Help Database

• Automatic Hip Roof
• Automatic Gable Roof
• Controlling Roof Height

To create an automatic hip roof:

An automatic hip roof is the easiest type of roof to create in Chief Architect, because by default, the program will generate a roof plane on each exterior wall in your plan, resulting in a hip condition.

1. Select File> New Plan  from the menu to open a new, blank plan.
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Wall> Exterior Wall  from the menu, then click and drag four wall sections to form a rectangle.
   
   
   • Be sure to draw in a clockwise direction so the program knows to place the siding on the outside of the rectangle and sheetrock on the inside.
     
     
   • In this example, a rectangle 40' by 30' is used.
     
     
     
3. Select Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu to display the Build Roof dialog: 
   
   
   
   
   
   • Check the box beside Build Roof Planes.
     
     
   • Notice that Rebuild Walls/Floors/Ceilings and Build Fascia, Gutters, Frieze also become checked automatically.  We can uncheck these boxes if we choose, but keeping Rebuild Walls/Floors Ceilings selected is recommended.
     
     
   • In Chief Architect version 10 and newer, the Auto Rebuild Roofs option directs the program to rebuild the roof any time a change is made to the plan that will affect the roof.  This option is very handy for this exercise, but isn't necessary.
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and generate an automatic hip roof.
     
     
     
     
     
4. Select 3D> Create Perspective Camera> Full Overview  from the menu to see the results in 3D.
   
   In Chief Architect X1, use 3D> Create Render View> Render Full Overview.
   
   

To create an automatic gable roof

If we would like a gable above a particular wall instead of a hip roof plane, we can tell the program to create this type of roof in the Wall Specification dialog of the wall in question.

1. Select File> Close from the menu or click the grey  button to close the Render Overview window and return to floor plan view. 
   
   
   
2. Click on a wall that you would like to form a gable over to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
3. On the Roof tab of the Wall Specification dialog, check the box beside Full Gable Wall, then click OK to close the dialog and apply the change. 
   
   
   
   
   
   • If Auto Rebuild Roofs is enabled, the roof will automatically update to reflect this change.
     
     
   • If Auto Rebuild Roofs is not used, select Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu, check the box beside Build Roof Planes, and click OK to rebuild the roof.
      
     
     
     
     
4. Click on the wall opposite the new Full Gable Wall and repeat steps 2 and 3, above.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Select 3D> Create Perspective Camera> Full Overview  from the menu to see the results in 3D.
   
   In Chief Architect X1, use 3D> Create Render View> Render Full Overview.
    
   
   

To control the height of automatic roofs

The height of automatic roofs is determined by the ceiling heights within the structure.

1. Select File> Close from the menu or click the grey  button to close the Render Overview window and return to floor plan view.
   
   
   
2. Select Edit> Default Settings  from the menu, and in the Default Settings dialog, click on the word Floor in the list, then click the Edit button.
   
   
   
3. In the Floor 1 Defaults dialog, change the Finished Ceiling (F) to 121 1/8", then click OK to close the dialog and apply the change.  
   
   
   
   
   
   • If Auto Rebuild Roofs is enabled, the roof will automatically update to reflect this change.
     
     
   • If Auto Rebuild Roofs is not used, select Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu, check the box beside Build Roof Planes, and click OK to rebuild the roof. 
     
     
     
4. To see the difference that this change makes on roof height, select Build> Wall> Interior Wall  from the menu, then click and drag to draw an interior wall perpendicular to the ridge of the roof.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Click on this wall to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button.  On the Roof tab of the Wall Specification dialog, check the box beside Full Gable Wall, then click OK.
   
   
   
6. Click in an empty space in the room on the left to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
7. On the Structure tab of the Room Specification dialog, delete the Finished Ceiling (F) value and type in 97 1/8", then click OK to close the dialog and apply the change to this room only. 
   
   
   
   
   
   • If Auto Rebuild Roofs is enabled, the roof will automatically update to reflect this change.
     
     
   • If Auto Rebuild Roofs is not used, select Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu, check the box beside Build Roof Planes, and click OK to rebuild the roof.  
     
     
     
     
     
8. Select 3D> Create Perspective Camera> Full Overview from the menu to see the results in 3D.
   
   In Chief Architect X1, use 3D> Create Render View> Render Full Overview. 
   
   
   
    
   
   Note: It is important to remember that automatic roofs are generated based on the current ceiling heights. If you change the ceiling height after the roof is built, the height of the roof will not be affected until it is rebuilt.