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.

Figure 3.1 Floor Generic – 12”

Generic Filled

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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  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
5. Draw a 20’ 0” X 80’ 0” floor as shown in Figure 3.9
6. On the ribbon, click the green checkmark to complete the floor

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  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
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  to complete the floor
7. Select the floor
8. On the ribbon, click the Copy icon
9. On the ribbon, click the Paste icons  drop-down arrow
10. Click the Aligned to Selected Levels
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

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
5. Use the Line tool  to add a 5-foot-wide mezzanine as shown in Figure 3.11
6. Click the green checkmark  to complete the floor
7. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for Levels 3 and 4 floors.

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

Create a slope using the Slope Arrow

1. Click the Architecture tab
2. In the Level 1 view, click the Floor icon 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  as shown in Figure 3.12
5. Select the Slope Arrow icon  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  to complete the floor

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
4. Use the Line tool  and Trim tool  to cut off a 5ft X 5ft corner from the slab as shown in Figure 3.13
5. Click the green checkmark  to complete the floor
6. Select the floor
7. On the ribbon select the Add Split Line icon
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

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  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 to center the opening as shown in Figure 3.14
6. Click the green checkmark  to complete the floor

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  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  to complete the floor
6. In the 3D view, reposition the View Cube to verify the shaft opening cuts through all 3 floors

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.

Figure 3.16 Basic Roof Generic – 9”

Generic Filled

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

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.

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.

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  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 or the Pick Lines tool
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  to complete the floor

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  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

Figure 3.21 Attached walls to roof in 3D view

Editing a roof boundary

1. In the Roof level, select the roof
2. Select the Edit Footprint icon
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  to complete the Roof

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
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
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  to complete the extrusion

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.

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.

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.

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
4. Use the Type Selector to choose the 2’x4’ ACT System
5. On the ribbon, choose the Automatic Ceiling icon
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
9. Use the Line tool and draw around the interior faces of the offices as shown in 3.27 for reference
10. On the ribbon, click the green checkmark  to complete the ceiling

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
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
6. Use the Line tool  and/or the Pick Lines tool  to sketch the ceiling plan in Figure 3.29
7. In the Properties Palette, click the Edit Type button
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
12. The Material Browser window will open, Click the Add Materials button  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  to complete the ceiling

Figure 3.28 Adjusting the ceiling material properties

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)

Floors, Roofs, and Ceilings Video Tutorial