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3: Floors, Roofs and Ceilings

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    3.1 TYPES OF FLOORS

    Basic Floor

    Generic Floor

    A Generic Floor is a blank element with no applied materials. The default size is 12 inches thick. A material, pattern, texture, or color can be applied, and its depth altered.

    clipboard_e840fa4418e1d94d0918d1f0044ea9986.png
    Figure 3.1 Floor Generic – 12”

    Generic Filled

    A generic filled floor comes 12 inches thick and shows poched in section.

    clipboard_ed3f30c0945da48f8f0b7ae0c3e8af703.png
    Figure 3.2 Floor Generic – 12” – Filled

    Detailed Floors

    LW Concrete on Metal Deck

    In section, this wall follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install Light Weight concrete over metal decking material.

    clipboard_e71f94f4f5efb0542eb91bb642565470a.png
    Figure 3.3LW Concrete on Metal Deck

    3” LW Concrete on 2” Metal Deck

    In section, this wall follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install Light Weight concrete over metal decking. The 3 inches refers to the thickness of concrete above the corrugated metal while the 2 inches refers to the depth of the corrugated metal deck channels.

    clipboard_e1bd73f52ae3c41bb716117fffe9e1b77.png
    Figure 3.4 Floor 3” LW Concrete on 2” Metal Deck

    Steel Bar Joist 14” – VCT on Concrete

    In section, this wall follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install vinyl composition tile over lightweight concrete and metal decking. This floor system lays on top of structural steel joists that are 14” in depth.

    clipboard_e32fd758fd81f732bc07671b2e4d59f13.png
    Figure 3.5 Floor Steel Bar Joist 14” – VCT on Concrete

    Wood Joist 10” – Ceramic Tile

    In section, this wall follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install ceramic tile over a wooden structure. This floor system lays on top of structural wood joists that are 10” in depth.

    clipboard_e29beb3bccc65da004898bd52753ca7b6.png
    Figure 3.6 Floor Wood Joist 10” – Ceramic Tile

    Wood Joist 10” – Wood Finish

    In section, this wall follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install wood flooring over a wooden structure. This floor system lays on top of structural wood joists that are 10” in depth.

    clipboard_e546e5d27980cb602f8b622797d849237.png
    Figure 3.7 Floor Wood Joist 10” – Wood Finish

    Wood Truss Joist 12” – Carpet Finish

    In section, this wall follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install carpet flooring over a wooden structure. This floor system lays on top of structural wood joists that are 12” in depth.

    clipboard_efbdc5c827e72cd3d54146f492d9a4369.png
    Figure 3.8 Floor Wood Truss Joist 10” – Carpet Finish

    3.2 CREATE AND MODIFY FLOORS

    Continue building on the project from Chapter 2: Walls, Curtain Walls, Doors, and Windows.

    Create a floor using the Line tool

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. In the Level 1 view, click the Floor icon Floor-icon_N.jpg from the ribbon, under the Build panel
    3. Use the Type Selector to choose the Generic – 12”
    4. Under the Draw panel, click the Line tool Line-tool_N.jpg
    5. Draw a 20’ 0” X 80’ 0” floor as shown in Figure 3.9
    6. On the ribbon, click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor

    clipboard_e34d890e9e7df455de8027c26b29a7e8f.png
    Figure 3.9 Floor shown in plan view and finished floor in 3D view

    Create a floor using the Pick line tool

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. In the Level 1 view, click the Floor icon Floor-icon_N.jpg from the ribbon, under the Build panel
    3. Use the Type Selector to choose the Generic – 12”
    4. Under the Draw panel, click the Pick Line tool Pick-Line_N.jpg
    5. Hover the cursor over any wall, use the Tab key to cycle through the selection options until the centerline is highlighted with a blue line, click to select the line. Follow this step until all boundaries have been selected as shown on the left in Figure 3.10
    6. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor
    7. Select the floor
    8. On the ribbon, click the Copy icon Copy-Icon.jpg
    9. On the ribbon, click the Paste icons Paste-Icon_N.jpg drop-down arrow
    10. Click the Aligned to Selected Levels Align-to-selected-levels_N.jpg
    11. The Select Levels window will open. Hold down the Control key and click levels 2, 3 and 4
    12. Click OK. The result is shown on the right in Figure 3.10

    clipboard_e9cd456e6f81bb1eb98e61b3da93fb5b9.png
    Figure 3.10 Floor shown in plan view and finished floor in 3D view
    (In the 3D view two walls have been hidden to show the multiple floor plates)

