Existing structures question - first post

[David J. Potter]

Here's my first question for everyone. It seems HD Suite 2014 is great for designing a home from scratch. However, if I want to add an addition to an existing home, how do I change, if possible, the settings to ONLY show the framing, etc to the addition.

You cannot do that really, what I do is to make a save-as copy of the as-built or existing structure and then use the copy or copies to then design additions on. The software (all Chief Inc software-all titles) are programmed on the basis that all created structures are "NEW", no settings exist to lock only portions of a structure in place to remain unchanged when you change the model.

What you will need to do is to learn to a high degree how your software is designed to work and then work within those parameters. Suite will NOT do what you want to do at all, you need to upgrade to Home Designer Pro on a minimum which has manual roof and framing tools (all other HD titles do not have these features which must be learned first to be really useful to you).

I have used this software professionally since 1994 and I have learned how to get done what I need done, so you can too if you actually intend to do so, the software is not any kind of barrier or stop, the only thing that can stop you is you and your own considerations about success or failure.

DJP