Specifying the Offset or Depth of a Door or Window in Home Designer

QUESTION

I am designing a plan with thick exterior walls and very deep doors or windows. How can I control where the object is inset within the jamb or frame?

ANSWER

A home that employs thick wall types, such as straw bale, brick, rammed earth, or logs, may have very deep doors and windows. In Home Designer, you can specify the offset or depth for a door or window, whether it is located near the exterior of the wall, near the interior, or at the center. 

To control the offset or depth of a door*

*Applies to Home Designer 2025 and newer versions. 

1. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on a door to select it, then click on the Open Object  button.
   
   
   
2. In the Door Specification dialog that displays: 
   
   
   
   
   • On the General panel, specify your desired Panel Offset value. This value can be negative or positive. 
     
     
   • If you would like to adjust the door jamb as well, access the Jamb panel, uncheck Fit Jamb to Wall, then specify appropriate Depth and Inset values.
     
     

     When this box is checked, the frame Depth automatically extends from the Recessed Into Wall layer to the wall’s inside surface with an Inset of 0”. The Recessed Into Wall layer is specified on the Options Panel of this dialog.

   
   
   
3. When the door is to your liking, click OK.

To control the offset or depth of a window*

*Applies to Home Designer 2026 and newer, as well as Home Designer Pro. 

1. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on a window select it, then click on the Open Object  button.
   
   
   
2. On the Frame panel of the Window Specification dialog:
   
   
   
   
   • On the Frame panel, uncheck the Fit Frame to Wall box, specify an appropriate Depth value, then specify your desired Inset value. This value can be negative or positive.
     
     

     When this box is checked, the frame Depth automatically extends from the Recessed Into Wall layer to the wall’s inside surface with an Inset of 0”. The Recessed Into Wall layer is specified on the Options Panel of this same dialog.

     
     
   • If you would like to adjust the sash separately from the frame, select the Sash panel, then specify your desired Inset value.
     
     

     Note: The Sash panel is not available in the Wall Niche and Window Symbol Specification dialogs, and the settings on this panel are not available for Pass-Throughs.  

   
   
   
3. When the window is to your liking, click OK.