CoachRob14

Somehow I don't think this is quite correct. Lol Guess my measurements are off. I have to go back to the tutorials. I don't have an understanding if Ceiling A, Ceiling B, Floor, Floor to Ceiling, Floor Below, Relative Heights vs. Absolute Heights, etc. All Greek to me.

I will try this. So let's say, for instance, the lower level basement has 8' ceilings. I would make the STEM WALL 12' (8 + the 4 feet below grade that you recommended)? Am I on the right track so far? So I created a foundation- I made the Stem Wall 12'. Then I went back, made the Floor level 4' (48"), and the ceiling height 12' (144")- The difference of the 12' ceiling height and the 4' Floor Level should give me the 8' floor to ceiling height on the lower level I am looking for, correct.

Well I'm going to throw in the towel on this one and start all over lol. I went to check my 3D view from downstairs. It is apparently a foundation, not an actual lower level. The ceilings are about 3 feet high, just an absolute mess. The only thing I can think of is that I need to make my "living level" floor 2, and my basement "floor 1", with the foundation below that.

Okay. I went ahead and completed the lower level basement. I now have the 1st floor, and lower level basement area. Time to attempt the stairs, which I am still dreading, but we will see.

Eric, I did as you suggested. I created the Floor 1 Living Plan- it certainly isn't drawn to scale, but it is an estimate so you could see the layout. Below Master Bedroom and BR2 would be the garage- Below BR3 would be an office, and below the Main Bathroom would be the laundry room. Below the kitchen and dining room would be the downstairs living room. As you can see in level 2, I have indicated where I would like the stairs to go to create the raised ranch: Up to the right, down to the left. where do you suggest I go next? Weathers.plan

Thank you to everyone who offered help throughout the day. just can't seem to get what I want- and it's not you, its me. I just can't get it to simulate anything like this raised ranch entrance.

So I used the U Shape Stairs, and have them going the proper direction. For the love of God, how do I align the landing, upon walking in the front door, WITH the front door? Adjust floor height? Adjust ceiling height? Something else?

Hi Keith, Suite does have the U Shaped Stairs. Forgive me as I try to wrap my head around these concepts. I walk in the front door and am immediately standing on the landing where I can go up or down. That is "Floor 1"? So at that point, I would need a ceiling (Let me say 9 Feet for example- and let me use a height of the stairs going up as 6 feet for example. Therefore, In my mind, I feel I have to create a ceiling height of 15 feet. I know this isn't correct, because I don't want ceiling heights throughout the entire first floor of 15 feet- I just want that separation of the landing and floor one. I'm going to change my user name to BoneHead.

Is my landing "Floor 1", my living level "Floor 2", and my Basement "Floor 0"?

I think maybe I should find a new hobby...

Hi Dave, Thank you for the reply. A gentleman was helping me yesterday, and he mentioned my signature as well. I thought i had that corrected- in my signature I indicated I am using Home Designer Suite 2019. I thought it was displaying properly now? I will check out the video, thank you.

This is probably a bit more accurate...

Here is my starting point... Garage on the left... Main living area (upstairs and downstairs) down the center. Addition that has been added on (to the right). Im trying to replicate the house I grew up in, just for practice.

Good Morning, I would like to tackle setting up a Raised Ranch style home. Full Basement and First Floor Level separated by a Landing/Stairs that separate the two levels. Entrance way has stairs going up on the right (to the first floor level), and down on the left (to the basement). Can anyone help me get this ball rolling? Thank You

I think I got the signature figured out finally?

Yes, I at least feel a bit better that you acknowledge the snap feature is limited or at times non-existent on Suite- I know Im not very good at the program, but was feeling frustrated that I was missing something and doing something wrong. I will keep plugging away here. The past week or so I've really only focused on interior- today was the first day I tried anything exterior and it obviously kicked my ass. I can't imagine trying to understand and get into Terrain modifications, etc. The other thing I have not figured out, is how to get catalogs into my library- a week ago I went ahead and downloaded all of these catalogs marked "free", but I can't seem to locate them or access them. Maybe it is another SUITE limitation?

So it appears I finally got it to work. Maybe it makes a difference if the stairs were drawn in the UP direction as opposed to the DOWN direction?

Raised.plan

Meaning.. Go take a picture of the overall plan and just post it here?

Forgive me Eric You've been more than kind. I literally had to just go and search "how to post your plan file"- and the directions it is giving me, I don't even have these options. It is telling me to "lock certain values" so other uses can only edit so much, or use "default settings" (which I do not have access to the settings the tutorial is showing me). Just growing more frustrated because I can not seem to do any of the things you are asking me to do.

Thank You for that video. I tried recreating the same thing. Here is what it is doing (and I still don't understand)? Home_Designer_Suite_2019_4_2_2019_8_04_04_PM.mp4

I would assume it works as well. When the person giving the tutorial drew the second staircase, it "snapped" to the first one, creating the smooth transition. Since i can not seem to snap anything to anything, I am unable to make this transition. I will continue to try and work out the snap issue. Appreciate you taking the time to respond to a newbie- I know I am in way over my head with this program, but enjoying it nonetheless.

Thank you for the reply. I tried turning on my signature- not quite sure what that does at this point... I am currently watching a tutorial (have been for the past 6 hours to be honest) titled "Focus- Creating a Split Level Home". I have been going back and forth, trying to copy and replicate what is being done in the tutorial. Of course, the tutorial is being given in Chief Architect Premier X7, and again I am using Suite 2019. At about 20 Minutes into the video, a deck is being added. The deck itself is easy (drawn just like an exterior wall), and now I am adding stairs leading up to the deck (as it is raised). I am going to try and attach 2 pictures- one of them of what it is supposed to look like (one smooth wrap around), versus what mine currently look like (2 separate stair cases that do not connect at the corner of the deck).

Hello All, I purchased Home Designer Suite 2019 as a Hobby about 2 weeks ago. I've experienced the normal highs and lows of the program- from not knowing how to draw an exterior wall, to finally learning how to place a corner cabinet- etc. I am impressed with the number of and extensive online tutorials- however, it seems that every time I try and seek out a tutorial- the tutorial is given in an upgraded, "professional" or "architecture" version of the software that either has a different setup, or have features that I do not have access to in Home Designer Suite. I have tons of questions- but this question pertains to the snap feature. DOES THIS FEATURE EXIST IN 2019 SUITE? I see the option for it under "Edit", and I have it activated- I can not seem to snap stairs to where I want, snap stairs on a deck to create a wrap around staircase to a wrap around deck, etc. Any help or direction would be appreciated! Rob