RELEASE NOTES

Released: September 10, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Takeoff Tool (PlusDesignBuild version)

• Added a new category called ‘Demolition’ which will display all objects in the model marked as “to be demolished”.

Wall Tool

• Added plasterboard & cavity insulation skins to the ‘Double Masonry’ wall type. To remove either skin, select ‘None’ from the material field.
• Added plasterboard skin to the ‘Single Masonry’ wall type. To remove the skin, select ‘None’ from the material field.
• Added plasterboard & cladding/siding skins to the ‘Solid Wall’ wall type. To remove either skin, select ‘None’ from the material field.
• Added battens to the ‘Solid Wall’ wall type, which work the same as the battens in the other wall types.
• Added missing help image for the ‘Align With Cornice?’ field.
• Updated the field name of ‘Align with Cornice’ to ‘Align Cornice With Plasterboard?’.

Window & Door Tools

• Added ability to have the same jamb stud sizes as the wall or select different sizes.
• Added missing help images in the ‘Timbers/Lumbers’ section.
• [Door Tool] Improved the quality of swinging door plan components.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Updated the values in the Layers section of the dialog.

Rafter Tool

• Updated the position of hip rafters to align more correctly.
• Updated the ‘Rafter Height’ field help image.

Skillion/Shed & Hip Roof Tools

• Updated the ‘Rafter Height’ field help image.

Layout Tool

• Removed the top-most grouping of dimensions in the auto-dimension feature.

General

• Removed Dincel Wall Tool completely from all versions.

Fixes

• Takeoff Tool (PlusDesignBuild version)
  • Fixed an issue where components weren’t being grouped together correctly which caused an issue in the Summary page & client estimate.
  • Fixed an issue where components put on levels weren’t displaying correctly in the Summary page & client estimate.
• Takeoff Tool (Pro version)
  • Fixed an issue where a takeoff wouldn’t generate on Mac.
• Wall Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the battens wouldn’t adjust when the ‘External Drop Off’ field was adjusted.
  • Fixed an issue where some material fields weren’t remembering the last selection.
• Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools
  • Fixed an issue where some fields weren’t remembering their last values.

Download Update

Released: August 7, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Fixes

• Hip Roof Tool
  • Fixed an issue where tile & slat capping was estimating incorrectly.
• Materials – sync to get these changes
  • Fixed an issue where some batten materials were estimating as Area instead of Lineal.

Released: August 6, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only)

• Added the ability for a new recipe under a category.
• Updated the Prelim Items Tool heading & name to be ‘Manual Qty & Prelim Items’.
• Updated the icon which opens the Manual Qty & Prelim Items Tool.
• Updated the Visible geometry/layers field name to ‘Visible Geometry Only’ in the interim dialog.

Post Tool

• Added the ability to add post supports/shoes when drawing timber/lumber posts.

Rafter Tool

• Added the ability to enable/disable under purlins via an ‘Include Under Purling?’ field.

Redraw Wall Tool

• Updated the tool to set the structural wall value according to what was selected for the original wall.

Scene Tool

• Removed shadows from all scenes (expect ‘Present’) for the Semi-Render option.

General

• Improved the ability to switch licenses between machines.

Fixes

• Takeoff (PlusDesignBuild version)
  • Fixed an issue which would cause an error if a takeoff was generated with empty Prelim Items.
  • Fixed an issue where the ‘Visible Geometry Only’ field wasn’t working as intended.
• Wall Bracing Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the ply bracing wouldn’t estimate correctly.
• Rafter Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the tool would become unresponsive when the value of some fields was  0mm/0”.
• General
  • Fixed an issue where the software wasn’t working in SketchUp 18.

Released: July 22, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Fixes

• Takeoff (PlusDesignBuild version)
  • Fixed an issue in the client estimate where margins weren’t being added to the total price.
• Wall Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the hover help images weren’t appearing for the ‘Frame Buffer Top’ & ‘Frame Buffer Other’ fields.
  • Fixed an issue where materials weren’t being applied to the skillion & gable top faces.
• Rafter Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the birdsmouth wasn’t generating as intended.
  • Fixed an issue which would cause an error to appear when created roof framing for some shapes.

Released: July 16, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Hip Roof Tool

• Added missing help image for the ‘Valley Timber’ material field.

Scene Tool

• Changed the ‘DEMO’ layer line style to dashes.

General

• Updated the layer of all geometry within objects (groups only) marked as “to be “demolished”.
• Updated the interactive tutorial.

Fixes

• Takeoff (Pro version)
  • Fixed an issue where objects & layers that weren’t visible in the model were still being estimated.
• Levels & Layers Tool
  • Fixed an issue with Level Heights where the slab footing depth & recess depth wasn’t being taken into account.
  • Fixed an issue after assigning or drawing geometry on a level that had its visibility turned off where the opposite result would occur when switching visibility.

Released: July 9, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Takeoff

• Added the ability to link recipes with multiple items of the same type.

Rafter Tool

• Added ‘Purlin’ text to the field names where battens were present.
• Added an option in the takeoff tags dialog to adjust the tag of struts.
• Added missing help images.
• Added a new tutorial playlist specific for the Rafter Tool.

Fixes

• Takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only)
  • Fixed an issue which caused a crash when trimmers were in the model.
• Wall Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the Cavity field wouldn’t adjust the cavity of the wall.
• Rafter Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the valley board material field wouldn’t remember the last selection.
• Layout Tool
  • Fixed an issue which would sometimes occur when creating the Layout file.

Released: July 3, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Rafter Tool

• Improved the tool to make it work quicker & more efficiently.
• Added the ability to add battens & purlins.
• Added the ability to add under purlins.
• Added the ability to edit the roof framing after it’s been generated.
  • Note: To edit the pitch the roof framing will need to be generated again.
• Updated the takeoff tags dialog so that more beams can be tagged.

Materials

• Added some more timber/lumber & metal beam sizes, mainly for battens.

Fixes

• Hip Roof Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the valley board material field wouldn’t remember the last selection.

Released: June 24, 2020

NEW Tools (PlusDesignBuild version only)

• Takeoff Tool. This is a massive change from the previous takeoff – so much so that it’s basically a NEW tool which is available for the PlusDesignBuild version. The features include:
  • New & improved interface & features.
  • Generate a takeoff of the whole model or just from your selection.
  • Add recipes & link items to be remembered for next time.
  • Add install items & link them with items which will be remembered for next time.
  • Add & assign vendors, costcodes & more.
  • Add preliminary items.
  • Locate instances within the model. This means you can see what wall the brick, window & more came from.
  • Specify what info you want in the takeoff.
  • Levels created in the new Levels & Layer Tool will be displayed for each item (if they’ve been assigned).
  • Enter units per lineal/area/cubic measure or the opposite. This means you can enter the number of bricks per m2/ft2.
  • Update prices of materials, components & preliminary items within the takeoff which will be remembered for next time.
  • Enter markups (%) for specific items of the whole takeoff.
  • Enter a wastage for each item (material items only – not for components).
  • Enter contingencies per page.
  • Override the totals of items to get a more accurate takeoff.
  • Exclude items not required for the takeoff so prices, size, total & more won’t be used.
  • Export the takeoff in multiple different variations (including just the timber/lumber in the model).
  • Generate quotes, purchase orders & other reports which can be saved & downloaded.
  • Check the model for any non-estimated items.
  • Create client estimates.
  • Advanced Framing. This is a more advanced takeoff page for ordering timber/lumber, creating onsite cut lists for all framing areas and more. The features include:
    • All timber/lumber materials will be broken down by their instance (i.e. Wall #1) and then again by their member type (common stud, top plate, etc.).
    • Round lengths to their next order length which can be managed via a file that’s imported/exported. Anything over the max order length will be displayed differently and as a total lineal length.
    • Select optimal lengths for timbers/lumbers that are smaller than the specified size (i.e. noggings & blocking).
    • Add notes for each different member type.
• Layout Tool. This is a NEW tool that allows layout files to be created & laid out according to selections made within the dialog. The features include:
  • Auto dimensioning of walls.
  • Save all selections & values in the dialog as a favourite.
  • Select from default templates created by us or use your own.
  • Select the paper size you want for the PlusSpec templates or to draw in the model (as a cross-reference).
  • Add & remove pages as desired. They can also be reordered.
  • Specify the number of viewports for each page.
  • Rotate all viewports on a page to get the desired end result (mainly for portrait pages).
• Levels & Layers Tool. This NEW tool allows a model to be organised into & utilize levels as well as display geometry visibility via a new layers system used in conjunction with other PlusSpec tools. The features include:
  • Assign geometry to levels which can either be done as you draw or via the right-click menu.
  • Set & modify level start heights, level heights, level names.
  • Draw walls at level heights according to the selected active level.
  • Locate all instances assigned to levels.
  • Toggle geometry visibility separately to layers & scenes which are to be used in conjunction with the 4D Scheduling Project Management Tool.
• 4D Model Scheduling Tool. This NEW tool allows a model to be scheduled and see a representation of each stage of the job via geometry. The features include:
  • Set a start date of the project.
  • Add all the different stages of the job and link the stages with one another. Updating dates & timeframes will update all linked stages accordingly.
  • Assign a person or trade to each stage. These options can be imported & exported to manage the selections.
  • Export the stages as to Microsoft (MS) Project, GanttProject or as images.
• Junction Tool. This NEW tool that allows junctions to be added to wall framing in the model. This is accessed via the right-click menu.
• Bracing Tool. This NEW tool allows bracing to be added to walls in the model. This tool is accessed via the right-click menu.
• Split Beam Tool. This NEW tool allows a beam or multiple beams to be split once or multiple times. This tool is accessed via the right-click menu.
• Extend Beam Tool. This NEW tool allows a beam or multiple beams to be extended to a certain point selected in the model. This tool is accessed via the right-click menu.
• 2D Mode Tool. This is a NEW tool that allows you to draw in 2D and will turn off some layers to help speed you your drawing process.
• See All Tool. This is a NEW tool that allows all objects hidden in the model to be viewed & will revert the model back in some instances.

This update includes the following improvements:

Wall Tool

• Added the ability for footings drawn with the wall to move with the stepdown when it’s a positive value.
• Added help images for the Edit Wall (Retain Values) dialog.
• Merged the Pitch & Ratio into one field called ‘Pitch/Ratio’ in the Edit Wall (Retain Values) dialog.

Ceiling Joist Tool

• Added ‘Draw Trimmers’ option which allows trimmers to be drawn in the model (similar to how blocking it drawn).
• Removed the ‘Draw Blocking’ option.

Joist Blocking Tool

• Added help text at the bottom right of the screen when using the tool.

Joist Hanger Tool

• Added help text at the bottom right of the screen when using the tool.

Fixes

• Hip Roof Tool
  • Fixed an issue the Rafter Height & Batten Thickness fields didn’t work as expected when editing a roof.
• Beam Tool
  • [Mac] Fixed an issue where SHIFT wasn’t locking the inference when splitting or extending beams.

Released: June 11, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

General

• [Mac] Fixed an issue which caused materials to not appear & the dialogs becoming unresponsive.

