Understanding Wall Properties

Time Commitment:

Video: 5:45

In Software Testing: 10:00

When the walls are formed, multiple lines illustrate the components of the wall. To customize walls, you must understand how to manipulate the wall components and their settings.

1. Left-click to select one of the inserted walls in the drawing screen area.
2. Right-click and select Properties.

The Walls dialog box appears.  The wall’s name is at the top of the dialog box, and 4 tabs organize the properties of the wall; Basic, Appearance, Line Work, and Quantity.

Basic Tab

Under the Basic tab, the wall structure is defined by properties. The first option is Wall Type, with several options selectable from the drop-down.

3. Select the Sto wall type.

When the Sto wall type is selected, the StoPanel Type option will appear under Properties. Several predefined types are available for selection.

4. Pick the Classic Next ci StoPanel type, and an arrow will appear to show more panel options.

The StoPanel Type determines the a-Width of the wall. It can’t be edited directly. It takes the settings from the type.

5. Click the Select button beside the Layout property. The Layout dialog box will appear.

A plan view of the wall’s materials is on the dialog box’s left. It displays the interior to the left and progresses to the exterior material of the wall as you move to the right.

Next, a list of all the individual components of the wall is to the right of the plan view. As you select a component, the plan view to the left will highlight it. The component list is organized with the interior material at the top of the list, and as you go down the list, the materials make their way to the exterior of the wall.

Using the buttons above the list, you can Add  or Remove products from the wall. You can also change the order of the materials by highlighting an item and moving it Up or Down in the list – effectively moving it towards the interior or exterior of the wall.

Under the Properties panel, the specifications of the highlighted component to the left are displayed. The Select Component property displays the catalog component.

6. Select the button that appears when you highlight the current component, as indicated in the following diagram.  

The Catalog Access dialog box appears, highlighting the currently selected component. Here you can select an alternative component, add a new one or edit an existing component.

7. Right-click on the current component and select Edit Element.

The Component dialog box appears. Each component, like the Walls they are added to, has several properties organized into tabs; Size, Behaviour, Appearance, Line Work, and Quantity.

Under the Size tab, the component properties deal with the component’s Function. It is a Finish, Insulation, Barrier, Sheathing, or Structure. Select the appropriate function for the component.

There are also two options for Size. Fixed or Variable. Components like an air space that can be a varying thickness depending on the project would be variable, whereas a ¾” piece of plywood is always a fixed width of ¾”.

Under Framing Options, select if the component is a framing component. If the option is checked, you must select the actual framing member.

Under the Energy heading, you can set R values and if they will be included in overall calculations when an Energy Audit is completed on the model.

8. Click on the Behaviour tab.

As a component ends or meets another component, you must indicate how it will interact with the edge of the other component. The options are Butt, Return or Wrap around the other component.

The following diagram shows the difference between Butt, Return, and Wrap. The black component represents the structure, and the finish components are in different colors.

9. Select a behaviour for the edge types listed and click OK.
10. Click OK again in the Catalog Access dialog box.

Back in the Layout dialog box, several properties are organized under the Behaviour heading.

The default function of the component is displayed, and you can change it here if required.

The components can also have load-bearing or non-load-bearing properties or take on the parent wall’s load-bearing status.

The width of the component is displayed for reference under the Size heading. It is taken from the components catalog properties. It can’t be edited here. You must edit the component to change the width.

The next two settings, Top Edge and Bottom Edge, deal with the component’s position on the wall. The component can be offset a set distance either from the top of the wall or the bottom of the wall. The component is level with the edge if the value is 0.

When generating views of the wall, you can turn the component’s visibility on or off, If you uncheck Display under the Surface heading, the component will not be visible in 3D. If you uncheck Display under the Plan and Section heading, the component will not be visible in the wall’s plan or section view.

A 3D view of the entire wall is to the right, and it will update with any changes made to the layout.

11. Click OK to exit the Layout dialog.
12. The walls have several other options under the Appearance, Line Work, and Quantity tabs that will be covered in other sections.  Click OK to exit the Walls dialog box.