topic Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls in Documentation

Dimension to CENTER of walls

Anonymous — Tue, 30 May 2023 13:21:49 GMT

Does anyone know how to dimension to the CENTER of walls? My construction line is set to the center, but the dimension tool keeps measuring from each edge of the wall, instead of its center.

Thank you!!!

Elizabeth

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:47:01 GMT

Select the node of the reference line at the end of the wall.

Brian

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:15:10 GMT

Thanks - that does work.

Too bad the automatic dimensioning tool doesn't have a setting to measuring by wall centers like it does for column centers. Oh, well, maybe next version...

Elizabeth

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

TomWaltz — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:48:24 GMT

That's something I've been wishing for since Archicad 8... though I had an interesting discussion with a contractor last week who told me how much he hated dealing with dimensions to centerline. He wanted to see dimensions to face of stud/block so that he knew exactly where to strike the chalk lines as quickly as possible.

Just struck me since I've used center lines for a long time!

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:57:49 GMT

TomWaltz wrote:
Just struck me since I've used center lines for a long time!

This strikes me because I've always heard that contractors prefer center lines.

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:14:18 GMT

It is easier to layout walls on the floor sheathing using
face of stud dimensions rather than offsetting the
layout marks 1 3/4" from the center lines of walls.
Though the plans are less cluttered dimensioning to centers,
I want to make what I design as easy as possible to build
so I use the face of stud method of dimensioning.
Peter Devlin

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

TomWaltz — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:47:25 GMT

The guy I talked to had the same reasoning as Peter. It made me wonder why someone would prefer center lines. For an architect, it makes for less dimensions, but I wondered how it would be easier to build. Does anyone know?

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:20:30 GMT

Hello Tom,
I can think of one context where dimensioning to centers
and laying out centerlines in the field would not be easier
but as easy as the face of stud system and that is
if the walls are steel studs and the bottom plates
have the diamond shaped cutouts that you could
see the centerlines through and could kick the
walls around until the centerlines were centered
in the cutouts.
Peter Devlin

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Jefferson — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:24:20 GMT

Allow me, please:
Wearing a tool belt what you want in a set of plans, at least in my residential experience is the simplest path to the correct end result with all the information you want an none you don't. That said, laying out a foundation, wall, floor or roof the "out to out" measurements, as Peter described the outside face of framing is what I want. It is information I need and it is simple and complete. Mistakes are more often than not mathematical on a job site........1/4s + 1/2s are bad enough to deal with. You throw in centerlines and the appropriate offsets, for every wall and I already have headache. Just tell me what the outside dimensions are, and then if you're really good to me you'll give me consistent "same side face" on interior walls. The only time I want or will willingly deal with centerlines and the required math is window and door openings.......[the rough opening varies so much from mfg.. to mfg. it only makes sense to figure those on the job. this also reduces the clutter of too many dimensions.

There you have it, one guy's opinion......

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Brad Elliott — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:00:39 GMT

My experience is like Peter's.

Residential wood framing guys like dimensions to face of stud. Usually dimensioned on one side from the exterior wall through the house so they can just hook the tape and go.

Commercial guys working with metal studs like centerlines they can just line up on top of. Also, the stuff I have worked on the TI goes to the center of the wall which works with the centerline dimension.

But no matter how one contractor tells me he likes to do it the next one will do it differently.

None of which answers the initial question. Yes it is a problem and as far as I know you have to click the end node.

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Steve Jepson — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:08:16 GMT

Jefferson wrote:
There you have it, one guy's opinion......

I agree with Jefferson!

If you can't hook your tape on it, it's not a good place to dimension from.
The dimensions should be for the guy who has to build it.

Center to center is for guys who draw walls 4" and 6" instead of
3 1/2" and 5 1/2".

The case for center to center is based partly on the idea that it does not matter what the size the graphic representation of your wall is. The dimension will still be accurate, even if you change it to a different kind of wall.

This is true and may be of some advantage for the draftsman, however, it will not be user-friendly for the builder.

If the designer will stick to making all of his dimensions work for face of stud measuring, with no fractions ( as far as possible), he/she will end up with a plan that is much more constructible and efficient than a plan based on center to center dimensions, even if these dimensions are also cleaned up so as not to have any fractions.

There are several complicated reasons why this is true, most of which are based on the sizes we have agreed to pretend that dimensioned lumber is.

1 1/2, 3 1/2, 5 1/2, 7 1/4, 9 1/4, 11 1/4, etc...and how these sizes relate to the modular dimensions of the products made to be used with them.

It is similar to the idea of making plans base on "Shaku" and a "sashigane" as apposed to plans for an American carpenter.

Face of stud dimensions using dimensioned lumber sizes will give you a more constructible and efficient build, add considerable value to your work, and be user-friendly with the carpenter.

Anyway, I always put a note on my drawings that says all dimensions are from face of stud unless otherwise noted.

I have my doubts about any advantage to face of stud dimensions if you are not using dimensioned lumber.

Re: Dimension to CENTER of walls

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:17:18 GMT

Steve wrote:
Jefferson wrote:
Center to center is for guys who draw walls 4" and 6" instead of
3 1/2" and 5 1/2".

Amen. I always use actual wall thickness when known and always dimension to the Face of Stud or Face of Masonry unless otherwise noted.