Foundation Plugin

medeek

Version 1.0.6 - 12.03.2016

Added a "Layers" tab within the global settings.
Enabled custom layers for both stemwall and slab on grade foundations.

juju

When will this plugin receive some love? Regular floor slabs not yet activated?

JQL

This is yet another cool plugin. Will it evolve to a slab plugin?

I just start wishing more engineers would use sketchup...

medeek

Floor slabs shouldn't be too hard to add, just a rectangle with some reinforcement (mesh or bar). I would also like to have the ability to have polygon shapes so the user can input in any shape. Another item to consider is integrated interior footings.

Let me know if you have any additional features you would like to see with floor slabs.

nujak66

Looking good Nathaniel! I'm just waiting for polygon shapes for the foundations in your plugin.

medeek

I've been working on the polygon slab-on-grade this weekend and by extension the polygon stemwall foundation as well. The interactive "tool" portion has been difficult mostly because I don't understand a lot of that portion of the code (blackbox to me), but I'm almost there with it.

I would like to be able to create a foundation with any shape or size simply by drawing a polygon, point by point.

A simple example would be something like this:

Note, the interior floor beams at 12' on center. Using an Web dialog I should be able to allow the user to easily add in as many floor beams or bearing walls as required.

Once I have the foundation working correctly then I need to extend the floor truss/ floor joist module so that it can also handle polygon shaped structures within the Truss Plugin, then we will have a full package.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

medeek

Has anyone ever seen a stemwall framed liked this?

facer

Medeek,
I have placed your stem wall question in ChiefTalk which is
frequented by several active builders - designers in North America

ChiefTalk reference:
https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/13289-stem-wall-detail-question-of-construction/

medeek

Another technique I've had a recent request on is to create slots in the stemwall that the joists sit down inside. This method dropping the joists down, even with the sill plate, seem to be fairly common in Oregon.

medeek

Or like this?

These two methods seem to be fairly popular in Oregon, I've never seen a floor/stemwall constructed this way any where else.

pbacot

Looks like a lot of extra work. Why not just drop a single ledge for the joists? We do that sometimes in California. Put a pressure treated plate on a lower ledge. Also each joist needs some sort of anchoring to (but also separation from) concrete. There would be blocking, unless they use the concrete somehow.

pbacot

@medeek said:

Has anyone ever seen a stemwall framed liked this?

No. Again, isn't blocking required at the ends of joists? I always see that.

We just pour a wider stemwall which narrows to 6" wide by the joists. If you are going to anchor 2x's at each joist, why not just anchor a continuous ledger to hang to? Again the framing looks overly complicated, but they must have a reason they are doing it that way.

medeek

Any thoughts on an advanced option that auto-inserts anchor bolts?

Options would be:

Size: 10", 12", 14"
Dia.: 1/2", 5/8"
Washer: 3"x3" Square, 2"x2" Square, Round
O/C Spacing (ft.): 6'
Sill Plate Thickness (in.): 1.5"
Distance from Corners (in.): 12"

medeek

The argument for this construction method is the sheathing height is decreased because the rim board is eliminated. However, in my mind the cons outweigh the pros:

1.) There is a thermal bridge through the stemwall at the corner where the floor meets the wall.
2.) Stemwall construction would become more complicated and time consuming.
3.) Proximity of the I-Joist to the concrete could be problematic, requiring additional measures and more time and effort.
4.) The crawspace height is reduced making it harder for other subs to install and work in and moisture from the ground is more likely to be an issue.
5.) Nut and Washer of anchor bolts protrudes into floor sheathing and bottom wall plate, requiring additional notching.
6.) If you want to run plumbing or electrical down through the wall bottom plate and into the floor, this is nearly impossible with this configuration.

pbacot

Those are all good points. We use a similar method but use a single ledge. It's useful if you want the exterior concrete to come up higher due to clearance at grade or terraces alongside the wall. Sometimes there might be additional concrete wall as a sort of curb higher than the floor. You still have to make the min. crawl space clearance. Yes more hassles for plumbing and electrical. Nice option on adding anchor bolts.

medeek

I'm trying to determine if its easier to write a module that draws the anchor bolts or just bring in the component (pre-drawn). I've never brought in a component before so something I need to explore further. The other thing I feel is key is to make sure any of these minor components are modeled in such as way as to remain fairly lightweight within the model. No one is going to want to use a feature that bogs down their overall model. That is my one big gripe with using the 3D Warehouse models, the polygon count on most models is usually outrageous.

medeek

I need some input from the foundation and truss plugin users. I've decided to pre-model certain things like Bolts, Nuts, Washers etc... With Nuts and Bolts I'm planning on using a cosmetic thread so that the polygon count is minimal. As I've been experimenting with the bolts and nuts I'm wondering if I should eliminate the 30 deg. bevel on the head of the bolt and nut, it looks nice but adds quite a bit of complexity and polygons to the model. Any thoughts on this?

You would sacrifice some realism for a smaller model...

facer

The question arises as to what will be THE INTENDED PLUGIN USE by the majority of users?

Foundation detail requiring a Realistic look for "bolts" in construction details is not high on my list.
The hierarchy of detail will depend on the "scale of detail".

I would suggest users be given the following options that allow a selection:

No bolts to be shown
Simple bolts without bevel
Detailed bolts showing bevel.

Hope this helps?

juju

Simple bolts. More detailed will only be required in detailing, which generally are separate (highly detailed) models.

medeek

For now I will eliminate the beveling of bolt heads and nuts, the added number of polygons is too hard to justify and the bevel doesn't really add much when your zoomed out at building scale anyways (in other words you really can't see the bevel).

There is always an option to turn the anchor bolts on or off, that is a given. Some users may want this function others may have absolutely no use for it. It will be there if you need and want it.
For now I am going to go with 1/2" and 5/8" anchor bolts, I can always add more sizes later by request. The standard sizes of anchor bolts are per a specification I pulled from Fastenal (major manufacturer of fasteners in the US). I will start with 10", 12" and 14" lengths.

For the square washers I will give an option between 2"x2" and 3"x3", with the 3x3 being the more typical I would think with the latest 2012 and 2015 cycle of ICC codes. The exact dimensions of the square washers are per Simpson Strong-Tie's offering in there wood fastener manual.

The hex nuts are per the Machinery Handbook 27th Edition.

If anyone has a metric spec. for anchor bolts (L-bolts) please send it my way and I can add in the metric equivalents.