Jo_Ann

Suite will not open Architectural files, unless you download the free trial. I suggest that you open a new experimental plan, and start playing with the manipulation of slabs (slab tool, not a 'room' labeled as a 'slab'). The patio floor is made from multiple slabs. In this example of a flat roof (only a flat roof with a slab) the slab is elevated way above the patio floor. The 'hole' in this example, is 7'. The slab can not join with it's other half, to maintain the 'hole'. So, a carefully placed soffit (shown in red) has been added to close the visual gap.

Getting results that look good take time, diligence, and a learning curve. If visuals are all that you want, here are two.

I don't know why the shop is not displaying a floor, because when I opened the plan, there is a floor showing. I did notice that the front wall of the shop is not aligned with the wall below. The bedroom is showing an incorrect floor structure (L), and I don't know why it doesn't reset itself... but I have encountered this oddity before. Open the bedroom dbx, and set the room type as a 'deck', then close the dbx. Open the bedroom dbx again, and reset the room type to 'bedroom'. Close the dbx. Open the bedroom dbx again, and this time, go to the structure tab and correct any of the settings (that Suite allows), so that they match the jpeg posted below.

I think you have gone about this all wrong, and made it complicated. I can see your house floor sticking out half-way up your garage door. You have 5 rises on the porch steps. Even if the risers are only 6", that would mean that the porch floor is at least 30" above your terrain. Solver's suggestion, use the divider wall, label the room 'Porch'. Go to level 0, turn on the reference display, grab the foundation wall tool, and draw in walls under the porch.

HDA 2018 and Pro 2018 build that section of the roof as expected (with pitch set at 4"). Pro 2017 refuses to build that section of roof correctly. Odd. Might be a question for tech support.

Make it a pony wall (bottom half interior6). Select the wall, then drag diagonally.

Use a custom countertop or a slab, sized correctly.

'Dust' floor tile is one of 'those' materials that comes with the software template, but does not appear to have been added to the library. It resides in the folder: Chief Architect / Templates / Textures. It is possible to add it to your user library.

It is here: Library Materials / Home Designer Core Catalogs / Materials / Flooring / Wood / Maple / Cherry-MP Plank. If it's not there, then maybe you haven't downloaded the complete Core Catalog.

Pro handles roof problems better, because Pro has manual roof planes (and it requires a strong learning curve). The bigger question is: Are you willing to spend the huge upgrade price for the sake of a few small misbehaving roof planes?

Check your PM.

I would start out on paper, setting the perimeter size/style of the plot. Then determine the setback requirements on all sides of the plot, and draw that in. With the footprint established, google 'accessible house plans'. There are tons of plans, and some let you select the square footage desired. Pay attention to the dimensions of the plans (to fit within your footprint). Lots of great ideas for layout design, and exterior/interior style. When you have determined what you like, start designing your OWN plan within the software, keeping in mind that this will be a visual way to communicate what you want (to your builder).

Problem #1: Maybe YOU know what you are trying to describe...but probably no one else knows. Post a jpeg of the problem, and maybe the house plan file. Problem #2: Pay attention to what camera you are using.

????? LawB10's house plan is not at all what you described that you wanted.

You have to separate the garage from the house (pic 3). Use a dividing wall (shown as hatched), set as 'gable', overhang set to 1". Open the opposing house wall and set the overhang to 1". The green dashed lines are the roof planes, and they can not intersect each other. Zoom in close and begin moving the entire garage wall as close as you can get, without intersecting those roof planes (pic 4). Any missing attic walls will need to be patched with wedges or soffits. If you want an overhang, you will have to fudge it with various sloped soffits. Your east attic wall on the family room needs to be aligned with the wall below.

Use a wedge shape (library) on top of the soffit.

Like this?

Is this still the same garage you were working on over a year ago?

I clicked the link and the plan downloaded, but it wouldn't open...says it is corrupt. Also: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00099/accessing-your-archive-files.html

I suspect that you are still not looking in the right place for the archive file. But...you did upload the plan in post#1, so just download that plan back onto your computer.

Uploading a new jpeg doesn't take 25mb. Do a 'save as' for your file. You now have a copy of the file (original file is safe), and should delete ALL the decorations and extras (furniture). Save the file and upload this new plan (under 25mb?). Alternative is to send the file to a zipped folder (which may reduce the file size to below 25mb). By the way, you CAN auto-build the entire roof. Sometimes this is preferable, because the roof planes will all be correctly joined.

If this is what you are trying to do, then you need to look in your reference manual in the chapter about building stairs. Look for 'partial stair wall'.

??? The pic you posted looks just like the same pic in post #1 and post #6 ??? For the ARCH, I found the best setting to be: height 0". Floor to bottom 128". Middle room finished ceiling set to 120".

You need to delete the soffits, and then use the room divider wall to divide the room into 3 separate rooms. Set the left & right rooms to the default ceiling height (95 5/8). Set the middle room to 120". Keep the bump-out separate, and set to the default (95 5/8). You will find the arch in the library: Exteriors / Landscaping / Arbors and Arches / ARCH. Set it's height to 0", and move it into the middle ceiling area. It will take some finagling to size it and position it just right.