Project 2: Building Models
Who
This is a group assignment, and the same groups used for Project 1 will be used for Project 2.
When
As a group, complete the following five steps by your section's lab period during the week of September 12-16. You should be ready to discuss and/or show your results during that lab period.
What
Step 1. Pick the Building
Visit a local home-improvement store (Lowes, Home Depot, The Family Center, etc) and select an in-stock, wood-framed storage building. It is highly desirable that your chosen building have floor joists, because you will be asked to analyze these components in Project 3. It is desirable but not necessary that your building have skids. Example storage buildings can be found here.
Step 2. Measure the Building
Photograph and measure the building's structural components. Add the photographs, store name and location, and building's price to the group's wiki.
Step 3. Draw the Building
Use AutoCAD or a similar program to create the following 2d drawings of the building. Students can obtain a free copy of AutoCAD and many other Autodesk programs by registering at Autodesk Education.
- dimensioned plan view showing studs, floor joists, and skids (omit rafters or trusses in this view)
- dimensioned elevation view of each side of the building (front, back, left, right) showing studs, floor joists, skids, and rafters/trusses
- optional: If your group wants to show off its CAD skills, a 3d computer model can also be included.
Examples of undimensioned drawings can be found here, and examples of dimensioned and undimensioned drawings can be found here.
You do not have to show the siding, roof sheathing, shingles, nails, hinges, etc in your drawings. The primary focus should be on the lumber. It is recommended that your drawings units be in inches, instead of feet or meters. Use the actual lumber dimensions, instead of nominal dimensions. You do not have to dimension the lumber thickness. It is assumed that all of the boards, unless specified otherwise, have a 2" nominal (1.5" actual) thickness. Feel free to annotate the drawings to clarify anything that might be hard for someone outside your group to understand.
Take screenshots of your drawings and place them in the group's wiki. Also link the drawing file(s) in the wiki.
Step 4. Model the Building
Use foam board, cardboard, etc to create a physical model of the building that shows the framing. You are free to choose the scale of the model. It is the instructors' intent that the model be created with minimal expense. The City of Rolla Recycling Center is located at 2141 Old St James Road if you need cardboard.
An example model that shows framing can be found here. Example models that do not show framing can be found here and here. An easy way to show framing on the model is to print the 2d drawings at the desired scale and glue them to a backing material. If desired, lines and dots may be drawn on the model to represent fasteners and other details. If you want to include toy vehicles, etc with your model, they often have their scale printed on the bottom. Find this before you print the 2d drawings. You can also download free CAD models of human figures, etc and print them to the same scale.
Photograph your model, and place the photographs in the group's wiki. Also, bring the model to the lab period in which the assignment is due and set it on the table at the front of the room.
Step 5. Cost Estimate
Using the prices found in Project 1 (you may want to refer to the other groups' wikis for prices that you were not asked for), estimate the cost of the lumber and plywood/OSB in the building. How does that compare to the price of the building? Include this information in the group's wiki.