It looks like a very powerful extension, but as a designer, NOT a builder, it quickly gets confusing. There are no visuals or hints about what all the different options are - it would be nice to have examples or even icons/diagrams to show what the options mean. “What the hell is a California corner treatment?”
But I love the fact that it draws all the framing, etc, as needed. It’s just SO HARD to work with.
Anyone have suggestions for alternatives? Or maybe like a layout of all the options & what they mean? I don’t need to calculate all the materials, I’m not the builder (but it would be a nice bonus if it doesn’t take too much effort), but I do need to know how things are actually installed.
From a UK perspective, I would say that the that Medeek extensions are not for “designers” but for specialists – companies or consultants.
As a “designer” I would not use Medeek extensions myself – I would rely on a specialist to provide detailed documentation which I would then include in my construction set package…
Easy :- )
Listening to AI …freely interpreted:
California, often referred to as the “Golden State,” with good, mediterranean weather; so, the California corner treatment is made using gold, and leave space for insulation to eliminate cold spots.
Problem is, we’re the ones sourcing the products, including doors - so it’s my responsibility to integrate them into the plans. Also, oftentimes even if the architect is OK with doing the work, they take so long that it’s not worth delaying the rest of my workflow.
My problem is modifying the framing plan to fit them. For example, I would love to have a definite answer regarding “how much space do I need to allocate on the right side of the door?” - without asking the builder every time and feeling like an idiot.
Most of these options you probably just want to leave at the default value. They are there because over time different power users have requested them. When you include the framing things do tend to get a bit complicated.
Please take a look at this video:
In fact, for most of your questions there is probably a tutorial video explaining the details here:
The example #1 in this matrix of corner configurations is what is commonly called a “California Corner”.
Honestly I could probably make a one hour video just diving into the pros and cons of all these possible corner configurations. The problem with the Californina Corners is that it doesn’t give you enough nailing surface for corner trim when installing siding, at least in my estimation.
I have been slowly adding in visual hints into each of the various menus. Notice the the small blue question mark icons next to some parameters. If you mouse over them you will get a pop up hint, sometimes with an image:
This menu is in the global settings of the Wall plugin.
Also the title of the thread is a bit confusing you should probably change it to Medeek Wall, since that is the extension we are talking about. Medeek Engineering LLC is the name of the business and actually the name of a different “engineering” extension that I am developing:
I agree that if your only real concern is space planning then even SketchUp itself may be slight overkill for some. At the earliest stages of design I think working in 2D is probably the quickest and easiest.
That is why I created a 2D workflow for the Wall plugin, or the 3D (no framing) workflow. Some designers don’t need or even want all of that information, at least not at the very start of a project.
There used to be a very basic plugin called Housebuilder that I used about 10 years ago, but I don’t think it is developed anymore.
Your other two options for wall plugins (with framing) are going to be PlusSpec or Framer (by John Brock).
PlusSpec is developed by an Australian company and it does have a bit of higher price point but it is a very full fledged package. Andrew Dwight is the creator and owner of this extension or suite of extensions.
Framer for SketchUp was created by John Brock about the same time that I created the Wall plugin (2018). It is probably quite a bit simpler than my extension so I don’t think it can actually add in windows and doors yet. However if you are needing a simpler solution this may actually be more suited for you workflow.
I personally know both of these developers and have watched their dedication and work on their various projects over the last 10 or so years. I have no problem in vouching for either of these two solutions.
The biggest thing with any of this is that regardless of the solution there will always be a slight learning curve and it is important to take the time, really try things out. This is why I have added to the webpage for every plugin right below the “Download Now” link, the following text:
We strongly encourage downloading, installing and actually using the trial version of the extension prior to committing to the purchase of a license. This will allow you to accurately assess the capabilities of the extension and determine whether or not it fits within your workflow.
Where to locate a door depends on the door. Is it a prehung door? the trim style? Often doors are framed too close to a corner where baseboard and door trim dont fit. I place a detail on the drawing showing the actual trim and giving a reference for locating a door near a corner or in a hallway.
Ha! I can imagine that if one has not heard of the California Corner in framing before it would be confusing. But in30 seconds of searching you could teach yourself what it is, and deeper knowledge of common building techniques can make one a better designer. There are just so many options in building techniques, if you are looking for something that will automagicaly draw building elements there will always be loads of options and input fields.
I’ve finally started to tackle the manual for the Wall plugin. The draw/edit wall menu has been added if you want to look at that. I will be adding in further details and diagrams to help augment the explanations and descriptions. Sometimes pictures are required to fully convey the meaning.
To actually answer your question, a “California Corner” is a way to make 2 end walls meet using only (3) 2x4s instead of (4). Four is usually used to make sure there is structure on both walls for drywall to attach to. Wall -A- uses (2) 2x4s nailed together (effectively a 4x4), while wall -B- uses (2) 2x4s with an 1-1/2” space between them to provide structure on wall -B- for the drywall to land on. But (4) studs like that also creates a cold spot where there is no insulation. So here’s how it’s done: Wall -A- ends with the standard (2) 2x4 studs nailed together. Wall -B-, which would normally begin with (2) 2x4 studs nailed to wall -A-, instead begins with (1) 2x4 stud, rotated 90 degrees, parallel with the face of wall -B-. This accomplishes 3 things. 1: Less lumber- (3) 2x4s instead of (4). 2: Creates a natural 2x4 face for drywall to fasten to on wall -B-. 3: Provides a gap behind the single 2x4 to stuff the insulation into, preventing the cold spot at the corner. Once I learned what this corner configuration was I adopted it in all my designs and never looked back. I actually build what I design and I have to tell you, this is both material-efficient and easier and faster to build.
I know I can Google things, that was just an emphatic example of the immediate-sensory-overload when presented with a 30-item menu of things while I already have 17 models and 32 WhatsApp conversations open, LOL.
I do know the basics of construction, but since I don’t intend to actually work as a framer, since I like my air conditioning and comfy chair, I don’t really need to learn all the details
