mthd97

Hi @Jake1976, all good. Not real familiar with the how things work in Revit. CA has an interconnected room module system that we have to work with in editing a split level home design. It takes real experience to get a split level model to build correctly in CA. Many here are quite proficient in getting it done. I personally like the straight forward approach better or to design as you would actually build it and not have room modules interfere with that process.

This official CA video may come in helpful in assisting you with your process with stepped footings and setting rooms to build a different levels ? Scott shows us how it’s done. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/322/creating-a-split-level-structure.html

Hi @SHCanada2, have you made any suggestions on how Chief could be improved to stop this sudden change to a different height ? Not only this but also the other problems you also have experienced above with the basement height change in creating a split level home.

Yes this is true but thankfully we do have fake invisible walls to use these days. They all help in the process of controlling the auto rebuild functions in CA. As they try this they will also get other tips from experienced CA users who have done a few split level homes too.

Hi @cougars32, first of all it is great that you have all those working drawings to go off. Split levels can be difficult but I would look for videos and resources on doing split levels with CA. Then also doing stepped foundations with CA. After doing your research then give it another try. Most of all take it step by step and don’t give up it can be done.

You could mark that room space as no ceiling for this room and create a soffit for the part you want covered.

Have you tried using invisible walls and or creating a room underneath the balcony and calling it open below for starters ?

BTW you can still peel that gable back so that it gives the valley a corner to meet to at the gutter height. The pitch of those crickets can be adjusted so that they meet the ridge height of the adjacent roof and the proper gutter height. I think if you fiddled around with your roof planes you could get something to be different but most of all allow those valleys to drain directly into the gutters. There are ways to get that nice roof that will get a similar look to what you are after. I don’t have X17 but you can set your roof pitches to start at the common gutter height with the use of what we call pitch beams that are at the common wall height. I can open X16 plans with permissions given for home designer pro to edit your roof planes and give you some options. If not you could pay a professional who uses CA to give you some roof design options that give you what I am suggesting above. With Gables and ridge lines similar to what you are after.

There are Chief Architect videos on building manual roof planes where you want to build those infill cricket roof planes. Those valleys produced by those cricket infills and where they join the adjacent roofs are called “bastard valleys” lol where I come from. We work in millimeters and degrees for roof pitches as well. You will figure it out if you how to build roof planes in real life. Have fun.

Hi @NewUserSargent, What @Chrisb222is suggesting is correct way to go about this issue. First things first, that roof plan is not what your elevations are showing. I take it that you want your roof plan to match what your elevations are showing is that correct ? Secondly this has nothing to do with the software but on how to represent those roof lines with roof construction knowledge. Manual roof editing will be required to get this roof correct after setting the gable positions with the walls underneath and then building the roof automatically. Where you are showing angled hips and valleys on your roof plan you should be showing straight lines for your gable ends and ridge lines. If you can understand what I am saying you will be able to fix your plan and 3D model. A draftsman who does not have a competent knowledge of roof construction shouldn’t be contracted to draw your plans. I recommend that if you cannot get it right yourself, please use a professional in your region who understands roof construction. Have fun learning !

Hi all, I did a test with X15 to try a negative offset for the dry wall layers for internal walls. I couldn’t get it to work so I would recommend using the @Renerabbitt method so that your ML stays accurate. Don’t need extra pony walls messing up the 3D model or the ML.

Ok I understand that. I get the Plan7Architect add every time I go onto facebook lol. I would be interested in your review. I just upgraded to Home Designer Pro 2025 Perpetual and I am happy with it. They say that P7A is for professionals ? I can see way too much work to get plans ready for the local Authorities. Please see this demo from YT. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6bcqrHN0RZc

Hi @ portrait , I have had a look at Arcon and even the Arcon Professional 2024 video demo. Arcon Professional looks quite decent and I even have a very old version of Arcon too. The Plan7Architect looks quite simple in comparison to AP2024 from what I have seen on YT. HDP would be not be a realistic comparison to P7A IMO.

Timed subscriptions are becoming the norm at present and some CAD companies are still transitioning towards them. As someone mentioned above, the market will get saturated at some point with the timed subscription models. I hope this will force the subscription prices down through market competition between CAD software vendors. Time will tell anyway. I don’t believe that subscription models will help CAD companies develop the software any quicker. I feel that some of them could actually become negligent but the competition should drive them to develop the software even more so with potentially more revenue ? I feel like I am forced into playing slot machine CAD .

Hi @Renerabbitt, Were you able to find a way to retrieve your custom sbsar files since this post date ? Looks like the X17 file saving system has caused a big problems for you ? Is it still in your computers cache somewhere still ? Hope CA technical support can help you.