     
     
   
   
   In the second example, we will use the Trim Object(s)  edit tool to mitre multiple deck planks along an edge.
   
   

   • With the CAD> Lines> Draw Line  tool, create a line at the corner where the miter should be.
     
     
   • Select the CAD line and click the Trim Object(s)  edit tool.
     
     
   • Click and drag a temporary line, or fence, that runs through the deck planks on one side of the miter CAD line.
     
     
     
     
   • When you release the mouse button, the ends of the planks will be trimmed back to the inside edge of the CAD line.
     
     
     
     
   • Repeat these steps for any other areas where the planks need to be mitered, and use the edit handles to extend the length of the planks as necessary.
     
   
   
   
3. There are a variety of other edit tools that can be used to modify your deck framing:
   
   
   • The Delete  edit tool will allow you to remove any deck joists/beams that aren't necessary. 
     
     
   • The Copy/Paste  edit tool will allow you to create additional deck joist/beams by copying and pasting.
     
     
   • The Multiple Copy  edit tool can be used to create copies of selected deck framing objects at set intervals.
     
     
   • The Join and Mitre Ends  edit tool can be used to first mitre the ends of your deck joists/beams, and can be used again to connect those ends together.
     
     
   • The Join and Lap Ends  edit tool can be used to make deck framing meet at a lapped intersection.
     
     
     Note: For more information on these tools, please consult your software's Help documentation.
   
   
   
4. When you are finished, select 3D> Create Perspective View> Full Camera  to see the results.

To edit deck posts and footings

1. Using the Select Objects tool, select any posts that need to be edited, then select the Open Object edit tool.
   
   
   
2. On the General panel of the Framing Specification dialog:
   
   
   
   
   • Adjust the Width, Depth, and Angle to your liking.
     
     In X16 and prior, adjust Width 1 and Width 2 instead.
     
     
   • Check the Raise/Lower checkbox, set your value, and click Apply to raise/lower the selected deck posts.
     
     
   • Change the Top/Bottom Height and Depth. 
     
     Use the different Lock radio buttons to keep that field from changing as the other ones are adjusted.
     
     
   • Adjust the Role and Type of the selected deck posts.
     
     
   • Check the Treated checkbox to specify the selected deck beams to be counted as treated in framing schedules and the Materials List.
     
     
   • Check the Show Cross checkbox to display the selected Post as a cross box in plan view.
     
     
   • The Concrete Post Options will become available if the Type is set to Solid Concrete.
   
   
   
3. Click OK to save your changes to the selected deck posts.
   
   
   
4. You can then use the  Copy/Paste , Multiple Copy , Delete , and other various edit tools to modify your deck post layout.
   
   
   
5. To make sure everything is positioned correctly, navigate to 3D> Create Orthographic View> Cross Section/Elevation , click where the camera view should start, then drag through the deck.
   
   
   
   
   
6. In the section view that generates, select any framing members that are not in the correct position, and use edit handles and/or dimensions to move these members into the desired location.