14 replies to this topic

[Martin Livingston]

Hi,

 

I just started using Softplan again after 15-20 years (last version I used was 7) and have installed 2014 plus Softlist. I am trying to set it up to reflect the way we build houses but I am a little stymied by the disconnect between the wall definitions in Softplan and the material definitions in Softlist. I created a new wall (copied from 2x6/siding) called 2x6/1.5"EPS/siding which is sheathed with 1-1/2" expanded polystyrene. I created the material definition for the EPS but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to reference that material in the wall definition for this new material and costing. I am probably just missing a step but after 4-5 times through the manual I cannot find the solution. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Martin Livingston]

It appears that the wall definition material selections and the material definitions list are two separate lists.

[Martin Livingston]

Disregard! I answered my own question and have figured out how this works.

[Harry Staab]

Haven't used much of Softlist. Were you able to get the material in your wall definitions to correspond to Softlist? Any insight you care to share would be greatly appreciated as I'm looking to use more of it.

[Martin Livingston]

Yes I figured out the connection between the two. It is defined in the Select Materials Menu when defining material definitions.

[Rod Leger]

Martin,

 

Glad ou got it worked out.

 

Might help others if you explained how you went about it.

 

Rod

[Martin Livingston]

In the material setup window using list format you need to check the box for "Calculate Material...." and select one of the categories of materials that matches the list of materials used in the wall definitions. Once you have defined the category you can use the "Selection Limits" section to narrow down the product definition. In my case I restricted this material selection to any sheathing with a depth that equals 1-1/2". I can create similar materials of different thicknesses and change the "selection Limits" to match each one.

 

Once this is done you can add the formula to calculate the required materials

[Rod Leger]

Martin,

 

For the benefit of others,

Units is just for reference, has nothing to do with calculations.

It is just text.

In other words, change the units and softlist will report the same quantity.

 

In order to figure sheets, you need to tell softlist the area coverage per sheet.

Typically, this is 32 square feet for a 4'x8' sheet.

 

Calculate dimension reports the sheet dimensions in place of using Description.

Use Coverage section for your sheet size in square feet, typically 32.

 

In your case it would be 16.

 

Currently your formula reports on wall sheathing area (do not deduct any openings) /16

Example: 200 sf wall area / 16 = 12.5 sheets.  2' x 8' = 16 SF

So you want 12.5 sheets of rigid 1.5" for this wall

 

if thickness = 1.5" 

list ( area/16, 1.5", 2', 8')

endif

 

You could also use Rigid Insulation for your "sheathing" in your Wall Definition and report on that.

 

Enjoy!

[Martin Livingston]

Thanks for the response Rod. The sheathing calculation works like a charm. Where the 1.5" EPS is the "sheathing" for the wall I elected to use the "sheathing" wall component as well. I am still trying to figure out how to change the wall material calculations for the corners without drawing separate wall segments. But that won't make or break the system over all. I still have about 40 days to get everything set up.

[Rod Leger]

Martin,

 

Are you planning on using OSB/Plywood for the 1st 8' of wall from the corners?

If so, just deduct the coverage (area) from your Rigid total

Ex: 200/16=12.5 sheets

Deduct 128sf (4 sheets) from the total of 12.5 sheets.

 

12.5 - 4=8.5 sheets of Rigid

Now this would mean you would need 4 sheets of 1" Rigid Insulation

to sit on top of the 1/2" osb

[Martin Livingston]

I finally got came up with a method to calculate the proper sheathing material for our method of construction.

 

Just to bring everyone who is following this up to speed, we frame our homes using 2x6 and sheath with1.5" EPS rigid insulation and "let in" metal braces. To help stabilize the building we use 1/2" OSB and 1" EPS rigid insulation at the outside corners. We aim to extend this 4' in from every corner but in practice it can range from 1' to 4'.

 

I was trying to calculate the materials using one wall definition but couldn't make it work. For each type of wall we build I now have a second wall definition for the corners (DW/2X6&INSUL/1.5" EPS/SID and DW/2X6&INSUL/1.5" EPS CORNER/SID for example) with the sheathing defined as 1" thick and left a 1/2" space to represent the OSB sheathing. I don't need to define the OSB because the wall sheathing OSB will always be 1/2" thick but my EPS sheathing may vary from project to project in case I need more or less R value. I used a different texture for the EPS sheathing in the corner walls so I can easily see the difference and tell where one stops and the other starts. I have tested the material takeoff and the count is spot on.

 

Here are some screen captures

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[Martin Livingston]

Here are a couple of additional screen captures showing how the corners now look in plan view. The blue sheathing line represents are the corner segments and the standard orange shows the regular walls.

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[admin]

2016 has a new shear wall panel feature that may streamline this.

[Rod Leger]

Does that mean it includes Simpson Shear Walls?

 

Probably can't say till released.

[Tom Rogers]

Thanks Martin.  I am offering lumber take offs as part of my services and have found this to be very lucrative if I draw correctly and not take short cuts of 2D lines.  The sheating is exactly what I was jsut wondering about myself. 

 

I believe it would be done the same way when having to distinguish between different gable siding materials (horizontal, board and batten, shake)