solver

Do you have Wall Coverings? Also, see the Knowledge Base.

I agree -- the materials list is lacking. I'm curious about how you would like to see 2x material specified. Standard length studs are easy, although the program would need to know how you frame things like corners, and where walls join in a T. What about top and bottom plates? And all the short pieces like your gable end studs, cripples, and miscellaneous like blocking for drywall, kitchen cabinets, grab bars etc. If the program could report the exact length for each piece of material, then to be useful, each non standard length piece would need to be assigned to a specific piece of lumber. I know the program could do better, not sure if best is realistic.

Robert -- What are you talking about? If you have a specific question about your project, it's best to start a new thread.

There are some really good videos on YouTube and there is the Knowledge Base with how to on many issues. Also, there is the internal Help system.

If that is a room, and Roof Over This Room is checked, you should get a roof if Auto Build Roofs is on.

You are not required to build a foundation. Just specify your floor structure as it would be built.

Looks good Karen -- thanks for the update.

I deleted all the stuff on the second floor and changed a few settings and the roof seemed to build OK. Try that, then add back things until you see a problem.

Check Default for floor structure. Rebuild foundation. Also, every room that is a slab, should have that checked. Somewhere you are 4" off for your floors. I found it, but forgot where it was. When you rebuild the foundation, the walls are 4" above it. I don't do foundations much so someone else would be better qualified to respond.

I changed the floor definition in the rooms above, using a Room Divider to create rooms as needed. New Harmony - Eric A.plan

Have you followed the tutorial? https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00359/automatically-building-the-basic-roof-styles.html#Gambrel Don't understand what you are trying to do, or what is wrong with what you have done.

Not sure why this happened, but I deleted and redrew the walls and they look OK now. I've had similar things happen in my own plans.

See ChiefTalk for questions regarding Chief Architect Interiors. Or, if you have Home Designer Interiors, SSA is not available.

I made an adjustment to the stairs, so my roof looks a bit different.

If the pitch is the same, build the roof on the main structure, grab the roof plane you want to extend and pull it down, then square up the ends. If pitch is different. Draw extra roof plane, set ridge height to fascia height of existing roof, set pitch and move so they align.

You can find interior shutters in the Library, but they are not plantation style.

Pro tends to create a Representation rather than Actual details, and I always note that on drawings submitted for permitting. Home Designer Pro is the best of the Home Designer series which is focused on the consumer market. Chief Architect Premier is the Professional product Chief Architect sells for about $2,700.

All gable with shed. So many permutations.

Look again Mick. That is the rear elevation. Side entrance garage. Do agree on starting over.

DBX is short for Dialog Box. When you open an item, like a wall, to make changes, you are opening the Wall Specification dialog box. Why does this detail need to be correct in the plan?

This is what I get when using the default settings. Not balloon framed. What do you want that is different? It sounds a bit like you want to frame a second floor deck, setting the roof on it, instead of building second floor walls. Like this.

Is this what you are trying to do? I did this quickly using manual roofs, so there are plenty of problems. We need something to start from.

How the house and garage connect is not clear from your images, and I believe this will be the most difficult part of the plan. Starting with a practice house. Draw the rectangle to represent the house. Build a second floor and set the 2 end walls to be full gable. Use the defaults for ceiling heights. Break the front wall where you want the gable, and set that wall section to full gable. Use the Room Divider to outline the porch. Set the room type to Deck, change the settings to have a roof. Set the pitch on the 4 outside walls to the proper pitch. Turn on Auto Build Roof, if off, and view in 3D. The roofs should look correct, except for the vertical distance between them. Go to the second floor and reduce the ceiling height until the upper roof drops down on to the porch roof. If the house were all you needed, you would turn off Auto Build Roofs, and raise the 2nd floor ceiling height back up.

All gable.

These change the upper floor some, and attempt to simplify the design a bit.