by John Flanagan
Introduction:
Designing roofs in Revit can pose certain difficulties particularly for users less familiar with roof modelling tools. Creating exact roof geometry and size for a new build or modelling an existing roof to given dimensions is not always straightforward. Some key principles, however, can help model quite a few roofs simply by using Revit’s ‘Roof by Footprint’ tool.
For more complex roof profile shapes, ‘Roof by Extrusion’ is typically used.
The two main methods of creating roofs in Revit are outlined below.
Adding a roof by footprint
■ 2D closed-loop sketch of the roof perimeter
■ Created when you select walls or draw lines in plan view
■ Created at level of view in which it was sketched
■ Height is controlled by Base Height Offset property
■ Openings are defined by additional closed loops
■ Slopes are defined when you apply a slope parameter to sketch lines
Adding a roof by extrusion
■ Open-loop sketch of the roof profile
■ Created when you use lines and arcs to sketch the profile in an elevation view
■ Height is controlled by the location of the sketch in elevation view
■ Depth is calculated by Revit Structure based on size of sketch, unless you specify start
and end points.
Note: The roofs on the title illustration were all created using the Roof by Footprint method.
Conclusion
Other Roof Types include gable roofs, dormers, lean too/ shed roofs. Practice with Revit’s roof tools to create the following roof types:
Gable Roof, Hip Roof, Shed Roof