Help Database

Chief Architect Help Database - Article Number: 932

How to Create a Split Level Structure

The information in this article applies to:

Home Designer Pro
Chief Architect X5
Chief Architect X4
Chief Architect X3
Chief Architect X2

QUESTION

How do I create a split level floor plan?

ANSWER

A split level, sometimes referred to as a bi-level or tri-level, is a building where the floor level in one part of the structure is located about halfway between the floor and ceiling levels of another part of the structure.

You can easily create a split level in Chief Architect by controlling the floor and ceiling heights of different rooms in a plan.

To create a split first floor level

Launch Chief Architect and open a New Plan .
Select Build> Wall> Exterior Wall , then click and drag to draw a simple rectangular structure.
Still using the Exterior Wall tool, draw a wall that divides the structure into two rooms.
Select the wall and click the Open Object edit button. On the Roof tab of the Wall Specification dialog:
- Check the box beside Lower wall type if split by butting roof.
- Then, select an interior wall type that is structurally similar to your exterior wall from the drop-down list and click OK.
- For example, if your exterior wall type is "Siding-6", select "Interior-6" from the drop-down list.
Click the Select Objects button, then click in an empty space in one of the two room areas of your drawing to select it.
- In this example, the room on the left side is selected.
Click the Open Object edit button, and on the Structure tab of the Room Specification dialog:
- Raise the height of Floor (C). In this example, this value is increased to 48".
- Press the Tab key on your keyboard to update the dialog and notice that the Relative Ceiling heights become smaller.
- Check the Default box next to Rough Ceiling (E) and press the Tab key to restore a full height ceiling to this room.
- Click OK to close the dialog and apply your change.
Select 3D> Create Perspective View> Perspective Floor Overview to see the results so far.
The wall that divides the structure into two halves should have its exterior siding surface facing the room with the lower floor height.
- If it does not, click the Select Objects button, then click on the wall.
- The room will be selected first - press the Tab key or click the Select Next Object edit button to select the wall instead.
- With the wall selected, click the Reverse Layers edit button.
- Remember that this wall has a Lower wall type when split by butting roof specified. When a roof is built over this structure, this wall will only have siding above the roof.

To add a foundation

In a split level home, part of the foundation is typically a slab or crawl space and part is full height basement - often, a daylight basement.

Select Build> Floor> Build Foundation from the menu to open the Build Foundation dialog. On the Foundation tab:
- Leave Auto Rebuild Foundation unchecked.
- Select Walls With Footings as the Foundation Type.
- Specify the Minimum Stem Wall Height. In this example, a height of 24" is used.
- Make any other needed changes, then click OK to close the dialog and generate a foundation on Floor 0.
While still on Floor 0, create a Perspective Floor Overview to see what this foundation looks like.
- Notice that the Minimum Stem Wall height is applied to the part of the structure with the lower, default floor height. The stem walls under the area with the raised floor are taller but have the same footing height.
Click the Select Objects button, then click on an inside wall surface of the foundation room below the part of the structure with the raised floor height (in this example, the left side).
Click the Open Object edit button, and on the Structure tab of the Room Specification dialog:
- Notice that the Stem Wall height value is equal to the Minimum Stem Wall Height that you specified in the Build Foundation dialog plus the height of the Floor of the room above.
- Increase the Rough Ceiling value so that the room is full height. In this example, it is raised to 109 1/8".
- Press the Tab key and notice that the Stem Wall height increases to accomodate the new ceiling height.
- Also on the Structure, tab, make sure that the box beside Floor Under This Room is unchecked.
- Click OK to close the dialog and apply your change.
The Floor Overview updates to show the change that you made to the room.
Select File> Close to close the camera view and return to floor plan view.

To add a second floor

If you build an additional floor above the first floor level, bear in mind that the ceiling heights on Floor 1 will be reset to the default.

Select Build> Floor> Build New Floor from the menu.
- Build Floor 2 based on the first floor plan.
- Specify the desired default Ceiling height in the Floor 2 Defaults dialog.
Go Down One Floor to Floor 1, then select the room with the raised Floor height and click the Open Object edit button.
- Notice that its Absolute Ceiling height has been reset to the default.
- Check the Default box beside Rough Ceiling and click OK.
Go Up One Floor and repeat this process for the room area directly above the one you just modified.
Once all floor levels are in place and the ceiling heights are specified as needed, you can build the roof and draw interior walls.

MORE INFORMATION

Article 376: How to create a walk-out basement

Last updated on: Mar 29, 2013

The Chief Architect support team has compiled a list of articles with common questions and answers.

What would you like to learn about?

See articles that apply to Chief Architect X5

See articles that apply to Chief Architect X4

Find answers on ChiefTalk

Answers to many how-to and technical questions can be found 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on our online forum, www.ChiefTalk.com. ChiefTalk is visited not only by our software users, but also by members of our training, support, and engineering teams who are well-versed in using the software and are happy to help you. On ChiefTalk, you can discover tools and techniques to bring your design ideas to life.