Released: June 9, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

NEW Tools

• Redraw Walls Tool. This NEW tool redraws all walls in the model with the newest changes & improvements (e.g. new/updated wall framing). This means that all walls can be updated with the click of a button.
  • Note: Any manual edits done to the walls will be reverted.
• Renumber Walls Tool. This NEW tool renumbers walls after they’ve been drawn so they can be represented better when labelling the walls.
• Blocking Tool. This NEW tool allows blocking to be drawn in the model via two input points. This tool is accessed via the Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools dialog.
• Joist Hangers Tool. This NEW tool allows joist hangers to be drawn in the model via two input points. This tool is accessed via the Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools dialog.

Wall Tool

• Added the ability to add horizontal & vertical battens to the ‘Lightweight Framed With Cladding’ & ‘EPS/XPS Veneer’ wall types. These fields are located in the ‘Timbers/Lumbers’ section of the dialog.
• Added a new section called ‘Trim’ which allows the following items to be added to the wall as you draw:
  • Skirting/Baseboard
  • Cornice/Crown Moulding
  • Quad/Cover Moulding
• Added the ability to choose the following corner configurations for each wall:
  • Single Stud
  • 2 Stud Corner
  • 3 Stud Corner (California)
  • 3 Stud Corner (Traditional)
  • 4 Stud Corner
• Added the ability to select a different material for top & bottom plates.
• Added the ability for the top of the plasterboard to align with the cornice (standard wall shapes only).
• Added the ability to retain values in the dialog when editing multiple walls with different values (e.g. standard & gable walls can be edited together). This is called ‘Edit Wall (Retain Values)’ in the right-click menu.
• Added the ability in the right-click menu to select all walls in the model that are the same wall type.
• Added masonry materials to the material field for the top, external part for the ‘Wainscot (Split)’ wall type.
• Added a ‘Takeoff Tags’ field which sets the names of all the timber/lumber members which will appear in the advanced framing pages of the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Updated the ‘Structural Wall?’ field to be a dropdown to make it easier to assign the type of structural wall the wall is/needs to be. The new options are:
  • No = This is a non-structural wall and will add ‘_NON-STRUCTURAL’ text onto the wall parent layer.
  • Yes (Roof Load) = This is used for single storey building or the top storey of a multi-storey building and will add ‘_STRUCTURAL(FL+RL)’ text to the wall parent layer.
  • Yes (Floor Load & Roof Load) = This is used for any storey under the top-most storey of multi-storey buildings and will add ‘_STRUCTURAL(FL)’ text onto the wall parent layer name (i.e. WALL_GROUP).
• Updated the material section help images to change with the selected wall type and better represent where the material will be applied.
• Updated the Internal & External text when drawing walls to stand out more.
• Updated the help text that appears in the bottom left of the screen when using the tools.
• Updated the layer of the top-most & bottom-most horizontal edges of the walls to be on the ‘Wall Linework’ layer. This allows them to easily be turned on/off for specific scenes & views for a cleaner end result.
• Removed mitred framing top & bottom plates for corners that are 90 degrees/right angles. Corners that aren’t a right angle will still mitre so that the takeoff is more accurate.
• Removed the ‘Opening Header’ field from the ‘Timbers/Lumbers’ section. This is now located in the Window & Door Tools.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Joists can now continuously be placed as the dialog will stay open until it’s closed.
• Added the ability to create joists from multiple faces at the same time (same joist direction only).
• Added the ability to only draw on a flat plane by default. This can be toggled on/off using the ‘Down’ arrow.
• Added ‘Start With’ & ‘End With’ fields for both bearers & joist, with the following options:
  • None = Removes the beam.
  • Single = Single beam as it’s always been.
  • Double = Adds another beam that’s offset according to the value entered into the new ‘Spacing’ field (only appears for this option).
• Added ‘Include Perimeter Beams’ & ‘Perimeter Beam’ fields which allow different perimeter beam sizes to be selected for the joist.
• Added ‘Include Blocking’ & ‘Blocking’ fields which allow blocking to be added between each joist at either end of the joist, along with selecting the blocking beam size.
• Added ‘Draw Individual Joist’ & ‘Draw Individual Beam’ fields so individual beams can be drawn in the model. This will open the Beam Tool but change the layer when drawing the individual joist.
• Added a ‘Location’ field which will update the instance name so you know where the joist group is for.
• Added a ‘Takeoff Tags’ field which sets the names of all the timber/lumber members which will appear in the advanced framing pages of the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Added a symbol to display the joist spacing start & direction.
• Added ‘Add Object To Joist’ & ‘Remove All Objects From Joist’ options in the right-click menu. This allows objects to be added within the joist group instance.
• [Ceiling Joist Tool] Updated the position of the “bearers/girders” (now called ‘Hanging Beams’) & joist so that it’s more accurate to how it’s constructed. The draw direction is still for the joist direction.

Window & Door Tools

• Added ‘Jamb Stud Type’ & ‘Jamb Timber/Lumber’ fields to select the number & size of jamb studs (studs either side of openings) for structural walls.
• Added a ‘Label Header’ field which will label headers with 3D text inside of the model. This will display the number of beams, size, type & length.
• Added ‘Extend Header Right’ & ‘Extend Header Left fields to extend headers in either direction.
  • Note: This will extend the header length & update the header label but won’t adjust the other framing members in the wall.
• Moved the ‘Opening Header’ field from the Wall Tool to the Timbers/Lumbers section of the dialog so that different openings can have different header sizes.
• Updated the position of elevation symbols geometry so that they can’t be seen in elevations for some wall types when they shouldn’t be seen.
• Removed handle estimation from sliding & stacker doors.

Hip Roof Tool

• Added the ability for internal/external corner & stop end gutter components to be estimated.
• A purge will now be done after the tool has been used.

Rafter Tool

• Added a ‘Takeoff Tags’ field which sets the names of all the timber/lumber members which will appear in the advanced framing pages of the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).

Ceiling Tool

• Added the ability to generate via faces via the right-click menu. Multiple faces can be selected at once to generate the ceilings.

Beam Tool

• Added the ability to draw from the top & bottom centre points of each beam type.
• Added a ‘Takeoff Tag’ field which gives the ability to assign a member type to the beam which will appear in the advanced framing page in the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only). The list options can be edited via a CSV file which can be imported/export.
• Added the ability to mitre two beams. This can also project and join the beams.
• Updated the layer of the I-Joist category materials.

Post/Column Tool

• Added a ‘Concrete Pier’ option to the Type field. This will change the instance name of the group to ‘Pier #?’.
• Added a ‘Custom Timber/Lumber Post’ option to the Type field. This allows the post/column to use the Width & Depth fields to adjust the size of the post. The ‘Timber Post’ material has been moved to this type to accommodate this change.
• Merged the Sizings section into the Construction section. The fields that were found here still show/hide according to the selection in the Type field.

Import PDF Tool

• Added the ability to assign the imported plans to the active level in the model. If levels haven’t been created (using the new Levels & layer Tool) then it will work how it previously did.

BIM Tool

• Added ‘UOM’ (Unit Of Measure) & ‘Size’ fields which give the ability to change how the component is estimated in the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only). Sizes for BIMed components will be added together and give a total value in the new takeoff.

Scene Tool

• Added the ‘All’, Struct Off’ & ‘Roof Off’ scenes to all scene sets.
• Changed the following scene names to be more easily view on smaller screens:
  • Presentation = Present
  • Window Schedule = W/D Sched
  • Structure = Struct
  • Structure w/Sheeting = Struct w/Sheet
  • Animation Vertical/Horizontal = Animate Vert/Hor
  • Remember Position = Remember Pos
• Updated all scenes to retain hidden geometry & objects.
• Updated the layer name from Hidden on Plan to ‘00_Hidden on Plan’ so that it appears first in the list. The layer colour was also changed to green.
• Turned off the ’00_Hidden on Plan’ layer in documentation scenes.
• Turned off the ‘24G_FIX_OUT_A’, ‘25_DOOR_FURNITURE’ & ‘27_DOORS’ layers in the W/D Sched scene.
• Removed wall corner/mitre at wall junctions in floor plan scenes for a better Layout result.
• Removed profiles from floor plan scenes.

Component Tool

• Updated the layer of the components in the Frame Hardware category.
• Updated the name of the dryer component to ‘Front Loader Dryer’.

Job Tool

• Added ‘Company Number’, ‘Estimator Name’, ‘Supervisor Name’ & ‘Client Name’ fields. The values for these fields will appear in reports generated in the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Added ‘Order Number Prefix’ & ‘Order Number Start’ fields which will adjust the quote/purchase order number in reports generated in the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Changed the For Quote option in the Stage field to ‘Quotation Request’.

Purge Tool

• Added ‘Temporary Files’ option which will purge temporary filed and help increase PlusSpec & SketchUp performance for models open for a longer period of time. This will be defaulted to ‘No’.

Section Hatching Tool

• Added a new ‘Layout Options’ section which gives the ability to replace textures with higher quality textures inside of Layout when using the new Layout Tool (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Added the ability to turn the ’00_Hidden on Plan’ layer when the tool is opened to make using the tool quicker & easier.

Settings

• Added four new fields (‘Takeoff Floor Joist Tags’, ‘Takeoff Wall Tags’, ‘Takeoff Ceiling Joist Tags’ & ‘Takeoff Rafter Tags’) which adjust the tags used in the advanced estimation pages of the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Added ‘Tax Prefix’ & ‘Tax Percentage’ fields. The percentage is used for reports generated in the new takeoff (PlusDesignBuild only).
• Added a ‘Sill Option’ field which sets whether the window sills are to default according to the wall type (this is the default option & recommended) or remember the last input entered.
• For new installations (new users), the Takeoff Unit field value has been defaulted according to the option selected in the Material Library field.

General

• Added ‘PlusSpec Default Materials’ & ‘User Material’ tickboxes below each material field which improves the dialog load time for users with lots of materials. These fields will remember for next time.
• Added a pop-up message for the first time using tools but mainly new tools.
  • Note: Existing users will also encounter these pop-ups for some tools they’ve already used before, however, once the pop-up is closed the second time you won’t see it again.
• Updated timber/lumber material fields to have the same materials (mainly LVL materials in the AUS library). Some material names have been updated as well.
• Updated the new user video to open in SketchUp rather than a browser.
• Updated splashscreen logos which will change depending on the version you have installed.
• Updated the main toolbar icons to be high-res.
• Updated the Floor Tools sub-menu so all tools appeared in one line.
• Updated the Read Me file copyright text.
• Removed the ‘Purchase License’ button from the splashscreen.

Create Material Page

• The ‘Generic (No Brand)’ brand option will now no longer add ‘Generic (No Brand)’ text to materials names when the material is created.
• Added a ‘None’ option for the Treating field (timber/lumber materials only). If ‘None’ is selected the treating will be set to ‘untreated’.
  • Note: The Treating field only appears if the original material (material selected when the ‘Create/Manage’ button was clicked) has a treating.
• Removed the ‘Buy Price’, Install Price’ & ‘Weight’ fields.

