Recessed windows

[Anonymous]

I've attached a couple of sketches for some typical recessed window details we like to use on custom homes, but don't know the best way to do these. #1 shows 2x6 stud exterior walls (we're not doing wall composites at this time), but then the window opening is oversized 3" (or more as reqd) and filled with 2x4's as shown for a 2" deep recess all the way around. Just am a little stumped how best to do get the 2x4 recessed wall in there.

Drawing #2 is similiar except that this one is a double 2x4 exterior wall with the window set in the INSIDE wall, thus creating a 4 1/2" deep recess. It would seem that the best way to do this is to do the inside wall with the windows, and then come back and add the outside wall joining it to the inside wall as shown, but maybe there's an easier way.

[Anonymous]

Josephus, as far as I know there is no window that comes with ArchiCAD that allows you to do this, however we use Door & WindowBuilder (available from Objects Online $199). This is a very powerful object which takes a bit of getting used to but one single object can be used to create all types of windows and doors. In fact it is the only door and window I use, I don't even touch the ArchiCAD ones. There is a setting they have for jamb, head and sill recesses. Each recess can be set individually to a different amount and creates exactly the situation you want in the first sketch. As for the the second double wall structure, since this really won't show in 3D I'd just use one thick wall and draw the composite lines using 2D lines, this will keep things tidy.

If I didn't have Door & WindowBuilder I would build this by first using an Empty Opening to cut an opening in the thick wall the size of the window plus the jamb, head and sill recesses. I then would build a portion of thin wall into this opening in which I would place the actual window. You will have to use some opaque cover fills to tidy up a few lines in the plan and in 3D a hidden line raster view will show the lines where the walls joins. Not perfect but a photo real rendering won't show this.

Like most workarounds there are probably others methods you can use but all will have some form of compromise. Others may have better ideas.

[TomWaltz]

Doesn't the Archicad Window tool let you do this anyway? Or am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

In the "Preview and Positioning" section of all windows you have the ability to recess the window back into the wall by clicking the centre of the group of three buttons and entering a value and even when using D&WBuilder you need to set this at 2" for Josephus's example however this does not add the extra jamb recesses, the window just slides directly backwards into the wall. Any jamb recesses would have to be part of the custom window settings. I am not aware of any ArchiCAD window which has these settings, someone may know of one. Note, you can use negative values in the recess box to push the window out of the line of the wall, very handy when modelling aluminium windows.

[Anonymous]

TomWaltz wrote:
Doesn't the Archicad Window tool let you do this anyway? Or am I missing something?

Tom,
No...It looks like they do, but not really. The new SE9 windows, however, should let you do example #1. Josephus should probaly download this new SE9 library and see if these windows work better for his needs.

Dan K

[Anonymous]

Just as a clarification, the side of the wall facing the bottom of the page is the outside....the recess is an exterior recess. I am working with SE9 but so far no luck. I'll fiddle with the settings some more tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Tom/Dan, do you have any particular suggestions for me to try? (PS After spending nearly $8K for 2 licenses I'm a little reluctant to spend more $$ on 3rd party add-ons...guess I'm being a bit Dutch here).

[Anonymous]

Josephus wrote:
...Tom/Dan, do you have any particular suggestions for me to try? ...

Josephus,
Make sure you have the Wall Type in the window parameters set to "Brick Veneer Wall"...even if you don't have a brick veneer wall. The window's parameter interface changes a little based on the wall type you select....Anyway, now make some adjustments to the values in the Casing and Sill tabs and you should be able to get close to what you are after.

It can be kinda' tricky...I personally feel the new window interfaces are little more complex than they should be...

P.S. tell us which window you are working with and maybe we can give a little more specific info

HTH
Dan K

[Petros Ioannou]

Josephus,
maybe a combination of 2 openings can give you the best result.
Use a simple casement window for the inside part (frame,glass etc) with the stack option on and a second empty opening with reveals on the same position.

Petros

[Petros Ioannou]

The empty opening should be wider than the casement window (2 x reveals) and also do not forget to give it a transparent background fill (2d settings) so that you can see the casement window on plan.

Petros

[Laszlo Nagy]

Petros wrote:
The empty opening should be wider than the casement window (2 x reveals) and also do not forget to give it a transparent background fill (2d settings) so that you can see the casement window on plan.

Petros

This is a good idea, and if you set the User ID of the larger opening to "" (no value), you can easily exclude it from listing.