    Edit a floor

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. Open the Level 2 plan view from the Project Browser
    3. Select the floor
    4. On the ribbon, click the Edit Boundary icon Edit-Boundary-Icon_N.jpg
    5. Use the Line tool Line-tool_N.jpg to add a 5-foot-wide mezzanine as shown in Figure 3.11
    6. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor
    7. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for Levels 3 and 4 floors.

    clipboard_ec354f539f3384efccbb25175337f6963.png
    Figure 3.11 Modified floor shown in plan view and finished floor in 3D view

    TIP

    Hover the cursor over the edge of the floor and press the Tab key to cycle through the selection options

    Create a slope using the Slope Arrow

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. In the Level 1 view, click the Floor icon Floor-icon_N.jpg from the ribbon, under the Build panel
    3. Use the Type Selector to choose the Generic – 12”
    4. Create a 4’ 0” X 12’ 0” floor using the line tool Line-tool_N.jpg as shown in Figure 3.12
    5. Select the Slope Arrow icon Slope-Arrow_N.jpg and draw the arrow from the right to the left
    6. In the Properties Palette, change the Height Offset from Level to -1’ 0”
    7. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor

    clipboard_ec9770d3b7fe74b3ac9b0c0906b980d5c.png
    Figure 3.12 Sloped floor plan shown in plan view and 3D view

    Create a slope using the Split Line tool

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. Select the entryway floor
    3. On the ribbon, click the Edit Boundary icon Edit-Boundary-Icon_N.jpg
    4. Use the Line tool Line-tool_N.jpg and Trim tool Trim-Extend_N.jpg to cut off a 5ft X 5ft corner from the slab as shown in Figure 3.13
    5. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor
    6. Select the floor
    7. On the ribbon select the Add Split Line icon Add-Split-Line_N.jpg
    8. In the Properties Palette, change the Height Offset from Level to -1’ 0”
    9. Add split lines as shown in Figure 3.13
    10. Select the center green dashed line
    11. Select the witness line dimension box that appears
    12. Type -1’ 0”
    13. Press the Enter key
    14. Press the ESC key twice to exit the command

    clipboard_eed8a7f0b246b4584f59bc32034ccdb5d.png
    Figure 3.13 Split line slope shown in plan view and 3D view

    Add an Opening By Face

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. In the 3D view, click the By Face icon By-Face-icon_N.jpg on the ribbon under the Opening panel
    3. Select the Level 4 floor
    4. Draw a 15ft X 15ft square as shown in Figure 3.14
    5. Use the move tool Move-Tool_N.jpg to center the opening as shown in Figure 3.14
    6. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor

    clipboard_ea2ae0ab6177254a16015e97aa9500448.png
    Figure 3.14 Opening by Face shown in plan view and 3D view

    Add Shaft Opening

    1. Click the Architecture tab
    2. In the Level 2 view, select the Shaft icon Shaft-Opening_N.jpg on the ribbon, under the Opening panel
    3. In the Properties Palette, change the following parameters
      • Base Constraint: Level 2
      • Base Offset: -1’ 0”
      • Top Constraint: Up to Level 6
      • Top Offset: 1’ 0”
    4. Draw a 15ft X 9ft as shown in Figure 3.15
    5. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor
    6. In the 3D view, reposition the View Cube to verify the shaft opening cuts through all 3 floors

    clipboard_e2170ab97d5b5ca73861ece289a107549.png
    Figure 3.15 Shaft Opening shown in plan view and 3D view
    (Two walls are Hidden from view to show the shaft cutting through multiple floors)

    3.3 ROOFS

    Basic Roofs

    Generic Roofs

    A Generic Roof is a blank element with no applied materials. The default sizes are 9, 12, and 18 inches thick. A material, pattern, texture, or color can be applied, and its depth altered.

