WinTotal Sketch Apex

[Hugh Hill]

I'm trying to sketch on the apex. I got a question. How to you sketch a wrap around porch? I've tried everything. I can't seem to draw it. Any suggestions? The manual states to jump to the point and then draw but they make it seem easier than it is?

Hugh

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

My secret solution with Apex-free form! If you have a sketch that you are hesitant about or just want to be sure it is "square" before doing the actual drawing--use the free form lines first. Then select area to draw, join a corner and follow the "dots". Then delete those free form lines.

Now to your wrap around porch--if it does go completely around the house without a beginning or end, then you will have to break it up into at least 2 areas. Start at one corner, go around all the sides until you are back. Then start a second area, etc. You will have two sets of calculations but a total on the print out or at F6. If you use the free form first, it should be easy to identify each area you will do the calculated lines with.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

How about drawing the exterior of the wrap porch. This will include the dwelling living area. Then, select draw porch area, call it negative area or whatever you want, hit the negative area button and outline the dwelling walls and this will remove the living area square footage. Simple, but it does take time if the home is not very square.

 

[Hugh Hill]

If I get you correctly. You free form the outside dimensions and then work the inside GLA last. Hope this is correct. Then you will have two seperate dimensions. I'm appraising a house that has an wrap around porch with a breezway connecting to a garage. I've been trying to draw that for days.

Thanks for your help.

Hugh

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Draw your living area. Then draw your porch area. Then draw a negative porch area that will take the living area out of the calculations. Then you will have the proper SF for the porch and breezeway. Otherwise, you will overstate the SF of the porch by the amount or the living area. Picture drawing a doughnut by drawing the outside wall first, then taking out the middle by drawing the inside wall second. It is the same as you would draw negative area of a solarium (you know that enclosed patio area that has only exterior access from the sky) located in the center of the home or a open area from the upstairs that does not have exterior common walls. I hope I am not confusing you with my instructions, but I have been doing it that way for years.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Tim's comment about a donut made me realize is that my way cuts the donut in half and then I draw two donuts! I am getting hungery!

 

[Larry Lyke]

This could be a fun ride. Best thought through with coffee and donuts!

There's another pretty neat way to accomplish the feat of drawing a wrap-around porch (i.e., veranda):

My way assumes from what I read in the thread above that this is indeed a 100% porch circling the ENTIRE house, wherein a child could ride her bicycle round and round WITHOUT having to turn around and go back! The reason I stress this important itty-bitty fact is that if it isn't a 100% circle, it doesn't require my wholly honest and wholly deceptive approach.

HERE'S THE SOLUTION:

1. Choose "Define an area" -- "P/P, porch"
2. Start anyplace, preferably in the middle of a line on the perimeter (as opposed to a corner)
3. Keep tracing the perimeter till you reach the 100% circle point. THEN, back off 0.10 of a foot
4. From this new point, draw right angle (perpendicular) line representing the depth of the porch
5. Now go all the way around back to the point of NEAR beginning
6. Now do step #4 in reverse
7 Your POB will herald your completion.
8. If step #7 isn't precise enough to close the area, choose "Tools" and select auto-close.
9. Use an eraser icon to hide the lines created by steps #3 and 6.
10. The ticks from using the eraser will hardly be noticeable. You can minimize them by sizing the eraser overall height by 0.20 of a foot for each edge depth lines. Then work down in size to see at what point the eraser includes some of the line(s) you don't want to erase.

THE BEST REASON for even considering doing what I've suggested is it'll enhance your Apex ability and you'll soon find other uses for your new-found talent.