Adding Corner Boards and Quoins

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

I would like to add corner trim, such as corner boards and quoins, to my designs. What is the best way to do this?

ANSWER

Corners boards and quoins can be added both automatically and manually to your designs using the dedicated Trim tools. However, before doing so, it's a good idea to setup the defaults associated with these tools.

To set the defaults for corner boards and quoins

1. Navigate to Edit> Default Settings  from the menu.
   
   
   
2. In the Default Settings dialog, expand the Corner Trim category, select Corner Boards, then click Edit.
   
   
   
   
   
3. On the General panel of the Corner Board Defaults dialog that opens:
   
   
   
   
   • Set the Width and  Thickness values to your liking under the Size and Position section.
     
     
   • Check the Set Top and/or Set Bottom boxes to specify the top and bottom heights. If Set Top is unchecked, the top of the board automatically extends to the top plate. If Set Bottom is unchecked, the bottom of the board automatically extends to the bottom of the floor platform.
     
     
   • Choose whether or not the Include Inside Corners box is checked under the Auto Place Options section. If this option is checked, corner boards will generate for both inside and outside corners on the exterior of a structure when the Auto Place Corner Boards  tool is used. When unchecked, only outside corners will receive corner boards. 
   
   
   
4. On the Materials panel:
   
   
   
   
   • Select the Wall Corner Board component and click on the Select Material button.
     
     
   • In the Select Material dialog, browse for and choose your desired material from the Library, then click OK. 
   
   
   
5. Make any other desired changes, such as to the Layer and Components, then click OK.
   
   
   
6. Next, select the Quoins option in the Default Settings, then click Edit.
   
   
   
7. On the General panel of the Quoin Defaults dialog that opens:
   
   
   
   
   • Specify the Width under the Size and Position section, which is the horizontal dimension of each quoin in the selected Quoin object. The dimension along the other wall is half this value when they are staggered or mirrored.
     
     
   • Specify the Thickness, which is the amount that the quoin protrudes from the exterior surface of the wall.
     
     
   • Specify the Quoin Height for individual quoins and the Quoin Gap, which is the distance between successive quoins.
     
     
   • Check the Set Top and/or Set Bottom boxes to specify the top and bottom heights. If Set Top is unchecked, the top of the quoinautomatically extends to the top plate. If Set Bottom is unchecked, the bottom of the quoin automatically extends to the bottom of the floor platform.
     
     
   • Under the Style section, choose between Uniform, Staggered, or Mirrored. Uniform produces quoins that are of equal length on both sides of the corner. Staggered produces quoins that have one long side and one short side staggered on opposite sides of the corner. And Mirrored produces quoins that alternate having either two long sides or two short sides. When Staggered or Mirrored is selected, check Swap Start Block to switch the starting order for the quoins.
     
     
   • Choose whether or not the Include Inside Corners box is checked under the Auto Place Options section. If this option is checked, quoins will generate for both inside and outside corners on the exterior of a structure when the Auto Place Quoins  tool is used. When unchecked, only outside corners will receive quoins.
     
   
   
   
8. Adjust the Layer, Materials, and Components to your liking, then click OK.
   
   
   
9. Click Done to close out of the Default Settings dialog and confirm the changes.
   

To automatically place corner boards and quoins

1. Navigate to Build> Trim  from the menu.
   
   
   
2. Select the Auto Place Corner Boards  or the Auto Place Quoins  tool.
   
   Corner boards or quoins will generate on the exterior of the structure and will now be visible in your 3D Camera and section views.
   
   
   Note: These tools will not place corner boards or quoins on manually drawn dormers or intersections with Attic Walls.
   
   
   

To manually place corner boards and quoins

1. Navigate to Build> Trim from the menu.
   
   
   
2. Select the Corner Boards  or Quoins  tool.
   
   
   
3. With one of the mentioned tools selected, hover over a wall corner until a preview of the object displays, then click once to place the corner board or quoin at that location.
   
   
   
   
   Note: When using these tools, it's important to click at a wall corner where you want to add corner boards or quoins. Be sure to click where the outside wall surfaces meet. If you click where the inside surfaces meet, corner boards or quoins will be created inside the room.