1 1/2 story

[Dave.M]

I just got HD Pro 6.0 on friday and went through most of the tutorials. I am designing a 1 1/2 story home with 2 large gables in the front on the 2nd story. The roof slopes down over the open family room to the first floor roof in the back of the house. At each side of the 1 1/2 story section is the garage on the right and the master bed / bath on the left (sorry, I'll post pics tonight). I had to do the roof manually. I got it completed without the gables so far but can not get the 2nd story wall and attic wall to close in. Any suggestions? Also its very difficult to select the roof section I want to change. I cant click on the roof plane I want. I always am getting a room, wall, dimension, or something else! There should be a entity selection option pop-up if you hold the cursor on the item long enough (I guess thats wishful thinging for this level of software)
Thanks for any help!

[daydreamer]

Dave,

I am assuming Pro 6 is like using Pro 7.
If you are click on the Roof Tool on the toolbar. Then you will get the "child" toolbuttons. The one on the left is "Roof Planes". Use it to make the selections and not the "arrow" selection tool.

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[Dave.M]

Rick,
Attached are some pics of my roof and wall issues. Notice there is a gap in the peak on both sides. How do I make to walls conform to the roofs? Also I am not sure how close to move the roof to the wall on the outside. I am also going to put dormers in the front on the 2nd story.
Thanks very much for looking at it,
Dave

[daydreamer]

Dave,

Why aren't the two walls in the attached picture complete.

You might be able to fix the gap by going into the attic and fixing or adding a wall to close the gap.

You said, Also I am not sure how close to move the roof to the wall on the outside.

Are you talking about the "overhang" at the Gable wall? If you are, make them consistent with the rest of your plan. My guess is that it would be at least 16". Double click on the Roof Tools button on the toolbar. You will see what the progam default is.

[daydreamer]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the PM. Always glad to lend a hand if I can.
Since your plan looks more like a 2 story, I made this quick design.

[Dave.M]

Rick,
OK, I was beating my head against the computer last night until it started hurting my screen lol. I tried to finish in the wall under the roof but couldnt do it, it wont close in. Then I tried to manually put in some dormers as shown in the pic below and it wouldnt join the roof planes properly. To answer your questions, those 2 walls that arent complete are the ones I am trying to make the program close off properly. shouldnt it close them off as shown in the pic below? The roof to wall question is how close the 1st story roofs should cut into the 2nd story wall. I noticed on the tutorial last night it said just butt it to the outside of the studs. If you or anyone can help me get this plan to look like the below pic with porch and dormers I would become very happy.
Thanks,
Dave

[Dave.M]

Rick,
Your quick design looks very similiar to what I am trying to do. How did you get the walls and roof to look so good? Can you add a quick porch? If I cant get this done, would you be willing to adjust mine to get it to work?
Thanks,
Dave

[Dave.M]

The plan I originally based my design on can be seen online at http://www.architecturaldesigns.com/...40865db.asp#f1
I have mirrored the plan and changed the garage / laundry and room sizes slightly.

[daydreamer]

Hi Dave,

This is an easy house. First start out by building the basic rectangles of the 1st floor. Call the walls gables where required. Next build the 2nd floor deriving from the 1st floor. Only put walls around the middle section and label the side walls gable.

Dave, I really don't think those are considered dormers on the 2nd floor. They are just gables above the windows.

I think this is pretty close.

I will look it over when you get things complete.
Check your Private Messages for my email address.

[Dave.M]

Thanks Rick,
Your really fast! Can you tell me the steps you used to create the roof? Did you do it automatically and how did you create those roof returns? Any special steps to making the porch? I pretty much did make the the walls and floors like you decribe above but could not get the roof to work.
Dave

[daydreamer]

The roof was done automatically except for the porch. which was semi-auto.
For the returns double-click on a wall, then under the roof tab select Auto Roof Return. I think part of the problem you are having is that the rear roof plane is not like you have started done in your first picture. However, if it really is, then then you would need to use a different pitch for the front and the rear.

[Dave.M]

SOS,
Rick, I sent you a PM on this also with more files. Still cant get the roof. I was also trying to add in the porch with open walls and an elevated porch floor. Can you lay out the specific steps to me on how to get the roof and porches done please? Do you work for BH&G? Also I dont see anything in the wall dialog about auto roof returns?? I used 8 / 12 pitch for all roof planes. I have also sent you my .pln files.
In gratitude,
Dave

[daydreamer]

Hi Dave,

I received your email and plan. I have "repaired" your plan and included instructions.

I do not work for BH&G.

The thumbnail below shows the location of the Auto Roof Return function in Pro 7. I don't know if Pro 6 has it or not. You might want to click on the ? for Help and enter Auto in the search field.

[Dave.M]

Rick,
Well I think I've finally got the roof in great shape but I need to put returns on all the eaves. I couldnt find anything in pro 6 on making returns. How would I do this manually. Any one you know know how to do this?

[daydreamer]

Hi Dave,

Glad to hear you are finally having success.

If you don't have it in Pro 6, and you can't make manual roof planes, you might be out of luck.