Automatically Creating a Saltbox Roof

Reference Number: KB-00119
Last Modified: October 12, 2026

QUESTION

I need to create a Saltbox style roof, which is similar to an Offset Gable, in my plan. How can I create this?  

Real time ray traced perspective overview of a saltbox roof


ANSWER

A saltbox roof can be created automatically by generating an additional floor level and utilizing the Knee Wall setting located on the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog.


To create a saltbox roof

  1. In a blank plan, navigate to Build> Wall> Straight Exterior Wall , then click and drag out 4 walls to create a basic 30' x 40' structure.   

    Floor plan view of the basic structure


  2. Use the Select Objects  tool to click on the left 30' wall and select the Open Object  edit tool.


  3. On the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog that opens, select the Full Gable Wall option under the Roof Options section, then click OK.

    Note: You can also use the Change to Gable Wall(s) edit tool to convert hip walls to gable walls without having to open the Wall Specification dialog.


    In the left wall's Wall Specification set the Roof Option to Full Gable Wall


  4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to make the opposite wall a Full Gable Wall as well.
  5. Select Build> Floor> Build New Floor , and in the New Floor dialog that opens, choose to Derive new 2nd floor plan from the 1st floor plan, then click OK.

    Build a new floor and choose to derive the 1st floor floor plan.


  6. Specify your desired settings in the 2nd Floor Defaults dialog, then click OK.


  7. On the newly created 2nd floor, Move  the top horizontal 40' wall inwards so that its distance from the bottom horizontal wall changes from 30' to 20'   

    2nd floor with the wall moved in to 20 feet


  8. With this wall still selected, click the Open Object  edit tool.


  9. On the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog that opens, select the Knee Wall option under the Roof Options section, then click OK.

    A knee wall's height is defined by the roof above, not the ceiling height.


    In the Wall Specification set the Roof Option to Knee Wall.


  10. If Auto Rebuild Roofs is not enabled, navigate to Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu, check the Build Roof Planes box, then click OK to see the changes reflected in your plan.
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