I've been looking at some screen shots from Chief Architect and giving some thought to framed opening headers and their trimmers.

Beyond the myriad of options I am already providing for window and door headers I may need to extend the list to a few others.

The current list is:

4X4
4X6
4X8
4X10
4X12
6X4
6X6
6X8
6X10
6X12
(2) 2X4
(2) 2X6
(2) 2X8
(2) 2X10
(2) 2X12
(3) 2X8
(3) 2X10
(3) 2X12
1-3/4X7-1/4 LSL
1-3/4X9-1/4 LSL
(2) 1-3/4X7-1/4 LSL
(2) 1-3/4X9-1/4 LSL

For larger doors (garage doors) glulams are fairly typical in my neck of the woods.  If the designer selects  glulam an additional menu will pop up that allow for the selection of the exact glulam size.  I've already implemented a similar feature in the Truss Plugin for glulam rafter roofs. 

I think it might also be interesting to provide an auto calculate feature based on the width of the framed opening:

- AUTO GLULAM
- AUTO 2X
- AUTO 4X
- AUTO 6X
- AUTO LSL

This is not an exact engineering solution since we don't know the loads on the header but it could at least get it ball park.  Future releases of the plugin will have more engineering capabilities added so that one can actually run the actual numbers on a header (I'm think Forte type software here, one that I commonly use in my own practice).

Along the same lines another parameter should be added into the global settings to allows for auto-calculation of the door/window trimmer qty., again this would be based off of the width of the framed opening and also factor in whether the wall is an interior or exterior wall.

Exterior trim can get very elaborate based on some work I've seen and also some recent renderings sent me of some exceptional architectural work.

That being said I'm wanting to start off simple with the exterior trim and then as things progress keep adding more options and layers of complexity as required.

For doors and windows I've come up with the following basic trim parameters based on my own observations and also suggestions from you, please review and comment:



I typically don't see any sill trim at the bottom of doors, but that may be an option if necessary.

I am planning on placing the trim flush to the framed opening unless someone thinks I should add an additional parameter for a reveal.

I like the idea of having the header, jamb and sill all independent widths for total flexibility.  Each of these 11 parameters can be set to a default value in the global settings, but adjusted for each door or window.

As for color (material) and layers, those both can be set in the global settings as well.  The layer cannot be adjusted in either the wall or opening edit menus however the material will be allowed to be adjusted in the window or door edit menus.

If the cladding or sheathing is not enabled for a wall then the trim will not be drawn, however the parameters will be stored in the library for that opening if they are entered (ie. trim enabled).

After reviewing a suggestion by Steven Dorst (Sjdorst) and giving it some more thought I've decided the additional tools of the second toolbar can be consolidated.

There will be an icon to add a new window or door but the icon(s) to move, edit or delete one of these openings can be the same icon.

The second toolbar will be:

- Split Wall
- Move Wall
- Edit Opening
- Move Opening
- Delete Opening

I like the whole idea of the model changing hands from the designer to the engineer and then finally to the contractor or builder.

Initially the designer would use first the 2D mode to work on overall space layout and then bring it up into the no-framing option to consider all of the architectural elements (ie. trim, windows, doors, siding/cladding etc...)  I agree that most architects are generally not overly concerned with stud layouts, holdowns and all of the nuts and bolts that go into a design.  They are the big picture guys who are responsible for selling the design, look and feel, and functionality to the customer.

From there the engineer can look into the insertion of additional wall columns and also review the headers, beams, king and trimmer qty. etc... and stud layouts.  At this stage something might jump out at him, for example he may determine that a triple top plate is required because of a large truss span, or 2x8 wall studs are required due to the wind loads or wall height or both.  The engineer would want to have the full 3D model with framing enabled.  He is the nuts and bolts guy when it comes to safety and structural issues. 

This is sometime where the engineer and architect clash.  I've actually had to delete windows out of a design for lateral strength (steel moment frames were too expensive) much to the chagrin of the designer of that job but sometimes practicality overrides ambition and creativity.

The engineer can also enable holdowns/straps (with anchor bolts, threaded rods, coupler nuts) for specified wall panels.  He will probably turn off the layers that deal with the look and feel of the building, ie. gypsum, cladding, windows, doors, trim etc...

Then the model gets passed to the contractor who then has the full details of literally every component including the nailing information for every wall panel (that is my goal).

He can quickly pull dimensions or other information from the model as needed and also be able to see exactly what was intended by the designer and engineer.

With the new layout API I am also planning on setting up some automation for wall plan generation and wall framing elevations/details.  I haven't fully defined what the end product will be in this regard but I think some production drawing automation may be useful, especially for prefab wall panel designers/companies.

Since the model can get quite heavy with all of the studs, blocking, insulation and other geometry I've decided to add one additional option to the basic parameters called "Wall Framing".  By turning this option to "NO" the walls are drawn with all of the internal geometry removed (ie. plates, studs, headers, kings, trimmers, insulation, holdowns etc...)

However, you can still use the advanced wall options and display sheathing, cladding and gypsum:



The model is now quite boring but is significantly more lightweight and will lend itself to quick edits by the designer.  Walls and Doors can be inserted and all of the internal framing can be turned on at any time within the wall edit menu.

See model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/e1d92198-f073-4eca-b5e5-d87f7d10aafe/Framing-Test-6

The wall framing parameter will also be available within the global settings so that its default behavior can be set.