Adding a Deck

[aboardduet]

I'm definitely a newbie.  I got started with this stuff over a weekend with v8 and have been learning ever since.  I'm a general contractor, so this is potentially very valuable to me.  I love this thing!!! 

I'm having a small problem trying to install a deck on the 2nd floor. When I look in the User Guide for "deck, building" with Deck Wizard or Deck Tool the solution  says "Pro & Landscape Only".  This is confirmed when the options referenced are absent when I try to follow the instructions. 

I know there must be a way to build a deck without shelling out for the top-of-the-line program.  (Right???)

Then again (he said skeptically), maybe only Pros and Landscapers build decks!!!!!

Thanks.

Dave

[Jack Zimmer]

I assume you have Designer.

If the Deck tool option is not listed in the Tool bars , you can use a floor. They function similar to decks in terms of layout, but you don't get pier footings and can't change the direction of the deck boards or automatically add rails/ skirts.

Try a floor and right click Elevate to raise / lower it. You will have to use railings and add seperately.

Z

[Mike1158]

Get hold of the free version of Sketchup.  TFplan can import skp files well enough and you can make just about anything you want with sketchup.

[aboardduet]

Thanks Mike and Jack.

Mike, thanks, but If I can, I'd like to work within TFP ...for now.

Jack, my Home Designer won't let me choose "floors" in the Insert menu.  I tried building "walls" of 1" height, but there were no floors!  The railings were ok, but still no floors!  Also, the vertical walls where the new "floors" were attached lost their horizontal siding texture, and just went white.

This too.... I can't seem to get a "cooktop" to install onto a base cabinet, either island type or regular type.  Any suggestions there?

Thanks to both of you for your help.

Dave

[Mike1158]

Hi Dave,
I'll bet that designer is similar to Envisioneer light, I had v3 light and could only use auto inserted floors.  To cut any kind of opening, be it for stairs etc, you have to use room division alone.  Pity there is no invisible walls option, that was always a handy stop gap.

[Allan Chesney]

Dave,

I have not worked with decks, so I do not really know much about them, but I gather you are just trying to install a 'suspended' floor at above ground level.  If Designer will not do what you need, will it import other objects (eg 3DS)?.  If so then you may be able to use the attached 'blocks' to resize to make your floor.  I don't know whether railings would install on top but I imagine they would.  You can set two surfaces on one and three on the other I think so you would be able to get the textures you want.  I may also have missed the point as to what you are doing - if so you may still find the blocks useful at some point.

Allan

[Doug.S]

Also,

- anyone needing more objects can look to old (and still running) FP forums and search for .3ds or .bmo items or the web for free .3ds stuff....they do install easily in TFP and work very well.  Jack Zimmer mentioned some tips about that in another part of this forum and he gives good advice.

- sketchup does make items pretty easily AND there are hundreds of free sketchup items free on Google Sketchup site; some are from vendors for home building items

Doug.S

PS I'm using TFP12pro (home & landscape)  but have not yet even tried landscape stuff yet.

[aboardduet]

Yes, it would be prudent, asking for all this help, if I were to explain what it is I'm trying to do:
     1.  I want to build a 2-BR apartment on the back of my lot.  I want to be the architect.  I'm already a Gen'l Contractor.
     2.  I would like to  be able to design the building as far along the track as I can, up to and including plans that I could send to the engineer, city, electrician, plumber, etc, for the build.
     3.  Stumbling over the deck issue started when I couldn't find the "balcony" tool that had been available in FP.  Trying to work around a 2nd floor balcony brought me to decks.
     4.  TFP seemed like it would suit my needs.  I was admittedly a bit cheap in that I only purchased the Home Designer, but so far, I have found that I can't do some of the important things I need to do:
        -   the deck (balcony)
        -   putting  a cooktop onto a base cabinet
        -   Haven't tackled the electrical and plumbing plans yet.
I really love this product, and I'd be happy to invest in the Landscape Pro if it will do the things I need.  This forum is also great: you guys are terrific.

Thanks

Dave

[Robert W - "robban"]

You can do anything you will whit the deck option in landscape in TFP H&L. I have down this test-deck.zip (this is a bld-file).  I have chang diffrent option in propertis 1 story deck have I ad some colums to suport 2 story balcony that I have made of a copy of 1 story deck then unmark include post and include footings. The 2:nd floor deck on the gabel is a raised level construction. You have to adjust the level so it level whit the door in the walls. Hope this will give you some ide.
Robert

[aboardduet]

Thanks Robert.  I guess I'll have to shell out for the Pro package.  Also, I'd really like to install a balcony on this bldg, but decks are surely in my future.

Dave

[Dave Taylor (TFP Product Manager)]

Decks/balconies available in either the Landscape & Deck or Home and Landscape Pro.   But as most of you have correctly discovered floors can be used for things other than floors.

As for the floor openings:  Floor openings are not available with automatically created floors only with pick-point floors.   However I believe the room division can be used on an autofloor then selected and deleted thus leaving an opening, but this is way more work than just redrawing using the pick point floors.  I do believe it is documented as note user

[Mike1158]

Hi Dave, I believe I said that earlier.