Jo_Ann

You need to post the PLAN file, for someone to see what you've really done, to get a good answer. Your description doesn't really tell what you've done.

Try opening their dialog box and turning them ON. Be sure to use a full camera for viewing.

You changed the dimensions of the building, from what you originally said. I think the cladding issue might be a software bug, because my older program does not do that. The newer version does show that issue. Best choice is probably to cover it up with a custom backsplash. As for your strange looking roof...well, you didn't follow the directions exactly. PLUS, you need to adjust some of the upper pitch settings, because you changed some dimensions.

A "fake" dormer with "fake" roof trim around the exterior walls of the 2nd floor, using HD Architectural: In this example, the default roof pitch is set to 11". 1) Create a full height 2nd story room, with the east/west walls set as a gable. FAKE ROOF TRIM: 2) Use the room divider wall to draw 4 new invisible walls around the 2nd floor of the house. Make sure all the walls are connected, to form a "room". Open each wall, and set it's distance from the exterior siding to 12" ( so that they are all equal distance). Set the east/west walls as a gable. 3) Open the dialog box for the new "room". Designate it as "open below". On the structure tab...set ceiling height to 0", uncheck "ceiling over this room", put a check in the box "use soffit surface". FAKE DORMER: 4) Open the exterior sided front wall. On the roof tab, set the pitch to 4.75". Put a check in "upper pitch", set the upper pitch to 11", set "in from baseline" to 140". Do this for the back wall, also. If you followed the directions, you should have what is shown in the pic. If your settings are different from mine, then you will need to adjust them to get the desired results.

That roof can easily be auto-roof built. Like DJP mentioned, pay attention to ceiling heights, and also to the way the rooms are situated. When the roof is correct, you can turn OFF auto build roof, and change ceiling heights and walls within the building, to what they are supposed to be.

Just use soffits or box shapes (library) to make the the bottom, cap, and even the post. Size them correctly, add the correct materials, and ctrl drag them into each other. DONE. This IS the "quick fix"! The toe kick CAN be deleted from a cabinet in Suite.

??????????? GOOD GRIEF!!

The plan you uploaded has no dormer added.

Open the porch "room" dialog box, and check "use soffit".

I don't know why this works... On level 0, uncheck "roof over this room".

You need to experiment with the stair settings.

????

????

With Architectural, you will need to use an inverted wedge from the library, to cover it up.

You need to read the instructions. https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00498/creating-stairs-in-sloping-terrain.html

So, do the same thing that you did up front. The reason it didn't work for you in your video, is because you have to keep a small gap between the dormer wall, and the interior wall.

Maybe this is what you are trying to do?

1) I do not see that large fir wall designated as a "railing". Draw a railing wall over it, and change it's style in the railing wall dbx, to show only posts to ceiling. 2) On floor 1, delete the wall directly below the balcony railing wall, and the balcony railing will show correctly. 3) The balcony needs to be shortened, and the stairs extended over to it, to avoid bumping into the exterior/roof wall. You can then set the portion of the new wall at the top of the stairs, as "invisible". 4) On floor 2, uncheck "flat ceiling over this room". Architectural does not build rafters, so you will have to build your own (use sloped soffits).

The elevated regions are shown with different hatch patterns. The side walls are regular terrain walls, and the horizontal walls are terrain retaining walls.

It's really very unclear what you want the front to look like?

AND... I was not meaning to be condescending or rude to Ducati007. I was only stating the FACTS.

Look closer at my picture, and you will see that you are NOT doing the same thing.

That IS the problem. Carefully read step #2. You are not using the right tool.

I think that you need to re-read the instructions.