Version 1.8.2c - 01.28.2021
- Enabled a second layer of sheathing for exterior shed and hip walls.



!!! CAUTION !!!
Installing this update will require that you delete and recreate any HIP or SHED wall presets that you have previously configured.  This update will not affect any rectangular or gable wall presets.

Version 1.8.2b - 01.27.2021
- Enabled a second layer of sheathing for exterior gable walls.



I only have the hip and shed walls left to update.

!!! CAUTION !!!
Installing this update will require that you delete and recreate any GABLE wall presets that you have previously configured.  This update will not affect any rectangular, shed or hip wall presets.

As I was wrapping things up today with the new release (Version 1.8.2) I got yet another email requesting steel studs be incorporated into the plugin.

With a bit of clever manipulations of some basic materials applied to certain faces you can create a fairly realistic looking steel stud (also one face is hidden):



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/967d7267-f6c3-4838-974b-85070e19629f/Steel-Studs-Study-1

The problem I see with this is that the stud lengths are really not the correct lengths that the steel studs would be.  The other major issue is that the around openings the configuration of steel studs with steel headers is a bit more complex than a standard wood framed wall.

So barring major changes to the code the best I can probably do right now is a "cosmetic" steel framed wall.  To do this properly would require entirely new algorithms for bottom and top channels, steel headers and the proper configuration of the king stud to header connections.

Version 1.8.2 - 01.26.2021
- Enabled a second layer of sheathing for exterior rectangular walls.
- Added four additional parameters to the Sheathing tab of the Global Settings.

!!! CAUTION !!!
Upgrading from all previous versions of the wall plugin to this version (1.8.2) will require that all rectangular wall presets be deleted and recreated.  Please do not upgrade to this latest version until you understand the implications of this upgrade.  Also note that the 2nd layer of sheathing has not been implemented for gable, shed or hip wall types, only for rectangular walls.

Exterior trim and wainscoting with a second layer of sheathing installed:

They can be turned off per window.  You can also turn them off in the global settings under the Windows tab so that they are disabled by default.

A couple more possible permutations:





If you turn off layer 1 of the sheathing the 2nd layer will be installed as if the first layer existed which allows one to introduce an air gap (equal to the thickness of layer 1) between the sheathing and framing.

The second example shows an air gap between the framing and sheathing and an air gap between the sheathing and cladding (via the cladding air gap parameter).

Now I just need to do a whole ton of error checking to make sure all of the other routines for placing doors, windows, trim, quoins, and annotations all work seamlessly when this second layer of sheathing is invoked. It will be another 2-3 days of tedious checking and testing, at a minimum.

Either layer can be any of the typical sheathing materials as well as custom materials from the Material Library.

You can use Zip Sheathing on Layer 2 and insulation on Layer 1 as shown:



*Cladding layer turned off for visibility.
** Each sheathing layer is set to "LAP" at the corners.

First look at an exterior wall with the second layer of sheathing material installed. In this case I have chosen foam insulation as the material:

I will work on adding in a second sheathing layer and organizing the draw and edit menus a bit better:

Updated (public) todo list (as of Jan. 21, 2020):

1.) Making the Window, Door and Garage Door modules work with generic walls, not just Medeek walls.
2.) Shear Wall module which will ultimately integrate with the engineering plugin.
3.) Presets for Garage Doors
4.) Move the Estimating module to the new **Medeek Project** extension, and further develop this module as it relates to the wall plugin.
5.) Start work on the integrated **Medeek Engineering** extension, start with window and door headers for vertical loads. (in progress)
6.) Additional door and window types as requested (eg. bi-fold closet doors, sliding glass doors, pocket doors, double and triple single hung windows).
7.) Spend some time on the new tabs in the global settings, currently showing an Under Construction sign.
8.) Stair module permutations: U, L, T etc...
9.) Further "idiot" proofing of the plugins: (zero value, nil values, checking for impossible geometry, etc...)
10.) Wall Justification
11.) Interior trim added to **Medeek Interior** extension.
12.) Resume development of the **Medeek Floor** extension. (in progress)
13.) Complex Roof rafter algorithm (in progress)

The items marked with strike through have been completed.

More door and window types still need to be added, this one seems never ending.

I did begin work on item #1, however there are some difficulties that I ran into which have placed this item on hold for now.

There are a number of other small issues or features that are not included in this list that need further attention, most of which I would call mid-hanging fruit.

The initial Medeek Engineering extension is functional as far as applying, modifying and deleting loads and supports, however the most important part (matrix analysis) is still in development.

The complex roof rafter algorithm is mostly there but there are still enough special cases that quite a bit of logic is still needed to make it reliable and stable.

Tutorial 18 - Gable Walls (18:05 min.)

Version 1.8.1c - 01.20.2021
- Enabled "animated" opening and closing of single and double man doors.
- Enabled "animated" opening and closing of garage doors.

Version 1.8.1b - 01.19.2021
- Added an "Animation" parameter to the General tab of the Global Settings.
- Enabled "animated" opening and closing of sliding glass doors.

Version 1.8.1 - 01.18.2021
- Added sliding glass doors to the door module.





This item has been on the todo list for far too long.  I'm excited to finally get it out the door, no pun intended.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/ba03e59c-cc03-4824-819f-f792f05a2943/Sliding-Glass-Door-1