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Open your stair specification drop box. Under the "section heights" area, check "top tread" only and set it to "lock top". Then you can adjust the materials, etc. as needed. You should update your signature with the program version and type so everyone knows what you're working with

Rafter depth changes at the walls of the foyer. That's the only area where the vaulted ceiling is. I thought of a solution... 1) Create the roof with 2X8s rafters over the entire side of the roof. 2) Go back and manually edit rafters that aren't in the foyer to be 2X6s. 3) Shorten 2X8 rafter so they won't stick through the facia. 4) Create 2X6 rafter tail in Sketchup and attach to the end of shortened 2X8s.

so the rafter depth changes in the middle of a room or at the walls? maybe post actual pictures of what you have.

might not be able to in the HD series. Unless try making a landing at the top the sane size as your top step and then the stairs can come off of it... might look right. HD just not setup to build the extra top tread when the top level will suffice... I hate to say it but might be easier in long run to change the way you build them and save some $ on the cost of that last tread

What's the better alternative then as an option? Is there one? How else does the software stay alive today. I commented here earlier - subscription gives security in use of the latest version for all - imo. It's all about cost to consumers it would seem - if you like using the software - use it.(buy it..) Its great software - but for me, I'm happy to work with HDPro2024. Home Designer has grown up it seems. Think about the features it has that one doesn't use. Think about the support, the library items available free, and/or for minimal purchase cost. It's a commercial decision buying software - it's a business/budgetary decision. Can you work without it? Happy modeling.

Manual roofs. I'm coming to the conclusion that I can't get exactly what I want, so I'll have to decide what's most important and let the rest go.

Are you doing manual or auto roofs? The reason you're seeing the tail is that likely you have roof framing showing in that view. You could also adjust the size of your eave trim. You can't edit just the rafter tails

Just for clarity, here is the example plan I used to illustrate the problem in the original post.

Keith, yes, I could do that, but that isn't correct. The roof on the one side of the house is made up of 3 sections, all on the same plane. Two of the sections are 2X6s, One is 2X8s. (See the original sample roof I drew). You can see three sections of roof. (There is a line in the shingles where the roof sections are drawn). Drawing the roof all with 2X8s also runs into the rafter tail issue I show above. I've attached the actual plan. Only the Foyer has 2X8s. The rest of the roof on that side is 2X6s.

As I mentioned, build the roof at all 2x8. Then once built, change just the side that needs to be 2x6. Keep the ridge height the same for both roofs

Also, changing to 2X8s results in the following. I was hoping I could change a section of the roof (just the rafter tails area back to 2X6s), but that runs into the issue where I can't join roof sections again.

Keith, no, that isn't what I'm trying to do. Changing the entire roof plane to 2X8s would work, but that doesn't model the existing house. Only the section of the roof where the vaulted ceiling is has 2X8s. The rest of the roof is 2X6s.

If I try extending the 2X6s to 2X8s they show through the vaulted ceiling. Any way to fix that?

Is this what you're looking to do?

Just to clarify only the section with the skylight is 2X8s. The rest of the roof is 2X6s.

I'm not sure what you are telling me... I've uploaded another picture. It shows the original problem a little better. I can't join the three sections of roof that make up the roof. Home Designer won't let me. I can try changing each individual rafter (in the 3d rafter view) that are in the vaulted ceiling to 2X8's - that might work. I did have an issue when I change the entire roof to 2X8s where the rafter tails jut out from the facia. (In the actual house, the rafter tails are cut down to 2X6 size which I don't think I can do in Home Designer.) I also tried to just create a ceiling plane the right thickness to make up the extra room for the 2X8, but the holes in the ceiling plane and roof don't align.

Once the roofs are attached, open the roof plane that needs to change, and change the "structure" tab to the correct size rafters. If that doesn't work, and you are using auto roofs, change the framing to all 2x8, then turn auto build off, and manually change the framing of the roofs to 2x6 where needed. That will keep the ridge at the right height. You can also copy the ridge height of the matched roofs, then change the height of the 2x6 roofs to match that ridge.

I am modeling my current house in anticipation of some remodeling. I have a vaulted ceiling (with a skylight) that has a different rafter size (2X8) than the other sections of the roof in the house (2X6), but is in the same plane as other roof sections. I have attempted to model this by creating different roof planes and then joining them, but that doesn't work. (Sample model attached.) I can't join the roofs. I can place the roof sections adjacent to each other, but they won't join which is functionally correct but doesn't look good in the 3d view. Is there any way to do this? Any alternate approaches? (I tried to upload my plan but I get an error -200.)

When building decks we always start the top step even with the deck surface so what I'm asking is how can you raise the stairs so its even at the top of the deck as shown in the picture

the top step is one down from top floor/landing review all the stair options screen gives you.

How to draw deck stairs so the first step is even with the deck,

Yes, you can create layouts with Home Designer and set up different sheet sizes and create templates. Go to Launch Help tab and search layouts and will show you many options for setting up. I myself am having a little trouble figuring out how to use a customized template in a project. But think it is just a learning curve that I can't quite figure out yet. There is also a few training videos you can watch.

From what I’ve seen in the Chief Architect Premiere forums, the grandfathered perpetual license is still being offered as long as the SSA is being kept current.

I couldn't get the 6 door to set to pocket. Was that possible?

That worked! I had previously just drawn them on the foundation plan after I sent it to "Layout". So both methods will work. Thanks