    clipboard_eb46f2cfccdb24fc918a6ecca7ffb02c1.png
    Figure 3.16 Basic Roof Generic – 9”

    Generic Filled

    A generic filled roof comes 12 inches thick and shows poched in section.

    clipboard_e8eb508fb98f0d34cc541c9320cedee27.png
    Figure 3.17 Basic Roof Generic – 12” – Filled

    Detailed Roofs

    Steel Truss – Insulation on Metal Deck – EPDM

    In section, this roof follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer) and rigid insulation over a steel structure.

    clipboard_eb683977572e5ed026a85e73ca62232cf.png
    Figure 3.18 Basic Roof Steel Truss – Insulation on Metal Deck – EPDM

    Wood Rafters 8” – Asphalt Shingle – Insulated

    In section, this roof follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install asphalt shingles over a wooden structure.

    3.19-300x97.jpg
    Figure 3.19 Basic Roof Wood Rafter 8” – Asphalt Shingle – Insulated

    3.4 CREATE AND MODIFY ROOFS

    Create a roof using the Line tool

    1. Open the Roof floor plan view in the Project Browser
    2. In the Properties Palette, under the Underlay section, change the Range: Base Level to Level 4
    3. Select the Roof icon Roof-Icon_N.jpg from the Ribbon, under the Build panel
    4. Use the Type Selector to choose the Generic – 12”
    5. Under the Draw panel, choose the Line tool Line-tool_N.jpg or the Pick Lines tool Pick-Line_N.jpg
    6. On the Options Bar, change the following parameters
      • Uncheck the box next to Defines Slope
      • Overhang: 2’ 0”
    7. Draw or select lines to outline the building as shown in Figure 3.20
    8. Select the four walls shown in Figure 3.20 and check the box next to Defines Slope in the Properties Palette
    9. On the ribbon, click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the floor

    clipboard_e2925f26e40c136e3c9c48ea45d62a4d0.png
    Figure 3.20 Roof outline in plan view and finished roof in 3D view

    Attaching walls to a roof

    1. Select an exterior wall on the model
    2. Select the Attach Top/Base icon Attach-Top-Base_N.jpg from the ribbon, under the Modify Wall panel
    3. Select the Roof
    4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until all the walls are attached to the roof

    clipboard_e59c0b0869416f08fd3e6c6ac00a0bf21.png
    Figure 3.21 Attached walls to roof in 3D view

    TIP

    Hold the Control Key down to select more than one wall at a time

    Editing a roof boundary

    1. In the Roof level, select the roof
    2. Select the Edit Footprint icon Edit-Boundary-Icon_N.jpg
    3. Check the box by Defines Slope for all walls in the Properties Palette as shown in Figure 3.22
    4. In the Properties Palette change the Slope to 6” / 12”
    5. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the Roof

    clipboard_e52491dd90f8cbe3a63ff7aa150e5e5cd.png
    Figure 3.22 Modified roof in plan view and finished roof in 3D view

    Roof by Extrusion

    1. In the 3D view, Click the Roof down arrow and select the Roof by Extrusion icon Roof-by-Extrusion_N.jpg
    2. The Work Plane window will open, click the Pick a plane option
    3. Click OK
    4. Select the straight wall on the right of the curved wall as shown in Figure 3.15
    5. The Roof Reference Level and Offset window will open, change the following parameters
      • Level: Roof
      • Offset: -1’ 0”
      • Click OK
    6. Select the Start-End-Radius Arc tool Star-end-radius-arc_N.jpg
    7. Hover the cursor over the top of the wall, when highlighted click to start placing an extrusion
    8. In the Properties Palette change the following parameters
      • Extrusion Start: 2’ 0”
      • Extrusion End: -10’ 0”
    9. Repeat Steps 1 through 8 and create two more arc extrusions
    10. Click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the extrusion

    clipboard_ecf827bc22297fe835c185099c25212de.png
    Figure 3.23 Arc roof extrusion in plan view and in 3D view

    3.5 CEILINGS

    Basic Ceilings

    Generic Ceiling

    A Generic Ceiling is a blank element with no applied materials. A material, pattern, texture, or color can be applied, and its depth altered.

