Development and Updates for the Medeek Foundation Plugin

[Itworx4me]

Have you made any progress on drawing foundations per a plan yet? Currently we can only do rectangles

[Medeek]

I am currently working on the polygon and line tool for both stemwall and slab foundations.  I am finding it hard currently to get enough time to really push ahead quickly so I don't have an ETA on the release of these tools.

[Medeek]

The options for the crawlspace vents (if this option enabled) will be:

1.) Width (in.)
2.) Height (in.)
3.) Corner Distance (ft.)
4.) Top Fnd. Distance (in.)
5.) Max. Spacing (ft.)
6.) Location:  All Walls|Left/Right Walls|Front/Back Walls
7.) Vent Insert:  NONE|PLASTIC|METAL

The Max. spacing variable will determine whether to insert intermediate vents along the wall line.  The module will always place two vents per wall (if wall line selected), one at each corner and then equally space vents along wall line based on the Max. spacing variable.

[Medeek]

The vent module seems to be working fairly well:



If you set the top distance to zero the vents are right up to the sill plate:



Notice the top bar is clashing with the vent cutouts. 

[Medeek]

Version 1.0.8 - 03.23.2017
- Added crawlspace vent option to stemwall foundations.
- Added a "Materials" tab within the global settings; Auto material assigment (colors and textures) is now an option.
- Enabled materials for all foundation types.

[Medeek]

Version 1.0.8 - 03.23.2017
- Added crawlspace vent option to stemwall foundations.
- Added a "Materials" tab within the global settings; Auto material assigment (colors and textures) is now an option.
- Enabled materials for all foundation types.
- Added a joist pocket option for stemwall foundations.



I've been putting off the joist pocket feature for a while but figured I could spend my Friday night and knock it out.  I doubt it will get much use except for certain builders in the State of Oregon.

The options for the joist pocket option are:

1.)  Pocket Width
2.)  Pocket Height
3.)  Pocket Depth (into the stemwall)
4.)  Pocket Spacing (default is 16" o/c, but can be set to any value)

If you use joist pockets with either the brick ledge feature or the crawlspace vents you need to realize that the geometry must be such that the various item don't clash.  For example the stemwall must be thick enough for a brick ledge and the typical 2.25" depth of the joist pocket. 

With vents and pocket joists there must be enough vertical clearance between the two otherwise the header will be too thin for the overlying floor joist.  One solution to this problem is to have the vents only on the front and back walls while the joist pockets are on the left and right walls.

The number of options and inputs is now a bit mind boggling and the code is also at a new level of complexity.  Taking all of this to a polygon shaped foundation will be a challenge but that is where it needs to go next.

[Medeek]

Version 1.0.9 - 03.25.2017
- Added slab foundation type (rectangular outline only).
- Enabled full and partial width interior thickened slab footings.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/f96ebc51-f099-4dcf-a7a8-b51055a67a7c/Basement1

[Medeek]

Finally got some time to work on the polygon tool in the foundation plugin, starting with the easy one which is the basic slab.

I've got it working for the concrete but the problem is the rebar, see image below:



The only way I can see to create the rebar is to use the solid boolean tools (ie. Subtract), however that is only available in the Pro version of SketchUp so the polygon tool would really only be useful or workable in the Pro version of SketchUp.  Unfortunately, I don't have enough extra cash at my disposal to even purchase the pro version so I am now at a standstill on this since I can't test or debug it further.

You can literally draw any shape you like but the rebar is configured to always align (parallel) with the edge created by the first and second points. 

[Medeek]

As can be seen in this polygon shape the rebar could be potentially cut in multiple places.  The subtraction method makes the most sense but since I don't have that luxury I am working on a different algorithm for putting the rebar only within the concrete and so that it has at least 3" of ground clearance on the sides.

[Medeek]

Haven't figured out the best way to deal with the slab reinforcement yet but I've moved on to start putting together the polygon tool for the Slab-on-Grade.  Since the offset line tool is not exposed in the API I've decided to try and use TIG's SmartOffset plugin as a starting point.  Unlike the rectangle tool I probably won't have a bend radius on the footing bars, at least not initially.  At some point I would like to figure out a plugin or some code that will automatically apply a radius or fillet to two lines/edges, I'm surprised that this functionality is not already built into SketchUp.

The way I will create the SOG is extrude the slab and then use the follow me tool for the footing, then union the two solids together, fairly simple.  Any shape or size of SOG will be possible.  The basic input (Non-Graphical User Interface) will only allow the entry of one internal footing however I am planning on implementing a Webdialog GUI that will allow the user to create as many interior footings as required and also allow them to even cross each other in grid patterns (ie. X-dir and Y-dir).  Things are going to get interesting with this plugin.

The GUI will allow the user to better preview the location and start and end points of the interior footing(s) which will make the entire process much more intuitive and easier to use.

Anchor bolts along the perimeter of the SOG will also be implemented.  Hoping to have all of this done by the end of the week, and as time allows.  I may have to simply disable the slab mesh/rebar until I can figure out a way to trim it without forcing the user to SketchUp Pro.

[Medeek]

The slab on grade concrete is working great, that was easy.  Now I just need to work on the rebar in the perimeter footing and the anchor bolts as well as the optional garage curb.

[Medeek]

Any shape is possible even a circular shape by selecting points along an arc.  Now I really need to get the wall plugin going with the same polygon tool that is smart enough to handle typical 90 deg. corners and non-orthogonal corners.



Curved walls and roofs though are still a bit of stretch, but I can see we need to eventually go that direction as well to make everything complete.

[Medeek]

The polygon tool for the slab-on-grade foundations is nearing completion.  I've got the concrete, perimeter rebar, internal footings and even anchor bolts all working.



The only item still pending is the slab reinforcement (mesh/bar).  I've been contemplating devising my own boolean subtraction tool.

I've even managed to create a fillet tool based on TIG's 2D tools that properly applies the correct bend radius to the perimeter rebar.

[Medeek]

I think I've got the slab reinforcement working now.  I haven't tested it enough to determine if its really robust enough to release another update but I'll keep testing.



I owe Sdmitch big time for this one.  I've integrated his rebar trim function into the plugin to create a new module that trims the slab rebar or mesh.  I am still trying to figure out exactly how the magic is done but most of it is over my head.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/7d64c1ab-bb1a-47a2-9fb4-4cf3553e7cec/Foundation-4

A mesh reinforced slab though can get quite heavy with the polygon count so it may only have limited usefulness.

[Medeek]

I haven't fully compiled a TODO List for this plugin yet but there are still a number of items that need to be addressed.

- A hole cutting tool that removes the concrete and the rebar and any anchor bolts in the way.
- Square and Rectangular Footings for point loads
- Strip Footings
- A line tool for the stemwall module
- Retaining Walls with Engineering
- Ability to step foundation walls
- Webdialog input for SOG and Stemwall so that interior footings can be configured with ease.

Let me know if there is anything you would like to add to this list.