Chief Architect Help Database - Article Number: 449
How to build a manual dormer
The information in this article applies to:
Chief Architect X3Chief Architect X2
Chief Architect X1
Chief Archtect 10
Chief Architect 9.5
QUESTION
How can I create a dormer using manual roof editing tools?
ANSWER
This tutorial shows how to draw a dormer using the manual roof tools.
To build the dormer walls
- Open the Chief Architect plan in which you want to build a manual dormer or create a new plan by selecting File> New Plan
from the menu.
- This example uses a Cape Cod style house with a roof pitch of 8 in 12.
- For information about creating a Cape Cod, see How to create a Cape Cod roof by adjusting ceiling heights.
- In floor plan view, select Tools> Reference Floors> Up One Floor
from the menu to go to the second floor.
- Select Build> Walls> Interior Wall
to draw an interior wall about 8 feet from the exterior wall.
- Use the Build> Walls> Exterior Wall
tool to draw a room that will become the dormer. Remember to draw in a clockwise direction.
- Select Build> Walls> Break Wall
to separate the interior wall section in back of the dormer. Delete the section of interior wall behind the dormer.
The image below is the second story with dormer walls drawn.
To build the dormer's roof
- Select Build> Roof> Skylight
from the menu, then click and drag to draw a rectangle within the roof plane that the dormer is being built in.
- This rectangle will form a roof hole for the dormer to generate through.
- Don't worry about the exact position or size of the rectangle right as it is drawn - it can be easily edited later.
- Click on the rectangle to select it, then click the Open Object
edit button. On the General tab of the Roof Hole/Skylight Specification:
- Uncheck the box beside Skylight.
- Click the radio button beside Plumb Sides.
- Click OK to close the dialog and apply your changes.
The dormer walls will extend through a hole in the roof.
- In floor plan view, select the roof hole and use the edit handles to move its edges so that they are just outside the dormer walls.
- When Object Snaps
are enabled, the sides will snap to the exterior of the dormer wall.
- It's easiest to position the top edge of the roof hole after the roof over the dormer is in place.
- Select 3D> Create Perspective View> Full Overview
to verify that the dormer walls and roof hole meet properly.
The edge of the roof hole should snap to the dormer wall's exterior layer.
- Select File> Close
to return to floor plan view, then select Build> Roof> Roof Plane 
from the menu and draw a small roof plane over each of the dormer side walls.
- In the Set Baseline Height dialog, select Over Wall Top and click OK.
- Join the two dormer roof planes at the ridge:
- Click on the ridge edge of either dormer roof plane to select that edge.
- Click the Join Roof Planes
edit button.
- Click on the ridge edge of the other dormer roof plane.
- Click the Select Objects
tool, then click on the upper edge of the roof hole to select that edge.
- Click the Break Line
edit button, then click along the upper edge of the roof hole to place a new pivot point at that location.
- Do not worry about the exact location of this break as you create it.
- Click on the new edit handle that is created and drag it away from the dormer and towards the ridge of the larger roof plane.
- As you drag, make sure that the edge of the roof hole does not touch the edge of the main roof plane it is drawn in.
- Select the back edge of either dormer roof plane. Click the Join Roof Planes tool, then click the corresponding angled edge of the roof hole. The roof plane snaps to the edge of the hole.
- Repeat step 9 for the other dormer roof plane.
- Add a window and other finishing touches, then select 3D> Create Perspective View> Full Overview to see the results.
MORE INFORMATION
In Chief Architect version 10 and newer, dormers can also be created automatically. See article 648 in this database: How to create a manual dormer
Last updated on: 05-20-2010