Materials

• Updated the estimating unit for the CLT solid wall material.

Fixes

• Wall Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the top of the studs would protrude into the top plates for skillion & gable walls.
  • Fixed an issue where noggings above window & door openings wouldn’t start again from the bottom of the header.
  • Fixed an issue where the top plates for skillion & gable walls would estimate incorrectly.
  • Fixed an issue where some materials would duplicate in the ‘Lightweight Multi-Skin’ wall type material fields.
  • Fixed an issue where there were lines appearing through window & door openings in wainscot walls.
  • Fixed an issue where cubic materials in the Solid Wall type wouldn’t estimate correctly.
  • Fixed an issue where some walls couldn’t be edited (mainly wainscot & solid walls) which also caused windows & doors to not be added to the walls.
  • Fixed an issue in the Lightweight Multi-Skin wall where the bracing skin wouldn’t change with skillion & gable wall shapes as intended.
  • Fixed issue in the framing when the top of the header & bottom of the top plate(s) were at the same point and caused an incorrect result/error.
  • Fixed issue where a line would appear at the base of walls (mainly when drawing a triangular loop of walls).
• Slab Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the slab dialog would occasionally become unresponsive.
• Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools
  • Fixed an issue where the visibility of some fields would react differently than intended.
• Window & Door Tools
  • Fixed an issue where the visibility of fields in the Annotation & Text section would react differently than intended.
  • Fixed an issue where windows & doors couldn’t be copy-moved (pressing Ctrl when moving the opening).
  • Fixed an issue where the Frame material field was blank for the USA library.
  • [Window Tool] Fixed an issue with the Fixed/Picture Window where the lite wouldn’t change positions.
  • [Door Tool] Fixed an issue with the opening direction of the ‘Sliding Internal’ Door type.
  • [Door Tool] Remove the ‘Opening Direction’ field for the ‘Sliding Internal Double Door’ type as it isn’t needed.
  • [Door Tool] Removed the estimation ability for handles for sliding & stacker door types.
    • Note: Door drawn using previous version will still estimate the handles.
• Hip Roof Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the tile & slate capping material was being applied to the wrong area which caused an incorrect estimate in the takeoff.
• Rafter Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the ‘Strut From Points’ & ‘Rafter From Points’ options weren’t working.
  • Fixed an issue where the values selected/entered in the dialog wouldn’t remember for next time.
• Post/Column Tool
  • Fixed an issue where rectangular timber/lumber post materials weren’t using the sizes set in the materials as expected and instead were using the Width & Depth fields to adjust the size of the post/column.
• Section Hatching Tool
  • Fixed an issue where the section hatching wouldn’t generate in some instances.
• General
  • Fixed an issue where composite materials (e.g. masonry with render) weren’t displaying correctly in the model.
  • Fixed an issue where some tools wouldn’t work in older versions of SketchUp (before SketchUp 2018).
• Create Materials Page
  • Fixed scaling issue when trying to adjust the image height in the Materials Creation page.

Released: February 6, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

Takeoff

• [Mac] Fixed an issue where the takeoff wouldn’t generate in some instances.

General

• Fixed an issue where some timber/lumber materials didn’t have any materials appearing in the USA library.

Released: January 29, 2020

This update includes the following improvements:

General

• Added an option in the EXE installer to install to SketchUp 20.

Released: April 24, 2019

This update includes the following improvements:

Window & Door Tools

• Added the ability to switch walls when inserting windows & doors. To do so (whilst using the Window/Door Tool), hover over a new wall and press SHIFT.
  • Note: Make sure you switch walls before making changes in the dialog.
• Fixed the issue where a highlite/lowlite couldn’t be added to the ‘Curtain’ & ‘Custom’ window types.
• Removed the ‘Open Direction’ field for garage doors. They will now only open to the internal side of the wall.

Grid Tool

• Added the ability to adjust the grid sizes for each direction.
• Added the ability to edit the grid after it’s been drawn.

Takeoff

• Fixed an issue where a takeoff sometimes wouldn’t generate.

Sync Tool

• Update the icons that appear when materials are being synced.

General

• Updated the toolbar name.

Materials

• Fixed an issue where Austral Masonry materials were appearing for all libraries, instead of just the AUS library.

Released: February 27, 2019

We’ve just released our first big update for 2019, and we’ve focused on speed,  because every second counts, right?!

What’s coming in 2019

The benefit of subscriptions is that you get access to all of our improvements as soon as we finish making them. And we have a tonne of big changes coming in 2019, so if you haven’t signed up to the Annual plan, get in before you miss some AMAZING savings! Stay tuned.​​​​​​​

If you don’t know how to update your PlusSpec version, click HERE. Note: The process of updating is the same as installing PlusSpec for the first time.

This update includes the following improvements:

General

• ​​​​​​​All of the PlusSpec dialogs have been supercharged to open a lot faster. This will be a huge time saver!​​​​​​​

Materials

• Fixed issue where metal beam materials were estimating as the wrong unit (all libraries).

Released: February 12, 2019

This update includes the following improvements:

Takeoff Tool

• Fixed an issue where solids walls marked as ‘demolition wouldn’t appear in the DEMO section in the takeoff.

General

• Fixed issues so that all tools were compatible with SketchUp 2019.

Materials

• Added Austral Masonry materials (AUS library).

Released: December 20, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Wall Tool

• This is a NEW tool that redraws all walls in the model with the newest changes & improvements (e.g. new/updated wall framing). This means that all walls can be updated with the click of a button.

Wall Tool

• Fixed an issue where window & door openings weren’t the intended sizes for plasterboard, cavity insulation, wall bracing & other wall linings.
• Fixed an issue where some opening sizes weren’t the intended size and were clashing with window & door geometry.

Window Tool

• Fixed an issue where the external architrave/casing for the ‘Fixed/Picture’ window wouldn’t be the intended size & position for the ‘Lightweight Framed with Cladding’ wall type.

Door Tool

• Fixed the door position of the ‘Cavity Sliding/Pocket’ & ‘Cavity Sliding/Pocket Double’ door types for some walls types.
• Updated the door pockets size for the ‘Cavity Sliding/Pocket Double’ door type.
• Fixed an issue where the ‘Opening Direction’ field was appearing for the ‘Cavity Sliding/Pocket Double’ door type.
• Fixed an issue where the ‘Sliding/Gliding Internal Door’ & ‘Sliding Internal Double’ door types opening direction couldn’t be switched to the other side of the wall.

Post/Column Tool

• Updated the estimate for the ‘Masonry Rectangular’ option to be more accurate. When the size is twice the thickness of the brick/block/etc., the new estimation method will be used, otherwise it will use the original estimation method.
• Added note to the dialog explaining the new ‘Masonry Rectangular’ estimation method.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Fixed an issue where some beams would split when drawing non-rectangular shapes.
• Isolated bug fix where bearer materials weren’t appearing for ‘Actual’ timber/lumber sizes.

Sync Tool

• Updated the text in the dialog.
• Added a link to an explanatory video about how syncing works and what it does.

Roof Framing Tool

• Fixed an issue where the ridge materials wouldn’t change to ‘Actual’ timber sizes (USA library).

Scene Tool

• Turned on the ’21_EAVES’ layer for the ‘Roof Off’ scene.

Settings Tool

• Added a note at the bottom of the dialog.

General

• Updated the process for new users to be more intuitive.

Materials

• Fixed an issue which cause some materials to display differently than intended (all libraries).

Released: October 8, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Door Tool

• Fixed an issue where geometry would randomly appear for some external door types.
• Fixed an issue where the elevation symbol for the ‘External Swinging/Hinged Patio Glass Door’ wouldn’t change when the opening direction was changed.
• Fixed an issue where door stops couldn’t be disabled.

Window Tool

• Fixed an issue where the ‘Gable’ & ‘Raked’ window reveals wouldn’t appear for Wainscot walls.

Pricing Tool

• Improvements to the CSV import/export feature.
• Fixed an issue where the takeoff units set in the Settings Tool wouldn’t be set for each product that hasn’t been assigned a price.
  • Note: Any product that has a price assigned will retain the unit set.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Isolated bug fix where the tool couldn’t be used for the USA library in some cases.

Ceiling Tool

• Fixed an issue where the ceiling would change position when it was redrawn.

Import PDF Tool

• Updated the layer names for the imported plans so they appear first in the SketchUp Layer Manager.

Job Tool

• Updated the field name of ‘Bushfire Category’ to ‘Fire Hazard Rating’.
• Added new fields called ‘Altitude’ and ‘Snow Load’ to the Job Categories section. These will also appear in the Takeoff.

Settings

• Isolated bug fix where actual & nominal timber/lumber sizes wouldn’t switch.

Other/General

• Added a option to ‘Restore Factory Default’ (called ‘Prices’) which removes any prices that have been assigned. This is defaulted to be ‘No’.
  • Note: If you’re using a Mac, SketchUp will need to be closed and reopened after resetting the prices for the changes to be made.

Materials

Note: Don’t forget to sync to get these materials.

• Changed brick sill materials to have ‘Sill Brick/Block’ in the name.
  • Note: This will only be shown in the takeoff and won’t appear in the material dropdown lists.
• Fixed an issue where the ‘Sandstone Stacked’ material was displaying incorrectly (AUS library).
• Added 1/4″ FC Sheeting to the Lightweight Multi-Skin wall type (USA library).

Released: August 10, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Other/General

• Fixed the issue where feet and inches without fractions wouldn’t be remembered when the dialogs were reopened.

Released: August 9, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Fixed the issue where joist timbers/lumbers would overlap perimeter beams when perimeter beams were enabled.
• Fixed the issue where joist timbers/lumbers would duplicate for the first and last joists when perimeter beams were enabled.

Beam Tool

Note: You will need to sync your materials to get these changes.

• Added PFC, Rectangular Hollow Section (Hot Rolled) & I-Joist options to the ‘Profile/Type’ field.
• Changed the existing Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) option to be ‘Rectangular Hollow Section (Cold Rolled)’. Any materials previously created will appear in this option.
• Removed the ‘Timber/Lumber Plate’ option from the icons. This is now found as a tickbox called ‘Plate (Flip)?’ in the ‘Solid Timber/Lumber’ option which will flip the beam.

Other/General

• Added the ability for feet AND inch plus fractional inputs to be entered and remembered for length fields (the Edit Component dialogs will still only allow for fractional input, not remembering the value).
  • To enable this, go to the Settings Tool and select the ‘use model default’ option in the ‘Dialog Units’ field, then go to Window > Model Info > Units and change the ‘Format’ field to ‘Architectural’ and change the ‘Precision’ field value (we recommend either 1/32 or 1/64).
    • Note: After doing these steps you will need to enter length fields with feet and inches values (with fractions if required). Make sure there’s a space between whole and fractional numbers.

