DavidJPotter

DJP

Interior ceilings and roof base line heights are controlled in mainly two places : Edit - Default Settings - Floors and Rooms - by floor - 1 - 2 - ect and more locally by way of the Room Specification Dialog box - Ceiling Height input box on the "Structure" tab. What you have to get used to is learning when to and what to set, and where they are the various settings that, once set becoming "automatic" . They are only "automatic" correct only IF you make sure those settings are correct for the outcomes. A great source of beginning help can be found on he "Build Roof" tab "roof styles tab". There you will see articles that communicate how to properly set for each Roof type geometry. Especially with Home Designer Suite the settings are all you have reach to solve all roof probably

The dimension tools have not changed or added to in HD or Chief since at least the year 2,000 AD. You do have to make them work from time to time. There several measurement tools to use so when one works or another automatic tool fails you just use one you can make work. DJP

The software does not do anything on its own, rather it is programmed to follow programmed orders-commands or settings that exist or changed and set or not by its end user per session. So if the settings are wrong that is what you then get. Mastering this datum is key to mastering this software: find the improper settings, correct them and have success. I have also observed that it takes longer to straighten out a missed up plan compared to one that was done properly and insequence. Learn all of the settings for roofs that are to be found in the "Build Roof Dialog - Roof Styles" tab for most common settings for auto-building roofs. Ceiling heights and also an important settings so they match your roof plate heights and your room ceiling heights. DJP

The only Home Designer app that would come close to what you want to do is HD Pro. is that what you have? DJP

I deliver this sort of help to people like you. I charge $75.00 per hour. Once I see your .plan file I can offer an estimate. DJP

Your deck room is probably following "Edit - Defaults - Floors and Rooms - Second Floor - Floor Height". The probable reason that caused its floor to be higher than the house's floor is you did not change the ceiling height of the first floor in "Edit - Defaults - Floors and Rooms - Second Floor - Floor Height" but just changed the first floor's ceiling height in your Room Specification Dialog Box - Structure - Ceiling height of the rooms of the first floor. The software can be counted upon to robotacilly follow its settings, right or wrong. When wrong you get results like yours. Carefully find and set the intended defaults for each floor and only then will all be well. DJP

Your edited plan file is attached below. DJP DJP.zip

Materials are assigned via the wall's Specification dialog box - Materials Tab, past that there are lots of other tools to make changes with. DJP

Importing a symbol (.skp) file requires you to give the symbol a name and it is then locatable via that name in the "User Catalog" section of the Library Browser. I can be assigned in "Edit - Default Settings - Cabinet - Door/Drawer tab" if you have Pro, not so sure about Architectural or Suite, take a look. DJP

Turn off "Auto Build Roofs", then make your Room Specification Dialog changes per room-Ceiling height. For more detailed advice, post your plan file and more information as to your finished look. DJP

Those tools already exist in Chief Architect Premier X15 and they are COOL! DJP

Turn ON " Auto Rebuild Terrain" found in the Terrain Specification Dialog. DJP

We need to know what software you are using, a picture or sketch of what you wish the roof to look like and ideally a copy of your .plan file. A rule of thumb for roof geometry is and it is locked to the geometry of your floor plan and its ceiling heights. DJP

A common practice for remodeling projects is to first create a relationally correct "as Built" of the existing conditions of the project and then make a copy (save-as) of that renaming it "Proposed" project when in you then make your changes (demo walls, altered electric, fixtures etc. ). You then print both views as plans so the project, start to finish gets graphically communicated. DJP

DJP

I have Home Designer Pro...there is no "layer setting" That is not true, please look again, it is there and has been being there in every version of Home Designer and Chief software for over a decade. DJP

Open "Display Options dialog "Tools - Layer Settings - Display Options where you will then find all named layers alphabetically listed. What you are interested in are the "R" layers under the "Room" category ( Rooms, Room Labels , Room, Interior Area, Interior Dimensions and lastly Rooms, Standard Area ). This is discussed in detail in your Reference Manual ( Help - Reference Manual ) DJP

Call Sales tomorrow and upgrade from Architectural to Home Designer Pro. DJP

I looked at your file. What version of Home Designer do you have? Only if you have Pro will you be able to accomplish this roof geometry I believe. The auto roof generator is not really "automatic" but rather a mechanical routine with boundaries. DJP

Can you also post a sketch or photo to help illustrate more what you wish as an outcome? DJP

Can be done in Chief Premier but not in Home Designer. In the attached image I did this model for a company in Hawaii back in old X12 using tools no Home Designer software has. DJP

In thirty years I have never come across a Structural Engineer using Chief. I have several Architect clients over the years. In my experience most of Chief Premier users are also Professional Builders. I myself was a construction supervisor and started drafting using Chief back in 1994. The majority of users I know are self employed builders who also design and draft their own projects, the rest are strictly drafter/designer persons working as part of an Architectural firm. All my Engineers seem to use AutoCAD, DJP

Can you upload a sketch of what you wish to do? I need to have a more detailed understanding of your intentions to advise you with certainty. DJP

Edit - Default Settings - Framing - Roof Rafters -size Input boxes DJP