2014 Plus
What is the best way to step both the upper and corresponding lower walls when you have unequal length and height of steps. See below.
Thanks
JimC
Fri, 03/28/2014 - 19:56
#1
jimcrook@live.com
Wall Stepping
SoftPlan Version:
If you are doing this for 3D or cross sections I would create custom walls for each step height. If just for a 2D elevation I would do like you did and just draw in the steps.
If you are going for 3D first create a custom wall for the lowest step. Start out with concrete at the bottom and stack the other materials on top. Be sure to set the concrete to Fixed so even if you change heights of the walls the concrete will remain at the same height. Also be sure to set your Plates to fixed as well so they don't stretch out of proportion if you adjust the wall height. Then after you get your first wall defined select Save As to make a copy of the first step wall. Edit this new wall and adjust the concrete and other materials. Repeat for each step height you wish to show. Then just line the walls up end to end to form the stepped wall.
Bill is the owner and maintainer of SoftPlanTuts.com
I'm sure you know, but its the inspector/plans reviewer in me, but you would have to step footing as well to maintain proper frost depth at walkout. I believe Jim you are in Ontario as well. Take care.
You don't need to step the footings for frost protection if your soil bearing capacity is ok. We have a typical engineer detail that has a 2" high compression strength styrofoam underneath the footing extending a couple of inches inside the footing and 4' outside of the footing. I know that some use a rule of thumb of adding 1" of styrofoam thickness per foot of frost protection to compensate for.
Yes you are correct..there are many ways to build outside the code with the stamp of an Engineer. I have seen a couple similar details for the application you describe. Not typical though. Have a great day.
Hi Jason, yes I do know I have to step the footings, I was just more interested
in determining whether there was an easy wall to draw the steps in the walls
when they were unequal steps in either horizontal or vertical steps. I can do it
fairly easily with the Step Wall command ( using two sets of walls ) if the steps
were equal. It is the unequal stepping that is the issue.
It sounds like you were an Ontario Plans Reviewer/Inspector in a previous life.
What type of detail do you likte to see regarding insulating at a footing or conc. floor
that is sitting on bedrock at grade ?
JimC
You can probably tell in the email above that I'm not big into proof reading
my responses. Above should have said "an easy way to draw" not
"an easy wall to draw".
Also further on "do you likte to see" is of course "like" ;-)
Actually I am an Inspector currently. And to be honest I have never ever dealt with bedrock. So I don't have a quick answer answer for you.