Released: July 19, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Window & Door Tools

• Fixed the issue when editing window & door the architraves/casings would change back to a default value.
• Fixed the issue where fields with the tilde symbol (‘~’) would cause a message to appear and not let the tool be used. This mainly happened when converting imperial measurements in length fields (for the USA library).
• Fixed an issue where the header height entered into the Wall Tool wouldn’t appear in the Door Tool ‘Header/Door Height’ field when creating/adding a new door.
• Added more shapes to choose from for the elevation symbols. You can now choose from Rectangular, Circle, Hexagon.
• Added more configuration options for the floor plan text option. You can now choose from Label, Type & Size or Type & Size or Label w/Symbol.
• Fixed the issue where the architraves for internal doors would appear on the ’21_EAVES’ layer.
• Fixed the issue where the ‘French Window’ elevation symbol wasn’t assigned to the ‘Elevations’ layer (like the other symbols).
• Removed ‘Style 4’ for the ‘External Swinging/Hinged Door’ and the ‘External Swinging/Hinged Double Door’. This fixed issue where selecting the style would cause the door panel to disappear.
• Fix the opening direction of the Single Hung window to allow it to be changed.
• Added a note at the bottom of the dialog explaining what to do to accurately place windows & doors along the wall via the SketchUp VCB.

Wall Tool

• Changed the ‘Add Beam To Wall’ option in the right-click menu to ‘Add Object To Wall’. This will now add any object to the selected wall.
• Fixed the error when using the Push/Pull Wall Tool on a wall with beam objects where it would cause the added beam objects to duplicate to the adjacent walls.

Pricing Tool

• Fixed the error where imported prices wouldn’t appear in the takeoff.
• Fixed the error which caused shared library materials to not appear in the CSV export.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Fixed the error that would sometimes appear when drawing some shapes and/or joist directions.
• Fixed the error when creating joists on back/reversed faces would cause the position of some joists to be incorrect.

Takeoff Tool

• Fixed the issue where any component that had the same itemcode but different names would estimate together. They will now estimate separately.

Settings Tool

• Added a new field called ‘Architrave/Casing Options’ which allows you the ability to either have the architraves/casings default to a recommended number according to the wall type used (this is how it currently works) or to remember your last entered value.
• Fixed issue for new users where library wasn’t selected in some cases and could complete a sync.

Other/General

• Updated the ‘Extensions > PlusSpec’ menu to be smaller and easier to navigate by adding the tools to sub menus according to the PlusSpec toolbar. Important Note: ANY PlusSpec shortcuts previously assigned will need to be reassigned.
• Fixed an non-critical error that would appear when first installing PlusSpec.

Materials

Note: Don’t forget to sync to get these materials.

• Added brick/masonry materials for the following brands (USA library):
  • Brampton Brick
  • General Shale
  • Glen Gery
  • Redland Brick
• Added Maibec cladding/siding materials (USA library).

Released: May 14, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Wall Tool

• Fixed the issue where the ‘Wainscot (Split)’ wall had no material selected by default for the cladding (upper/top) material.

Window Tool

• Fixed the error where redefining old windows (drawn before 18.0) would generate another wall and incorrectly generate the other windows/door in the wall.
• Fixed the issue where undoing & redoing adding, editing, redefining or removing a window would cause an error with the wall and windows & doors within the wall. You now only need to undo/redo the action once.
• Fixed the issue where gaps would appear around some windows for certain wall types.

Door Tool

• Fixed the issue where undoing & redoing adding, editing, redefining or removing a door would cause an error with the wall and windows & doors within the wall. You now only need to undo/redo the action once.
• Fixed the issue where gaps would appear around some doors for certain wall types.
• Fixed the issue where swinging doors reveals/jambs would clash with the ‘Solid Wall’ type wall.

Beam Tool

• Added the following new profiles/types; Angle, Channel, Flat Bar, Pipe & T-Bar.
• Added more sizes for ‘Universal Beams’ and adjusted some existing sizes (for AUS library).
• Updated & fixed the explanation text below the material field.

Released: May 3, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Wall Tool

• Fixed the error when having an old window in a wall would cause the dialog to appear blank.
• Added the external cladding materials from the ‘Lightweight Framed with Cladding’ option to the ‘Lightweight Multi-Skin Wall’ external material field.

Window Tool

• Fixed the following errors when editing old windows (drawn before v18.0):
  • Where the dialog would appear blank.
  • Where the windows would change their size.
  • Where changing the windows to a standard size would change the windows position along the wall.
  • Where the windows geometry sometimes wouldn’t appear correctly.
• Fixed a spelling mistake in the pop up message that appears when changing a window to a standard sizes that overlaps another opening.
• Fixed a position error of external architraves/casings when recessing some windows.
• Fixed an issue where some sizes for the ‘Fixed/Picture’ window wouldn’t appear (USA only).

Door Tool

• Fixed the error where the external swinging/hinged & pivot doors sidelite reveal wouldn’t appear correctly in some areas.
• Fixed the error where the ‘Open Direction’ field was appearing for the ‘Double Sliding/Gliding’ door.

Scene Tool

• Turned off the ’24G_FIX_OUT_B’ layer for the ‘All’ scene.

Sync Tool

• Update the help note to explain what to do if the sync takes too long.

Released: April 30, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Wall Tool

• Fixed the error where the Garage Doors field in the Layering section wasn’t filled out.

Window Tool

• Fixed the error where editing an old window (drawn before v18.0) would cause the window to move to a different position along the wall and change it’s size.

Door Tool

• Fixed a spelling mistake in the ‘Handle Type’ field.

Released: April 26, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Wall Tool

• Added a new wall type called ‘Wainscot (Split)’ with the ability to change the height of the split.
• Added materials to the top & sides of walls (certain areas only).
• Moved the ‘Solid Wall Thickness’ field to be below the ‘Wall Type’ field.
• Added options to the right-click menu to add and delete beams to/from a wall. These options are called ‘Add Beam Object To Wall’ and ‘Delete All Beam Objects From Wall’.
• Updated the ‘Layering’ section in the dialog with the following:
  • Added a new field called ‘Garage Doors’
  • Changed the names of the other window & door fields to be ‘Windows & External Doors’ and ‘Internal Doors’.
• Added opening buffers to the framing to represent more accurately how it’ll be constructed.
• Added opening buffers to walls with framing to accommodate the new window & door sizes when a reveal/jamb is required.

Window Tool

• A new & improved dialog (similar to Door Tool) with all the options in one dialog (no more second dialog when editing windows).
• Added the option to include and window sills with the ability to change the parameters of the sill (Note: sills aren’t available for the ‘Round Window’ option). Sills will estimate as lineal length of sills in the Takeoff.
• Added the ability to select standard window sizes (metric & imperial) with the ability to redrawn them from either the left, right or center of the window. These are found under the ‘Standard Sizes’ tab.
• Window sizes are now the size of the window and not the outside of the reveal.
• The reveal will now not appear for wall types where they aren’t required (e.g. Double Masonry).
• Added option to select the opening direction of windows.
• Added ‘Arch’, ‘Round’, ‘Raked’, ‘Gable’ and ‘Tilt & Turn’ windows. These will now go straight into the wall and have the ability to control the arch, rake & gable heights, rake direction and swing direction.
• Added the ability to also place windows from a center point. Use the ‘Ctrl’ key to toggle which options to use.
• Updated the Interact Tool hover text to explain what will happen when you click on the different parts of the window.
• Added the ability to change the window highlites/lowlites position in the dialog (i.e. lowlite -> highlite & vice versa). Previously this was done via the Interact Tool.
• Brands will now only appear if they’re available for the country selected int he Settings Tool.
• Added the ability to add the window size & number to the model. This text can be used in elevations, floor plans or both. The fields to control this have been added to the dialog under the new ‘Text & Annotations’ section.
• [Mac] Fixed the issue where Mac users couldn’t change the position to draw the windows from (e.g. pitching point of internal/external side of wall). They will need to still press Submit before pressing the right arrow key.

Door Tool

• A new & improved dialog (similar to Window Tool) with all options in one dialog (no more second dialog when editing doors).
• Door sizes are now the size of the door and not the outside of the reveal/jamb.
• The reveal/jambs will now not appear for wall types where they aren’t required (e.g. Double Masonry).
• Added option to select the opening direction of doors. This is for all doors except for swinging doors. To change the direction of swinging doors, still click the door swing plan.
• Added the ability to also place doors from a center point. Use the ‘Ctrl’ key to toggle which options to use.
• Updated the Interact Tool hover text to explain what will happen when you click on the different parts of the door.
• Brands will now only appear if they’re available for the country selected int he Settings Tool.
• Added the ability to include door number & size text to elevations, floor plans or both. Fields for this have been added to the dialog under the new ‘Text & Annotations’ section.
• Added door & garage door materials to the dialog with the ability to create your own.
• The door handle brand for swinging doors has been removed.
• Added a new option to selecting handle types (entry, passage, privacy & dummy) & styles (knob & pull handles) for swinging doors.
• Added a new option for selecting deadlocks for most external doors.
• [Mac] Fixed the issue where Mac users couldn’t change the position to draw the doors from (e.g. pitching point of internal/external side of wall). They will need to still press Submit before pressing the right arrow key.

Takeoff Tool

• Added the ability for the ‘Export Excel’ & ‘Export CSV’ options to split the size values & units into different columns. Units are now in the column called ‘Units’.
• Updated the ‘Export CSV’ option export file with the following:
  • Layers will appear in line with each item (previously layers appeared as sub headings for groups of items).
  • Added a new column called ‘UOM’ (Unit Of Measure) which displays either each, lineal, area or volume.
  • The Austral Bricks materials will now export either the area or number of bricks depending on what shown at the time of the export. This is changed by clicking on yellow columns.
• Links in the ‘Notes’ field will now appear as hyperlinks that will open in a new tab when clicked on. These are from the ‘URL’ field in the BIM & Tag Tools.

Pricing Tool

• Added two new buttons at the top of the dialog called ‘Import Pricing CSV’ & ‘Export Pricing CSV’.  This allows the ability to import/export a CSV spreadsheet of either all created materials at the time of the export or all materials used in the model (depending on what option is selected) for pricing. Prices will always be remembered.

Public User Material Library

• Added a ‘Country’ filter option to the search bar. This will remember the last country that was searched.
  • Note: This feature is only accurate from when the ‘Country’ field was added to the Create Material pages. For any material created before then please use the ‘Unknown’ option.

Scene Tool

• Added ‘Basement FP’ (floor plan), ‘SECT C’ & ‘SECT D’ scenes.
• Updated documentation scenes (e.g. floor plans, elevations, etc) to bring the model view into focus when the scenes are created.
• Updated animation scenes so that they use the scene transitions time set in the model (i.e. the time between scenes).
• Turned on solid walls in the structure scenes.
• Turned off the ‘Floor Plan’ layer for the elevations, sections & roof plan scenes.
• Turned off the ‘Elevation’ layer for the sections scenes.
• Added section scenes to the ‘Designing’ set.

Skillion/Shed Roof Tool

• Fixed the issue where you couldn’t enter a ‘0’ overhang in the dialog.

Edit Roof Pitch/Gable Tool

• Changed the top edges of the gable faces to been hidden.

Settings Tool

• Added a new option to select whether to use actual or nominal for all timber/lumber fields. This is only for the USA library and won’t filter the LVL options.

