Timber Frame Truss Exterior

[sanjuancrabber]

I am attempting to create a timber frame building in Home Designer. I realize that the tools I need for truss design are not really available however I have been able to create the look successfully on the interior by using Posts, Framing Rafter and General Framing Members. The primary purpose is to convey my ideas to my architect not to create engineered plans.

I have 2 issues I am trying to work through and get some advice.

1) I need to create braces to complete a king post and darned if I can find a framing member, soffit or other that will let me create and angled member... any ideas ?

2) I would like to place one of my "frames" on the EXTERIOR of the bulding as shown in the example... no matter what I seem to do using the same approach that worked on the inside when I place the rafter on the exterior of the building under the gable they don't display... thoughts>? I have turned on the display of ALL items ... still no go

[Elovia]

Welcome to the forum.

1. Consider a sloped soffit. If the ends of it are at undesired angles, you can place a wedge on the ends to get the correct configuration.

Alternatively, you can mock up the framing member that you want in (free) Google's SketchUp, save them in the required version (7?), and import them into your model.

2. Rafters come with some programmed behavior that may be undesired. Consider advice given in point 1 above instead.

Good luck.