Odd sizes in Material List

[ChrisMe 1]

Hi,

 

I am a new user of Home Designer Pro (EDIT) 2021. I'm laying out a simple camping cabin. I've noticed that in the material list I'm getting sizes of material that are not typical sizes available at the local lumber yard. Is there a way to correct this? As an example in the image of the material list below item F5 is not a standard length of material.

 

I have the Structural List Reporting set to "BUY LIST".

 

I have not found a place in the software that allows me to enter standard material dimensions.

Edited June 27, 2020 by ChrisMe
Corrected the software version.

[davidstvz 3]

Where is 2x4x10 not a standard board length?  You can get 10 foot long 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 or 2x10 right now at the Lowe's down the street from me.  Surely a lumber yard would have them.

 

In any case, I don't see any way to modify what lumber is considered commonly available.  Your best bet to mimic the functionality would be to generate a cut list, export it for use in Excel and then use some kind of VB script or Excel formulas to generate a buy list from the cut list using your own custom list of lumber sizes.

 

 

[ChrisMe 1]

Sorry, typo on my part. Should have been item F6.

 

You are right, a 2x10 is readily available. 2" x 4" - 8'-8 5/8" isn't a standard item.

[Rookie65 45]

Depending on where you live, those are pre-cut studs at 104-5/8". Often used to achieve 9' ceiling heights. Again, it could be a regional thing.

[davidstvz 3]

Yes agreed, 7'-8 5/8" and 8'-8 5/8" are very common (especially the 7'-8 5/8").  You combine with a bottom plate and double top plate (4.5" total) for a rough ceiling height of 8'-1 1/8" or 9'-1 1/8".  The extra 9/8" accounts for 1/2" drywall and leaves 5/8" for flooring finishes so you can have approximately 8' or 9' between the floor finishes.

 

 

[ChrisMe 1]

Sounds like there is no way to control the sizes the software chooses. A bit disappointing.

[solver 649]

I see you said Pro 2011 -- maybe 2021?

 

You can help everyone by adding that info to your signature (see below for how to turn them on) by clicking on your user name at the top right of the page, click Account Settings, then Signature on the left.

 

Doing so makes it always available, and keeps others from having to hunt for it.

 

And, turn on signature display too.

 

 

----

 

Resources for self help:

 

The built in Help System (always a good place to start)

 

Getting Started

 

Knowledge Base

 

YouTube

 

Home Designer - Getting Started - Setting Preferences and Defaults

 

Watch on YouTube: http://youtu.be/s-TcAHsiMjg?hd=1

[solver 649]

5 minutes ago, ChrisMe said:

Sounds like there is no way to control the sizes the software chooses. A bit disappointing.

 

Could you be more specific?

 

 

[ChrisMe 1]

I would like to constrain the buy list to the more common sizes available at the big box stores. As an example where I live its easy to get 8', 10', 12', 14' 16' lengths of lumber. The fractional lengths are not commonly stocked.

 

It would be a benefit to be able to specify the lengths of lumber the software would list on the material list when using the "buy list" setting.

 

You are correct that the version I purchased today is the 2021 version.

[davidstvz 3]

What you want to do is a feature of Chief Architect Premier:

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00095/creating-a-cut-list-of-framing-materials.html

 

Honestly, if you just buy one normal 8' or 9' stud for each short stud and cut them, you'll be pretty close to what you want anyway.  How much of those wasted 3 3/8" pieces do you think you can use?

 

If you learn a little Excel, you can easily use the cut list to generate a custom buy list.

[ChrisMe 1]

Sure, thats what I did. I rounded everything on the buy list to the closest to the dimension then went to Lowes and dropped $700 on the framing materials.

 

Doing that in excel is not a problem. Its far simpler than most of the excel stuff I do. But that aside it looks like the answer is that what I'm asking for is not a feature in the software. Thanks for the confirmation.