BIM Tool

• Added a new field called ‘URL’ (this will be a link in the Takeoff).
• Added options to the right-click menu to add, view & edit BIM info. This option is called ‘+ MAKE BIM COMPONENT/SHOW INFO’.

Tag Tool

• Added the following new fields:
  • Assigned From
  • Contacted Email
  • URL (this will be a link in the Takeoff)

Component Tool

• Removed the ‘Arch’, ‘Round’ and ‘Raked’ windows from the Special Windows category.

PDF Tool

• Moved the existing note to be positioned below the previous/next page buttons.
• Added a note in the dialog for any users having issues importing a PDF that says to either save or export the PDF again and re-import it.

Splashscreen/Welcome

• Changed ‘Remove License’ to ‘Change/Remove License’ in the License Info section.

Other/General

• New and improved sign in pages.
• Components will now filter according to the country selected in the Settings Tool.  This is so that you only see brands that are available for your selected country.
• Updated the Create Materials page(s) with the following:
  • Added a new ‘Country’ option which will filter the materials shown in the Public User Material Library. This will remember the last country selected.
  • Fixed the issue where materials were remembering the colours of the original material (template material in dialog).
• Added the option to either share or not share created materials with the Public User Material Library. This has been defaulted to always be ticked).

Materials

• Added actual and nominal timber/lumber sizes (USA library). LVL & GluLam materials are actual sizes and will be available for both actual & nominal options.
• Added more LVL sizes (USA library).
• Added brick sill materials (all libraries).
• Added garage door materials (USA & UK libraries).
• Fixed the missing texture issue with the composite decking materials (all libraries).

Released: March 8, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Other/General

• Fixed the issue where you sometimes couldn’t add windows & doors to walls when there was a certain timber frame material applied.

Released: February 13, 2018

This update includes the following improvements:

Other/General

• Fixed the issue where wall lines weren’t appearing inside of Layout (mainly for Layout 18).

Released: December 13, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

Other/General

• Added an option to install to SketchUp 2018 in the EXE installation file.

Released: October 23, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

NEW Tools

• Share Library Tool – Share you material library with your friends and colleagues or connect a company to one library for easier material management.
• Public User Material Library – Browse through a vast range of user created materials and add them to your own library.

Other/General

• Removed the ‘Prices’ buttons from material fields.

Materials

• Added Inex Boards products for cladding and wall finishes (AUS library).

Released: October 9, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

NEW Tools

• Import PDF Tool – Easily import and position PDF documents into your SketchUp model.

Ceiling Tool

• Added thickness field when creating ceiling materials.

Released: September 26, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Fixed an issue on Mac with the I-Joist option in the Joist Tools.

Component Tool

• Fixed an issue with the ‘Drop to Wall’ button appearing in the wrong location.

Released: September 18, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

Skillion/Shed Roof Tool

• Skillion Roof Tool now opens when you remove a face from a hip roof using the ‘Remove Face’ options.

Component Tool

• Added scaffolding component to the Site category.

Other/General

• Fixed an issue with the material library status button in the welcome splash screen.

Materials

• Fixed an issue with ceiling plasterboard estimate (all libraries).
• Added rammed earth materials to Solid Wall (all libraries)

Released: September 4, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

Beam Tool

• Added rotate beam feature (use ‘HOME’ key) so beams profile can be drawn either vertically or horizontally.

Door Tool

• Updated cavity sliding/pocket doors.
  • Fixed an issue with the wall pocket estimation.
  • Added a privacy lock option.

Other/General

• Updated material field buttons, which include:
  • ‘Create Material’ & ‘Manage’ buttons merged together and renamed to ‘Create/Manage’. To manage materials, click on the ‘Manage My Materials’ link on the Create Material page.
  • ‘Paint Material’ button moved below the material drop-down menu and updated to a round paint bucket icon.
  • ‘Search Material’ button moved below the materials field and now aligned with the other material buttons.
  • ‘Find Material’ button removed.
• Added ‘Suggest/Request’ button and form for material and component fields.
• Added explanatory message boxes when hovering over the above buttons.
• Added user email address to ‘License Info’ section of the welcome splash screen (Windows only).
• Fixed up dialog field names & terminologies.

Materials

• Added generic masonry/EPS/stucco with render or to be painted materials (all libraries).
• Added Austral Metallix & San Selmo products (AUS library).
• Fixed an issue with the composite decking materials (AUS library).

This update includes the following improvements:

Window & Door Tools

• Fixed an issue with the Edit Window or Door dialogs not appearing.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Fixed an issue with the layer of the joist materials.

Skillion/Shed & Hip Roof Tools

• Update dialog field names.

Released: July 5, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

Takeoff Tool

• Fixed an issue with trying to do a takeoff when the fields in the ‘Job Categories’ section of the Job Tool were filled out.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Fixed an issue with generating joists (mainly when adding a void).
• Added ‘Girder’ where ‘Bearers’ appears.

Scene Tool

• Updated which scenes the ‘Stair Space’ layer is turned on/off in.
• Fixed an issue with the animation scenes not animating.

Pricing Tool

• Added yards option to units.
• Duplicate items (components) for the Handrail Tool (wires & tensioners) now only need to have price assigned once.

Released: June 29, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

NEW Tools

• Beam Tool – Create ‘C’ Section, RHS, ‘Z’ Section, Universal Beam, Solid Timber/Lumber, LVL & Timber/Lumber Plates.
• Handrail Tool – Create timber or metal handrails with wire or glass options.
• Dutch Gable/Multi Pitch Tool – Create dutch gables and multiple pitched for hip roofs.
• Dormer Tool – Create dormer roofs in three clicks for hip roofs.

Hip Roof Tool

• Added ‘Include Sheathing’ options.
• Added the option to create 2D roof plans when you right-click on the roof.
• Added ‘Remove all pitch settings’ option in right-click menu to remove all edits made to the roof with the Edit Roof Pitch/Gable & Dutch Gable/Multi-Pitch Tools.
• Fixed an issue with metal capping length for estimate and assigning prices. Can now assign price via lineal length (not every individual capping).
• Fixed an issue with the length of valleys in dormer and raised entry/roofs.
• Fixed an issue with creating L-shape roofs.
• Changes ‘Slate’ to ‘Slate/Shingles’.

Edit Roof Pitch/Gable Tool

• New & improved drawing method which allows more edits to be made to hip roofs.
• Added Gable & Dutch Gable infill sections. Material/colour to be chosen in the Hip Roof Tool dialog.

Skillion/Shed Roof Tool

• Updated and improved the drawing method so that you don’t have to pick points on a flat plane anymore.
• Added ‘Include Sheathing’ options.
• Added the option to create 2D roof plans when you right-click on the roof.
• Fixed an issue with the skillion roof overhang and position.
• Changes ‘Slate’ to ‘Slate/Shingles’.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools

• Added steel ‘C’ Section, ‘Z’ Section, Rectangular Hollow Sections, Square Hollow Sections and Universal Beams. This has replaced the old ‘Steel’ option.
• Added timber/lumber I-joist and floor trusses.
• Updated the drawing method so that joists can be created on an angle.
• Changed ‘Ceiling Joist Tool’ name to ‘Ceiling Joist/Rafter/Purlin Tool’.
• Fixed a layering issue with the Ceiling Joist Tool (put top layer on ‘CEILING_JOIST_GROUP’ by default).
• Added ‘Group Layer’ fields so the joist top layer can be specified/changed.

Wall Tool

• Added foundation walls (top plate & footing for specific walls).
• Red studs in wall framing to show load bearing points around windows and doors.
• Added ‘Structural Wall?’ option which will assign the wall whether it’s structural or non structural. The wall will behave differently depending on what’s selected.
• Added ‘Nogging/Blocking Spacing’ field which will set the number of noggings/blockings in the wall.
• Added ‘Align Header’ field to align all headers in the wall to either the inside or outside of the frame and also choose .
• Added ability to have double headers above windows and doors.
• Added Wall Tool help GL preview text to show the widths for the different sections of the wall.
• Added opening buffers for windows & doors to more accurately represent how it’ll be constructed.
• Changed ‘External Cladding with Plasterboard Interior’ wall type to ‘Lightweight Framed with Cladding’.

Window & Door Tools

• Added Single Hung Window.
• Window & door elevation swing plan directions can now be chosen in the Settings Tool. This will need to be selected before the windows & doors are created.
• Window & door size order in the Takeoff can now be chosen in the Settings Tool. This will need to be selected before the windows & doors are created.
• Added window and door opening buffers (height & width) for framing.
• Added architrave length to window & door architrave estimation.
• Fixed the architrave estimate output which will now appear on the ’21_EAVES’ layer.
• Added the ability to assign a shortcut to add a window or door. Note: The wall must be selected to do this.
• Added the ability for garage doors to switch side of wall using the Interact Tool.
• Fixed an issue with the Sliding Middle Door dialog not appearing.
• Fixed an issue with the AWS Casement Window materials not applying.

Slab Tool

• Added the ability to enable/disable slab recess for each side using the ‘Ctrl’ key.
• Fixed an issue with the underslab materials not estimating.

Scene Tool

• Added to a PlusSpec dialog with help images.
• Added the Solar North Tools to the dialog (from the Job Tool).
• Added ‘Working Drawing Style’ field to set colour/quality.
• Removed zoom extents from scenes to improve the export to Layout.
• Changed the name of all floor plan type scenes. These will now read, Floor Plan 1, Floor Plan 2, etc.
• Added ‘Structure w/Sheathing’ scene.
• Updated ‘Structure’ scene.
• Removed RCP scenes. These can still be created manually from the Floor Plan scenes then manually drawing/adding the ceiling geometry.
• Section planes turned on for section scenes.
• Added vertical & horizontal animation (with section cut/plane) scenes.
• Turn on ‘Brickwork’ & ‘Blockwork’ layers for all structure scenes.
• Changes ‘Spaces’ scene to ‘Room/Area’.
• Updated ’17_WALL_BRACING’ layer (Lightweight Multi-Skin Wall) to work with scenes.
• Turned on ‘ROOM_QUANTITIES_GROUP’ & ‘Plan’ layers for floor plan scenes to show room labels for the Room Quantities Tool.
• Added ‘External Walls’ layer.

Section Hatching Tool

• Sections can now go through groups/components.
• Remove mitre where walls meet. The ‘Hidden on Plan’ layer will need to be turned on (when creating and moving a section) and off (before exporting to Layout) as needed.
• Added the ability to apply section hatchings to the Footing Tool which will work and look the same as slabs.
• Added the ability to apply section hatchings for CLT walls via the new ‘Solid (CLT)’ field.
• Changed Solid field name to read ‘Solid (Concrete)’.

Room Quantities Tool (old IFC Spaces Tool)

• Changed tool icon, name, description and field names.
• Added estimable materials for each room/area to quantify the area & volume of it.
• Added ‘Category’ field to choose the type of the room/area.
• Added option to create quantities from a face in right-click menu (‘+ ROOM QUANTITIES > Create Room Quantities’).
• The text in the shape is now position more in the center.
• Added area text (m2/ft2) to appear under room/area name.
• Changed the top layer to ‘ROOM_QUANTITIES_GROUP’.
• Dialog will now stay open till closed or another tool is selected/used.
• The ‘Description/Type’ field has been removed.

