ICF Layout Designer — Wall Openings

🚪 Openings - Complete Guide

Purpose: Add doors and windows to your walls. The system optimizes opening dimensions in BOTH directions - aligning with horizontal block courses (height) AND vertical module lines (width and position) for easier construction and minimal cutting.

Step 1: Add an Opening

• Click "Add Door" or "Add Window" in the left panel
• Two types available: Door or Window
• Each wall can have multiple openings

📖 Deep Dive: Understanding Doors vs Windows in ICF

• Width: Opening width (horizontal)
• Head Height: Height from floor to TOP of opening
• Sill Height (Windows only): Height from floor to BOTTOM of window

Understanding Two-Way Optimization

The system optimizes openings in BOTH directions:

Vertical (Height) Optimization:

• Course Snapping: All heights snap to the closest full course, plus or minus a half block (228mm)
• Rebate Consideration: If the first course starts with a rebate, heights are calculated from the rebate level. Standard blocks account for the 12mm interlock knobs on the bottom
• Head Height: Snaps to nearest course line at or above your input
• Sill Height: Snaps to nearest course line at or below your input
• Result: No horizontal cutting of blocks needed

Horizontal (Width & Position) Optimization:

• Width: Adjusted to align with vertical module lines (203.2mm increments)
• Position: Placed to align with vertical module lines along the wall
• Result: No vertical cutting of blocks needed

Non-Modular Adjustment Points (Bastard Cuts)

If you used non-modular adjustments in the Manual Adjustment stage:

• What are they? Non-modular cuts (sometimes called "bastard cuts") occur where walls were adjusted by non-standard amounts
• Vertical module lines may NOT be at standard 203.2mm intervals at these points
• Automatic width adaptation: When an opening spans a non-modular adjustment point, the system automatically adapts the opening width to maintain module alignment on both edges
• Edge alignment preserved: Both left and right edges of the opening stay aligned to vertical module lines for clean block installation
• Non-modular cuts are primarily placed in the middle of openings where they're less visible

Step 2: Position the Opening

• The opening appears on the wall plan (right side)
• Drag it left/right to position it along the wall
• The position shows in millimeters from the wall start
• Snap to grid: Openings snap to help with alignment

Step 3: Edit or Delete

• Edit: Click the opening in the list to modify dimensions
• Delete: Click the delete button (🗑️) next to the opening
• Reposition: Just drag the opening on the plan

Step 4: Move to Next Wall

• Click "Next Wall" when done with current wall
• Or click "Skip Wall" if no openings needed
• Repeat for all walls
• Click "Complete Openings" when all walls are done

Understanding the Visual

• Wall plan (top): Shows wall from above with openings
• Elevation view (bottom): Shows wall from front with opening heights
• Dimension lines: Show opening positions and sizes
• Grid lines: Help with alignment