BEWARE OF FRAMING SOFTWARE

Some of the latest versions of home design software claim to include Framing views as a part of their software package.  But beware, the framing you see may not have anything to do with how your home should be framed! These examples will show two different software packages, Punch! Software and Chief Architect. The framing in Punch! Software (P!) is far from being correct, while Chief Architect (CA) looks perfect in this sample model. But don't always rely on the software being perfect every time. Framing should be done by a competent contractor or you should become competent yourself at framing before attempting to do so. 3D Home Architect (3DHA) includes framing views in it's latest version, 4.0.  I have not used v4.0 myself, so I can not give advice on how accurate it is, but I have had discussions with others via the web that say it is pretty accurate. If the framing engine in 3DHA was derived from CA, 3DHA's big brother, then the following examples could be of some help.  

Punch! software is the pretty picture above and Chief Architect is the simple one below. P! does not include Double Doors in its library of doors, so you have to place 2 doors side by side, swinging in different directions. Because of this, the framing view shows framing members down the center of the double doorway (red arrows) while CA is framed as one double wide doorway using a wider, thicker header than it does for windows.

If you look closely (dotted red oval), you will notice the P! does not include Trimmers inside doors or windows like CA does.

Also, all headers in P! are the same. They are not sized for the particular opening they span.

Next we will look at the roof framing. In the picture to the right you will notice that CA (below) has framed a hip roof using the cripple studs to join the facia with the hip rafter.  Now look at the P! version of a hip roof (above). I've never seen roof framing look like this before.  Where would you nail your plywood sheets for the roof? Does the hip look strong enough to stand on? Would you want to be standing under this roof when someone else is standing on top?

Buy books or search the web to find information about how to frame, but don't rely on P! for framing advice.

You can find a good series on simple house framing at http://www.howstuffworks.com/house.htm

Shouldn't your roof be attached to your house? This example is one where you can see that P! provides a roof for you, but fails to place it on your house. (red arrow above) You can select the roof and lower it time after time until it is at the right elevation, but they didn't think that should be their job. CA on the other hand not only sets the roof in place, but they also add the necessary Birdsmouth to fit on the top plate correctly. (red arrow below) You can also see the Trimmer stud holding up the header over the window as it should be.  If the span is greater than 8', CA knows enough to double up the Trimmers. It is obvious that CA was created for accuracy while P! was made for a pretty look.

One of the great advantages of programs that provide Cross Section views (Chief Architect and 3D Home Architect) is that you can get a better idea of how a wall is framed and how that wall framing relates to the walls it abuts.  This is a Cross Section (from inside to outside) of the end of our model showing a standard wall with the hip framing above in 2D.  You can even see where the Top Plates, Facias, Sill Plates, and Ridge Rafter is shown in cross section. The "X" in the rectangle for these pieces indicate that the pieces have been cut through. I am not sure whether or not 3DHA v4.0 will show its new Framing in Cross Section View.

 

Just remember! What you see on the front cover of the software box or on a manufacturer's web site may or may not show you the flaws in the software.  I'm surprised that P! actually used a picture of a hip roof on their box to illustrate framing, exposing one of their flaws.  A sample of 3DHA's framing can be seen on their web site. (3DHA) But they are showing only a Gable End Roof and the quality of the picture is poor. So if their software is just as bad at framing, you wouldn't know it.  Before buying a software package for what you think it does, go out on the net and ask some questions of those who already own the software to determine what it really does. A number of 3D Home Architect v4.0 users can be found on the Delphi Discussion board at: http://forums.about.com/n/main.asp?webtag=designsoftware&nav=start