Component Tools

• Added ability to continuously drop components to selected wall.
• Remove multiple components dropped to wall (Remove Component Tool).
• Move multiple components dropped to wall (Move Component Tool).
• Added weight to hollow section columns & beams.
• Fixed layering issue with Water Tank component.

Truss Tool

• Fixed an issue with the Truss Tool girder trusses bottom chord.
• Now purges/deletes redundant components in the model when creating or editing trusses to improve speed and file size.

Settings Tool

• Added Norwegian Krone currency symbol to the Settings Tool.
• Added window & door opening elevation symbol direction.

Takeoff Tool

• Fixed issue when clicking on Takeoff Tool when the Job Tool isn’t filled out. This uses placeholder text allowing users to still estimate. Text reads ‘Change in Job Tool’.
• The totals text is now bold.

Pricing Tool

• Duplicate items for the Handrail Tool (posts & clamps) now only need to have price assigned once.

Job Tool

• Removed Solar North Tools (they’ve been moved to the Scene Tool).
• Moved ‘Test’ to bottom of the ‘Stage’ field. To change what option appears by default, select the option you want and save as a new template.

Sync Tool

• Added help/info text to the dialog/window. Text says to users to use the tool again if it didn’t work/complete.

Other/General

• Added dialog help images to explain what each field does. Hover over the orange rectangles at the start of fields to see an explanation.
• The submit button has been moved to the bottom of the dialog and the Cancel button has been removed (use the ‘X’/close button at the top of the dialogs).
• Added links in the dialog to go to tool related posts on the Forum. Click the white ‘Forum’ icons to find out more.
• Updated default options for each country.
• Updated terminologies (mainly for US users).
  • Added ‘Lumber’ where ‘Timber’ appears.
  • Added ‘Blocking’ where ‘Noggings’ appears.
  • Added ‘Jerkinhead’ where ‘Reverse Dutch Gable’ appears.
  • Added ‘Pitch’ where ‘Ratio’ appears.
  • Added ‘Ledge’ where ‘Recess’ appears.
  • Added ‘Casing’ where ‘Architrave’ appears.
  • Added ‘Pocket Door’ where ‘Cavity Sliding Door’ appears.
  • Added ‘Moulding’ where ‘Cornice’ appears.
  • Added ‘Base Moulding’ where ‘Skirting’ appears.
  • Added ‘Sheathing’ where ‘Batten Thickness’ appears in roof tools.
  • Added ‘Underlay’ where ‘Sarking’ appears in roof tools.
  • Added ‘Multi-Slide’ when ‘Stacker’ appears for windows & doors.
  • Added ‘Gliding’ when ‘Sliding’ appears for windows & doors.
  • Added ‘Picture’ when ‘Fixed’ appears for windows.
  • Added ‘Folding’ when ‘Bifold’ appears for windows.
  • Added ‘Folding Patio’ when ‘External Bifold’ appears for doors.
  • Added ‘Folding’ when ‘Internal Bifold’ appears for doors.
  • Added ‘Hinged Patio’ when ‘External Swinging’ appears for doors.
  • Added ‘Hinged’ when ‘Internal Swinging’ appears for doors.
• Added designer name to Job Tool by default (license name), This can be changed and saved which will also appear in the Takeoff. Note: You will need to submit the change and update your template again.
• Plasterboard has been turned off by default (only before scenes are generated) so walls can be lined up.
• Updated the welcome splashscreen interface.
• Add sign out feature.
• Changed Rubysketch.com to read BIMBits.com for the Get Models (3D Library) Tool.
• Changed ceiling joist right-click menu text to read ‘CEILING JOIST/RAFTER/PURLIN’.
• Changed text after right-clicking on walls and selecting ‘+Generate’ to read ‘Face at top of Walls’ & ‘Face at base of Walls’.
• Updated dialog links to video tutorials.
• Added options to select what to do when resetting factory default (Extensions > PlusSpec > Reset Factory Default).

Materials
Note: Please reset your ‘Texture Files’ (go to Reset Factory Default) then use the Sync Tool to get these changes.

• Added Stramit products to the software (Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools and Beam Tool).
• Fixed an issue with the Austral Bricks Common 90mm Rendered material size (AUS library).
• Fixed the direction of decking materials (AUS library).
• Fixed an issue with the composite decking materials (AUS library).
• Fixed an issue with the bracing materials takeoff for the Lightweight Multi-Skin Wall.
• Added & updated Weathertex materials (AUS library).
• Added sheathing materials (Plywood & OSB). This is mainly for USA construction methods.
• Fixed OSB & ply roof sheathing materials sizes.
• Fixed horizontal ply wall bracing textures.
• Added OSB & ply bracing to ‘Multi-Skin Wall’ in the cavity insulation material field.
• Added Buechel Stone textures (USA library).
• Temporarily removed Austral Bricks Indulgence range (AUS library).
• Added 4×4 Lumber Structural (USA library).
• Added ashphalt roof shingles.

Released: February 8, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

• Fixed an issue with adding windows and doors to Dincel walls.
• Fixed an issue with editing Dincel walls.

Released: January 24, 2017

This update includes the following improvements:

• Fixed an issue with navigating the splashscreen for Mac.

Released: November 18, 2016

This update includes the following improvements:

• Fixed an issue with syncing material libraries in the Settings Tool.

Released: November 11, 2016

This is an update for SketchUp 17 and includes the following improvements:

• Fixed an issue with the cornice in the Ceiling Tool.
• Fixed an issue with the MEP Tool.
• Fixed an issue with the Drop to Wall function.
• Fixed an issue with the splashscreen buttons.
• General improvements and optimization.

Released: October 27, 2016

This update includes the following improvements:

• Fixed a thickness issue in the Joist & Ceiling Joist Tools.
• Fixed Takeoff header naming errors.
• Fixed a custom material thickness error and wall preview error for the Lightweight Multi-Skin Wall.
• Fixed a Takeoff Export Excel issue with a forward slash (‘/’) in the layer name.

Released: October 17, 2016

This update includes the following improvements:

• Fixed Skillion/Shed Roof fascia height error.
• Added missing fascia material to Reverse Dutch Gable option.
• Fixed Wall Surface Tool draw error.
• Bomb Tool moved into the Component Tools.

Released: October 10, 2016

This update includes the following improvements:

• Updated splashscreen.
• A new internal bifold door option (single & double) has been added.
• Skirting enable/disable issue has been fixed.
• Slab drawing issue has been fixed. Previously, if you tried to generate a slab from an edge/line made up of multiple segments, the slab would not have been formed correctly. This is no longer a problem.

Released: September 16, 2016

Click HERE to see the FULL Release Notes

New Paint Tool for better communication:

• Introducing the most powerful and easy-to-use Paint Tool EVER!

Full range of Taubmans Paints for the Australian Material Library:

• With over 5040 colours to select from. This gives you the ability to apply paints/colours to just about anything inside of PlusSpec!

Hip Roof Tool:

• Now includes fascia options.
• Now includes gutter options.
• Boxed & raked eave options.
• Plumb & angled fascia options.
• Eave/soffit material can now be chosen.
• Timber/lumber fascia option.
• Fascia/barge materials for gables can now be chosen and enabled/disabled.
• Reverse dutch gable option added to the ‘Edit Roof Pitch’ Tool.

Skillion/Shed Roof Tool:

• Improved draw method: now each side of the roof will explain if the fascia will be plumb or angled; if the fascia material will be removed; and if the overhang will be enabled/disabled.
• Now includes fascia option.
• Now includes gutter option.
• Boxed & raked eave options.
• Plumb & angled fascia options.
• Eave/soffit material can now be chosen.
• Timber/lumber fascia option.
• Raked or flat ceiling option for insulation.

Wall Tool:

• When you draw a wall, you will now see a bold, black line. This line indicates which wall alignment has been nominated to draw from.
• Help text will now appear as you draw walls. This will enable you to better understand which side of your wall is the external material, and which side of your wall is the internal material.
• Raked ceiling option for internal lining (eg. plasterboard) has been added.
• External wall reveals around windows and doors now have the wall material applied. Previously these reveals were shown white.

Section Hatching Tool:

• Stucco hatching option added
• Existing and Demolition hatching options added

Slab Tool:

• Slabs can now be drawn without a footing.
• Construction details have been updated to make more sense.
• Slabs and footings are now one object.

Ceiling Tool:

• The ceilings now have a thickness.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools:

• The joist direction will now determine the direction of the flooring.

Rafter Tool:

• The ridge sizing error has been fixed.

Settings Tool:

• More Takeoff units have been added: Materials & components can be imperial or metric in takeoff (mm, cm, m, in, ft, yd).

General Improvements:

• The Search Materials feature has been improved to make it quicker and easier to use.
• The ‘Create Similar’ option has been added to more tools.
• PlusSpec right-click menu items are now in capitals to make them easier to find/see.
• An Arch window has been added to the Component Tool.
• Updated splash screen and links to tutorials.
• The ‘None’ option has been removed from some material fields.
• General Performance improvements and upgrades.

Released: June 10, 2016

What’s new in PlusSpec 2016+?:

NEW Tools

• Section Tool – You can now assign a hatch, colour or texture to each PlusSpec material – and when you change/move your sections, they will update live! And the best part? It’s super easy to use! (Please note that the Section Tool will only work for walls/slabs, etc that have been drawn using PlusSpec 2016+).
• Capping & Flashing Tool – The new capping and flashing tool allows you to quickly and easily add any combination of flashings, cappings and gutters to your model.
• Ceiling Joist Tool – You can now generate Ceiling Joists from the Roof tool. Draw Ceiling Joists in exactly the same way as Floor Joists.
• Dincel Wall Tool – Australian users will be happy to hear that you can now model your projects using the Dincel construction system!

Updates

• Lightweight Multi-Skin wall added to the Wall Tool which is a common wall construction for USA, Europe and Asia
• Masonry products have been joined together for more wall customisation like block and brick walls and more
• Full Austral Bricks product ranges have been added
• Search Material function for material fields
• Material geolocation according to your area/region (currently only available for AUS library)
• Three point drawing methodology for the Joist Tool (same as the Truss Tool)
• Skillion & Dutch Gable truss options added to the Truss Tool
• Ability to change the takeoff units have been added to Settings
• Round timber post option added to the Post Tool
• Search Layer option in BIM Tool
• Documentation scenes have been set to color by default as well as other updates to the scenes
• Updated tutorials
• General performance improvements

Released: March 02, 2016

What is new in PlusSpec 2016?:

Do you prefer to watch videos, than reading? If so, you may like to take a look at our What’s New in PlusSpec 2016 Overview video, instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYaYn3lnsfk

Or, take a look at our In depth 2016 update Tutorial video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIdOL_5zyWU

This update includes the following new features and improvements:

NEW Tools

• North Tools – The new North tools allow users to geolocate their site, and then set Project North, which will adjust the site and North Point accordingly. Sun and Shadow Diagrams will be set at Project North, but accurately capture the sun to real world conditions. Users will now also be able to automatically generate Sun & Shadow Analysis plans, with the addition of a new scene set.
• Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Tool – The new MEP tool allows you add more information to your model to aid early error detection and clashes. Currently, you can select from hot and cold water, grey water, gas, recycled water, steel pipe, fire pipes, exhaust & air conditioning ducting and electrical conduit.
• Roof Truss Tool – The new Truss tool allows you to create trussed roof framing.