    clipboard_e8b66d3a6dd3d065598ad9d4e16ce9765.png
    Figure 3.24 Basic Ceiling Generic

    Detailed Ceilings

    ACT System

    In section, this ceiling follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install an Acoustic Ceiling Tile System. The tiles come 2ft X 2ft and 2ft X 4ft.

    clipboard_e2ea117897b5336d27c4672f57374e9ea.png
    Figure 3.25 Compound Ceiling ACT system

    GWB on Metal Stud

    In section, this ceiling follows the correct layering of materials required by code to install the Gypsum Wall Board over a metal frame ceiling.

    clipboard_ebb2e1d4551455071772ace5761bb1d6c.png
    Figure 3.26 Compound Ceiling GWB on Metal Stud

    3.6 CREATE AND MODIFY CEILINGS

    Create a ceiling

    1. In the Project Browser, double-click to open the Level 1 Ceiling Plan
    2. Click on the Architecture tab.
    3. On the ribbon, under Build, select the Ceiling icon Ceiling-Icob_N.jpg
    4. Use the Type Selector to choose the 2’x4’ ACT System
    5. On the ribbon, choose the Automatic Ceiling icon Automatic-Ceiling_N.jpg
    6. Hover the cursor over the main space, when the interior faces highlight red, click to apply the ceiling as shown in Figure 3.27 for reference
    7. Use the Type Selector to choose the 2’x2’ ACT System
    8. On the ribbon, choose the Sketch Ceiling icon Ceiling-by-sketch_N.jpg
    9. Use the Line tool Line-tool_N.jpg and draw around the interior faces of the offices as shown in 3.27 for reference
    10. On the ribbon, click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the ceiling

    clipboard_e17322e06c2a26a0579198509d007ccf3.png
    Figure 3.27 ACT Systems shown in ceiling plan and in 3D view
    (In the 3D view two walls have been hidden from view to better show the ceiling system)

    Edit ceiling materials

    1. Open the Level 4 plan view from the Project Browser
    2. In the Architecture tab, click the Ceiling icon Ceiling-Icob_N.jpg
    3. Use the Type Selector to choose the GWB on Mtl. Stud
    4. In the Properties Palette, change the Height Offset from Level to 12’ 0”
    5. Click the Sketch Ceiling icon Ceiling-by-sketch_N.jpg
    6. Use the Line tool Line-tool_N.jpg and/or the Pick Lines tool Pick-Line_N.jpg to sketch the ceiling plan in Figure 3.29
    7. In the Properties Palette, click the Edit Type button Edit-Type_N.jpg
    8. The Type Properties window will open, click the Duplicate button
    9. Accept the default name ‘GWB on Mtl. Stud 2’ by clicking OK
    10. Click the Edit button next to Structure
    11. On the 4th line, next to Gypsum Wall Board select the square box with 3 dots 3-dot_N.jpg
    12. The Material Browser window will open, Click the Add Materials button Materials-icon_N.jpg and click the Duplicate Selected Material option
    13. Rename the material ‘Gypsum Pattern’
    14. Under the Graphics tab, find the Surface Pattern section
    15. In the subsection labeled Foreground, click the white box next to the pattern labeled <none>
    16. Scroll through the list of patterns and choose Sand – Dense
    17. Click OK to close all 4 windows
    18. On the ribbon, click the green checkmark Green-Check-Mark_N.jpg to complete the ceiling

    clipboard_ed652473d7577110e2a30b29dd35b92e3.png
    Figure 3.28 Adjusting the ceiling material properties

    clipboard_ee605960e48fbf90e9f66d84053a13f66.png
    Figure 3.29 View of Level 4 ceiling in plan view and a 3D view looking from the bottom to the top
    (In the 3D view two walls have been hidden from view to better show the ceiling system)

    TIP

    If the ceiling is not visible in the Level 4 Ceiling plan view, go to the Properties Palette, under the Underlay section, change the Range: Base Level to Roof

    Floors, Roofs, and Ceilings Video Tutorial

    This page titled 3: Floors, Roofs and Ceilings is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Atefe Makhmalbaf.

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