Updates

• Fractional measurements (e.g 9′ 1 1/8″) & ratio pitches/angles (e.g 1:4) are now supported in dialogues.
• Walls have been given a thickness for plasterboard/moulding, and better visualisation for 2D & 3D scenes.
• Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP) scenes have been added to the Scene Tool.
• Cornice options have been added to the Ceiling Tool.
• Advanced voids/cutouts for slabs, joists, flooring & wall surfaces.
• Advanced slab recess & penetrations.
• Merged Roof Tools: There is now a Skillion Roof Tool & a Hip Roof Tool.
• Fascia, gutter profiles, valley, ceiling insulation & sarking options have been added to the Hip Roof Tool.
• Stramit roofing products have been added to the Roof Tools (for our Australian users).
• Timber LVL headers have been added as an option for windows & doors.
• Materials have been updated & added. Make sure you sync your library!
• Door materials have been moved to the Door Tool dialogue.
• Inside the Job Tool you can now add your company logo & enter site classifications, which will also be displayed in takeoffs.
• Inside the Settings Tool, you can now select which Material Library (Country) to use, select the currency symbol that best suits your region, as well as the ability to choose the units (metric or imperial) to write/display in all PlusSpec dialogues.
• You can now export your takeoff/estimate directly into Excel, in XML format.
• The Machine ID mismatch error has been fixed.
• The Tag Tool has an updated dialogue, and also a reply field.
• The Stair Tool now has winder stairs & an updated dialogue, which allows you to create & apply materials.
• The component option fields have been moved to new dialogue.
• Intuitive dimension strings now guide the insertion of windows and doors. These dimensions can be toggled so that doors and windows can be inserted or offset by exact distances, and from different points (exterior wall, interior wall, frame, etc).
• A French door type has been added.
• All doors and windows can now be opened inward/outward (previously, windows could only open outward).
• The Layer field in the BIM Tool is now in alphabetical order.
• More tutorials have been made for our new and existing tools.

Released: November 04, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.5?:

This update includes the following:

• Multi-Skin Wall, which allows plasterboard thickness & has the option for cavity insulation
• Solid Wall, which includes concrete walls
• Skirting in the Flooring Tool
• Block & Beam option in the Joist Tool
• Tag Tool, which gives you the ability to point out areas in your project for easier collaboration & communication
• More image types able to be used when creating materials
• Ability to switch between material libraries (AUS, US & UK – with more coming soon)
• Water Tank, Corner Brick Sill & Round Window components added to the Component Tool
• Updates to Take Off / Estimation Tool
• Updates for scenes including the new Presentation scene
• Updates to tool dialogues
• Bug fixes

Released: May 29, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.4?:

This update includes the following:

• Fix machine mismatch error when changing internet connections
• Bi-fold windows & doors can now open both inwards & outwards
• Updates for lintels in windows & doors
• Kitchen & Laundry Corner Benches added to Component Tool
• Updates for scenes and layers
• Updates for the Post Tool
• Bug fixes

Released: May 25, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.3?:

This update includes the following:

• Component previews added to the Window, Door & Stair Tools
• LVL materials added to Rafter Tool
• Spreader options added to downpipe component
• Demolition & Existing options added to Roof Tool
• Bug fixes & improvements

Released: May 18, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.2?:

This update includes the following:

• Bug fixes and General improvements
• Machine ID fixes

Released: May 14, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.1?:

This update includes the following:

• Roof Framing
• Special Windows (Corner & Gable Windows)
• Miscellaneous (Brick Sill & Downpipe)
• Ancillaries (Frame Hardware)
• Water Feature, Toilet Roll Holder, Surface Water Pit, Skip Bins & Hedges
• Improved export for Layout

Released: February 25, 2015

PlusSpec Launch

After years of development, and months of Beta testing, we are proud to announce that we have officially launched the Full version of PlusSpec: PlusSpec 2015.

PlusSpec is a new building design, planning and estimating BIM software, that brings together the power of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), Estimation, 3D Modelling, 2D Planning and Building Information Modelling (BIM) – into one easy-to-use package.

PlusSpec offers architects, designers and builders, total design freedom, and incorporates parametric modelling within the native SketchUp platform, so that any design option can be sketched out and explored quickly and easily in either BIM or free-form 3D.

PlusSpec uses real products from real manufacturers, and allows full quantity/material take-offs and pricingto be automatically calculated and collated in a report – all with a simple click of a button.

At PlusSpec, we share the SketchUp mantra:

‘Great tools are ones you look forward to using…They let you do what you want without having to figure out how. They help with hard or boring tasks so that you can focus on being creative, or productive, or both’

PlusSpec has been designed by Architects and Builders, for Architects and Builders.

The first and only rule of PlusSpec, is that there are no more rules!

Customization: Now you can create and customize your own wall-types/materials and structural framing. Any new wall-types/materials or framing that you create will be saved in your personal library, and available for you to select, at the click of a button. You can also edit your custom materials at any time. With PlusSpec 2015, you have total design freedom. You can design with parametric modelling, which you can customize – or you can use the free-form 3D sketching with the native SketchUp tools.

Shortcuts: In PlusSpec 2015, you can associate shortcuts on your keyboard for all of the PlusSpec tools, to best suit your own personal workflow.

Pricing: PlusSpec 2015 enables you to add prices to every material or component in your model. Literally everything that you draw can have a price associated to it – and PlusSpec will remember it for your next projects. Now when you click your take-off, all of your materials will be quantified AND priced. You can associate labour prices in sqm or lineal meter, and you can even add a margin. If you are an Architect, you can track project costs throughout the design process – and understand cost implications as they happen. If you are a Builder, you can say goodbye to wasting away your hours, tediously preparing quantity take-offs. PlusSpec will give you your life back – and dramatically reduce errors.

This is a Game Changer!!!

We have made many other improvements to PlusSpec 2015, such as:

IFC attribution.

• IFC attribution has become automated! Now you can use your Sketchup models in any IFC compatible software.
• Walls now = IfcWall
• windows = IfcWindow
• Joist and beams =IfcBeam
• Stairs = IfcStair
• Floors=IfcFloor
• Footings =Ifcfooting
• Roof =IfcRoof, etc

IFC Spaces Tool

• Create IFC spaces from your floors, or from floor coverings
• Name your rooms
• Set your ceiling heights
• Demonstrate the room size in 3d
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Footing Tool

• Create strip footings that don’t have to join back up
• Create, find and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Create bearers and joists and change spacing
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Slab Tool

• Create and remove openings after they have been drawn
• Footing only option
• Right-click menu options
• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Demolition option
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Joist Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Floor Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Existing and demolition options
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Wall Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New Split walls icon
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Wall Surface Tool

• Create your own tile-able images and place them over any surface. Or, find pre-made materials, and simply drag and drop these materials straight into your model. You can manage materials and sync them by clicking the Sync button.
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Window Tool

• Window Tool can change glass type, head height, frame type and colour…even window tinting.
• Copy and place windows in the same wall
• Define residential or commercial windows
• Change the material that the windows are made from: Timber; Aluminium; PVC; etc
• Create custom windows to suit standard glass sizes
• Associate heads for brick work or for framing. These sizes can be changed or attributed by your engineer
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Door Tool

• Associate hinges, door stops, screws, architrave sizing (to one side or both sides), & change door styles
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Post Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Change draw location: top bottom centre outside, by pressing the right arrow key on the keyboard
• Existing and demolition options
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Roof Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Remove ‘Hip Cap’ field
• Demolition options
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Roof Tool (face)

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New ink to tutorials and tips & tricks

Roof Editing Tool

• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Ceiling Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Stair Tool

• We now have 12 different stair types and all of these stairs can make thousands of variations.
• We added in a head height reference for stair void openings
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Scene Tool

• Add IFC spaces scene

BIM Tool

• Create new layers
• IFC classification
• Install price
• Buy price
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Purge Tool

• Make your model work more efficiently The purge tool, this will get rid of all of the unnecessary textures and components in just one click.
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Help Tool

• We made help easy to find! Every tool has access to associated tutorials.
• New beginner & advanced tutorials
• New Tips & tricks section

Released: October 10, 2016

This update includes the following improvements:

• Updated splashscreen.
• A new internal bifold door option (single & double) has been added.
• Skirting enable/disable issue has been fixed.
• Slab drawing issue has been fixed. Previously, if you tried to generate a slab from an edge/line made up of multiple segments, the slab would not have been formed correctly. This is no longer a problem.

Download Update

Released: September 16, 2016

Click HERE to see the FULL Release Notes

New Paint Tool for better communication:

• Introducing the most powerful and easy-to-use Paint Tool EVER!

Full range of Taubmans Paints for the Australian Material Library:

• With over 5040 colours to select from. This gives you the ability to apply paints/colours to just about anything inside of PlusSpec!

Hip Roof Tool:

• Now includes fascia options.
• Now includes gutter options.
• Boxed & raked eave options.
• Plumb & angled fascia options.
• Eave/soffit material can now be chosen.
• Timber/lumber fascia option.
• Fascia/barge materials for gables can now be chosen and enabled/disabled.
• Reverse dutch gable option added to the ‘Edit Roof Pitch’ Tool.

Skillion/Shed Roof Tool:

• Improved draw method: now each side of the roof will explain if the fascia will be plumb or angled; if the fascia material will be removed; and if the overhang will be enabled/disabled.
• Now includes fascia option.
• Now includes gutter option.
• Boxed & raked eave options.
• Plumb & angled fascia options.
• Eave/soffit material can now be chosen.
• Timber/lumber fascia option.
• Raked or flat ceiling option for insulation.

Wall Tool:

• When you draw a wall, you will now see a bold, black line. This line indicates which wall alignment has been nominated to draw from.
• Help text will now appear as you draw walls. This will enable you to better understand which side of your wall is the external material, and which side of your wall is the internal material.
• Raked ceiling option for internal lining (eg. plasterboard) has been added.
• External wall reveals around windows and doors now have the wall material applied. Previously these reveals were shown white.

Section Hatching Tool:

• Stucco hatching option added
• Existing and Demolition hatching options added

Slab Tool:

• Slabs can now be drawn without a footing.
• Construction details have been updated to make more sense.
• Slabs and footings are now one object.

Ceiling Tool:

• The ceilings now have a thickness.

Floor & Ceiling Joist Tools:

• The joist direction will now determine the direction of the flooring.

Rafter Tool:

• The ridge sizing error has been fixed.

Settings Tool:

• More Takeoff units have been added: Materials & components can be imperial or metric in takeoff (mm, cm, m, in, ft, yd).

General Improvements:

• The Search Materials feature has been improved to make it quicker and easier to use.
• The ‘Create Similar’ option has been added to more tools.
• PlusSpec right-click menu items are now in capitals to make them easier to find/see.
• An Arch window has been added to the Component Tool.
• Updated splash screen and links to tutorials.
• The ‘None’ option has been removed from some material fields.
• General Performance improvements and upgrades.

Released: June 10, 2016

What’s new in PlusSpec 2016+?:

NEW Tools

• Section Tool – You can now assign a hatch, colour or texture to each PlusSpec material – and when you change/move your sections, they will update live! And the best part? It’s super easy to use! (Please note that the Section Tool will only work for walls/slabs, etc that have been drawn using PlusSpec 2016+).
• Capping & Flashing Tool – The new capping and flashing tool allows you to quickly and easily add any combination of flashings, cappings and gutters to your model.
• Ceiling Joist Tool – You can now generate Ceiling Joists from the Roof tool. Draw Ceiling Joists in exactly the same way as Floor Joists.
• Dincel Wall Tool – Australian users will be happy to hear that you can now model your projects using the Dincel construction system!

Updates

• Lightweight Multi-Skin wall added to the Wall Tool which is a common wall construction for USA, Europe and Asia
• Masonry products have been joined together for more wall customisation like block and brick walls and more
• Full Austral Bricks product ranges have been added
• Search Material function for material fields
• Material geolocation according to your area/region (currently only available for AUS library)
• Three point drawing methodology for the Joist Tool (same as the Truss Tool)
• Skillion & Dutch Gable truss options added to the Truss Tool
• Ability to change the takeoff units have been added to Settings
• Round timber post option added to the Post Tool
• Search Layer option in BIM Tool
• Documentation scenes have been set to color by default as well as other updates to the scenes
• Updated tutorials
• General performance improvements

Released: March 02, 2016

What is new in PlusSpec 2016?:

Do you prefer to watch videos, than reading? If so, you may like to take a look at our What’s New in PlusSpec 2016 Overview video, instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYaYn3lnsfk

Or, take a look at our In depth 2016 update Tutorial video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIdOL_5zyWU

This update includes the following new features and improvements:

NEW Tools

• North Tools – The new North tools allow users to geolocate their site, and then set Project North, which will adjust the site and North Point accordingly. Sun and Shadow Diagrams will be set at Project North, but accurately capture the sun to real world conditions. Users will now also be able to automatically generate Sun & Shadow Analysis plans, with the addition of a new scene set.
• Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Tool – The new MEP tool allows you add more information to your model to aid early error detection and clashes. Currently, you can select from hot and cold water, grey water, gas, recycled water, steel pipe, fire pipes, exhaust & air conditioning ducting and electrical conduit.
• Roof Truss Tool – The new Truss tool allows you to create trussed roof framing.

Updates

• Fractional measurements (e.g 9′ 1 1/8″) & ratio pitches/angles (e.g 1:4) are now supported in dialogues.
• Walls have been given a thickness for plasterboard/moulding, and better visualisation for 2D & 3D scenes.
• Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP) scenes have been added to the Scene Tool.
• Cornice options have been added to the Ceiling Tool.
• Advanced voids/cutouts for slabs, joists, flooring & wall surfaces.
• Advanced slab recess & penetrations.
• Merged Roof Tools: There is now a Skillion Roof Tool & a Hip Roof Tool.
• Fascia, gutter profiles, valley, ceiling insulation & sarking options have been added to the Hip Roof Tool.
• Stramit roofing products have been added to the Roof Tools (for our Australian users).
• Timber LVL headers have been added as an option for windows & doors.
• Materials have been updated & added. Make sure you sync your library!
• Door materials have been moved to the Door Tool dialogue.
• Inside the Job Tool you can now add your company logo & enter site classifications, which will also be displayed in takeoffs.
• Inside the Settings Tool, you can now select which Material Library (Country) to use, select the currency symbol that best suits your region, as well as the ability to choose the units (metric or imperial) to write/display in all PlusSpec dialogues.
• You can now export your takeoff/estimate directly into Excel, in XML format.
• The Machine ID mismatch error has been fixed.
• The Tag Tool has an updated dialogue, and also a reply field.
• The Stair Tool now has winder stairs & an updated dialogue, which allows you to create & apply materials.
• The component option fields have been moved to new dialogue.
• Intuitive dimension strings now guide the insertion of windows and doors. These dimensions can be toggled so that doors and windows can be inserted or offset by exact distances, and from different points (exterior wall, interior wall, frame, etc).
• A French door type has been added.
• All doors and windows can now be opened inward/outward (previously, windows could only open outward).
• The Layer field in the BIM Tool is now in alphabetical order.
• More tutorials have been made for our new and existing tools.

Released: November 04, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.5?:

This update includes the following:

• Multi-Skin Wall, which allows plasterboard thickness & has the option for cavity insulation
• Solid Wall, which includes concrete walls
• Skirting in the Flooring Tool
• Block & Beam option in the Joist Tool
• Tag Tool, which gives you the ability to point out areas in your project for easier collaboration & communication
• More image types able to be used when creating materials
• Ability to switch between material libraries (AUS, US & UK – with more coming soon)
• Water Tank, Corner Brick Sill & Round Window components added to the Component Tool
• Updates to Take Off / Estimation Tool
• Updates for scenes including the new Presentation scene
• Updates to tool dialogues
• Bug fixes

Released: May 29, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.4?:

This update includes the following:

• Fix machine mismatch error when changing internet connections
• Bi-fold windows & doors can now open both inwards & outwards
• Updates for lintels in windows & doors
• Kitchen & Laundry Corner Benches added to Component Tool
• Updates for scenes and layers
• Updates for the Post Tool
• Bug fixes

Released: May 25, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.3?:

This update includes the following:

• Component previews added to the Window, Door & Stair Tools
• LVL materials added to Rafter Tool
• Spreader options added to downpipe component
• Demolition & Existing options added to Roof Tool
• Bug fixes & improvements

Released: May 18, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.2?:

This update includes the following:

• Bug fixes and General improvements
• Machine ID fixes

Released: May 14, 2015

What’s new in 2015 – 1.3.1?:

This update includes the following:

• Roof Framing
• Special Windows (Corner & Gable Windows)
• Miscellaneous (Brick Sill & Downpipe)
• Ancillaries (Frame Hardware)
• Water Feature, Toilet Roll Holder, Surface Water Pit, Skip Bins & Hedges
• Improved export for Layout

Released: February 25, 2015

PlusSpec Launch

After years of development, and months of Beta testing, we are proud to announce that we have officially launched the Full version of PlusSpec: PlusSpec 2015.

PlusSpec is a new building design, planning and estimating BIM software, that brings together the power of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), Estimation, 3D Modelling, 2D Planning and Building Information Modelling (BIM) – into one easy-to-use package.

PlusSpec offers architects, designers and builders, total design freedom, and incorporates parametric modelling within the native SketchUp platform, so that any design option can be sketched out and explored quickly and easily in either BIM or free-form 3D.

PlusSpec uses real products from real manufacturers, and allows full quantity/material take-offs and pricingto be automatically calculated and collated in a report – all with a simple click of a button.

At PlusSpec, we share the SketchUp mantra:

‘Great tools are ones you look forward to using…They let you do what you want without having to figure out how. They help with hard or boring tasks so that you can focus on being creative, or productive, or both’

PlusSpec has been designed by Architects and Builders, for Architects and Builders.

The first and only rule of PlusSpec, is that there are no more rules!

Customization: Now you can create and customize your own wall-types/materials and structural framing. Any new wall-types/materials or framing that you create will be saved in your personal library, and available for you to select, at the click of a button. You can also edit your custom materials at any time. With PlusSpec 2015, you have total design freedom. You can design with parametric modelling, which you can customize – or you can use the free-form 3D sketching with the native SketchUp tools.

Shortcuts: In PlusSpec 2015, you can associate shortcuts on your keyboard for all of the PlusSpec tools, to best suit your own personal workflow.

Pricing: PlusSpec 2015 enables you to add prices to every material or component in your model. Literally everything that you draw can have a price associated to it – and PlusSpec will remember it for your next projects. Now when you click your take-off, all of your materials will be quantified AND priced. You can associate labour prices in sqm or lineal meter, and you can even add a margin. If you are an Architect, you can track project costs throughout the design process – and understand cost implications as they happen. If you are a Builder, you can say goodbye to wasting away your hours, tediously preparing quantity take-offs. PlusSpec will give you your life back – and dramatically reduce errors.

This is a Game Changer!!!

We have made many other improvements to PlusSpec 2015, such as:

IFC attribution.

• IFC attribution has become automated! Now you can use your Sketchup models in any IFC compatible software.
• Walls now = IfcWall
• windows = IfcWindow
• Joist and beams =IfcBeam
• Stairs = IfcStair
• Floors=IfcFloor
• Footings =Ifcfooting
• Roof =IfcRoof, etc

IFC Spaces Tool

• Create IFC spaces from your floors, or from floor coverings
• Name your rooms
• Set your ceiling heights
• Demonstrate the room size in 3d
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Footing Tool

• Create strip footings that don’t have to join back up
• Create, find and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Create bearers and joists and change spacing
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Slab Tool

• Create and remove openings after they have been drawn
• Footing only option
• Right-click menu options
• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Demolition option
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Joist Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Floor Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Existing and demolition options
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Wall Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New Split walls icon
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Wall Surface Tool

• Create your own tile-able images and place them over any surface. Or, find pre-made materials, and simply drag and drop these materials straight into your model. You can manage materials and sync them by clicking the Sync button.
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Window Tool

• Window Tool can change glass type, head height, frame type and colour…even window tinting.
• Copy and place windows in the same wall
• Define residential or commercial windows
• Change the material that the windows are made from: Timber; Aluminium; PVC; etc
• Create custom windows to suit standard glass sizes
• Associate heads for brick work or for framing. These sizes can be changed or attributed by your engineer
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Door Tool

• Associate hinges, door stops, screws, architrave sizing (to one side or both sides), & change door styles
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Post Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Change draw location: top bottom centre outside, by pressing the right arrow key on the keyboard
• Existing and demolition options
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Roof Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• Remove ‘Hip Cap’ field
• Demolition options
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Roof Tool (face)

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New ink to tutorials and tips & tricks

Roof Editing Tool

• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Ceiling Tool

• Create, find, and manage materials (drag & drop)
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Stair Tool

• We now have 12 different stair types and all of these stairs can make thousands of variations.
• We added in a head height reference for stair void openings
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Scene Tool

• Add IFC spaces scene

BIM Tool

• Create new layers
• IFC classification
• Install price
• Buy price
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Purge Tool

• Make your model work more efficiently The purge tool, this will get rid of all of the unnecessary textures and components in just one click.
• New link to tutorials and tips & tricks

Help Tool

• We made help easy to find! Every tool has access to associated tutorials.
• New beginner & advanced tutorials
• New Tips & tricks section