Lesson Plan – Roofs Layout, Design, and Editing

Lesson Overview
This lesson explains the elements and materials that make
up roofs. It addresses roof construction, roof types, and the
necessary requirements for designing roofs.

Software: Autodesk® Revit® 2015 or higher

Time: 2 to 3 hours
Level: Intermediate
Datasets: Imperial included

Concepts Addressed
When you complete this unit, you will be able to:

 Describe the different materials used to build roofs

 List the materials and construction methods for building flat and sloping roofs
 Identify the different roof types
 Calculate the rise, run, and pitch of a sloped roof

Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson you will be able to:

 Create a roof from a footprint

 Create various roof types
 Assign roof structure and materials
 Create a hip roof
 Create a roof fascia
 Place gutters

Exercise Index

Exercise 01 Create an Extruded Roof Page 11

Exercise 02 Create a Gable Roof Page 17
Exercise 03 Create a Roof with a Vertical Penetration Page 19
Exercise 04 Create a Hip Roof Page 22
Exercise 05 Create a Shed Roof Page 25
Exercise 06 Create a Mansard Roof Page 27
Exercise 07 Assign a Roof Structure and Materials Page 29
Exercise 08 Create a Roof Fascia Page 31
Exercise 09 Place Gutters Page 33

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |1

Key Terms

cellulose hipped pitch

flat inorganic pyramidal
gable organic slope
gambrel phenolic shed
span tapered

Overview of Roofs

Roofs function as the main element for sheltering the interior spaces of a building. The slope and structure of a
roof must be compatible with the type of roofing material (shingles, tiles, or a continuous membrane) used to shed
rainwater and melting snow to a system of drains, gutters, and downspouts. A roof must be constructed to span
across space and carry its own weight, as well as the weight of any attached equipment and accumulated rain
and snow.

Valley Ridge

Hip

Rake

Gable

Dormer
Shed
Eave and Soffit

Materials and Terminology

The following terms are typically used with reference to roofs:

 Dormer: Projecting structures built out from a sloping roof that houses a vertical window or
ventilating louver

 Eave: The overhanging lower edge of a roof

 Gable: The triangular portion of a wall enclosing the end of a pitched roof from the ridge to eaves
 Hip: The projecting angle formed by the junction of two adjacent sloping sides of a roof
 Rake: The inclined, usually projecting edge of a sloping roof
 Ridge: The horizontal line of intersection at the top between two sloping planes of a roof
 Shed: A roof with a single slope
 Soffit: The underside of an overhanging roof eave

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |2

Materials

The roof of your house provides shelter from rain, snow, and sun. The surface of your roof determines how your
house looks, as well as how effective a shelter it is. How you relate your roof to the sky is very important. Sloped
roofs, both low and steep, are designed for shedding water and snow.

Roofing materials provide the water-resistant covering for a roof system. The type of roofing used depends on the
pitch of the roof structure.

Additional factors to take into consideration when selecting a roofing material are requirements for installation,
maintenance, durability, resistance to wind and fire; and if visible, the roofing pattern, texture, and color.

The following materials are used in building roofs:

 Composition shingles are a good choice for a clean look at an affordable price. They come in several
types, brands, and colors. You can use them for many different applications. They are easy to install and
require low maintenance.

 Wood shingles are normally cut from red cedar with a fine, even grain and are naturally resistant to water,
rot, and sunlight.

 Wood shakes are formed by splitting a short log into a number of tapered radial sections, resulting in at
least one textured face.

 Slate shingles are an extremely durable, fire-resistant, and low maintenance roofing material. These are
used more often on upscale homes.

 Tile roofing consists of clay or concrete units that overlap or interlock to create a strong textural pattern.
They are fire-resistant, durable, and require little maintenance. They are also heavy and require framing
that is strong enough to carry the weight of the tiles.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |3

  Sheet metal roofing may be copper, zinc alloy, galvanized steel, or terne metal (a stainless steel plated
alloy of tin and lead). A sheet metal roof is characterized by a strong visual pattern of interlocking seams
and articulated ridges and roof edges.

 Corrugated metal roofing consists of ribbed panels spanned between roof beams or purlins running
across the slope. The roof panel may be made of aluminum with a natural mill or enameled finish,
galvanized steel, fiberglass, reinforced plastic, or corrugated structural glass.

A primary function of a roof covering is to provide a material that sheds water, but of equal importance is its ability
to provide thermal protection. In a house with a cathedral ceiling, the roof forms the ceilings of the rooms below. A
dark-colored shingle will affect the interior environment by absorbing solar heat from the sun during the day. This
same roof on a clear, cool night will transmit more heat from the house than would a light-colored roof. A white or
nearly white roof will reflect solar radiation during the day and will not radiate much heat at night. Therefore, a light
roof helps to keep a house cool during the day and warm at night. Unfortunately, the roof has to stay relatively
clean in order to function properly.

If thermal insulation is required under a shingle roof, choose a type that will suit your needs.
Insulation comes in the following forms:
 Blankets: Rolls made of glass fiber
 Batts: Precut blankets in standard sizes
 Fiberglass: Loose insulation requiring blown-in installation
 Cellulose fiber: Recycled paper particles treated with chemicals and blown-in or sprayed
 Foam-in-place: Liquid foamed plastic
 Phenolic or rigid foam: Sheets or board of foamed plastic such as polyurethane or polystyrene

When choosing the insulation for your job, consider such factors as cost, quality, and special
characteristics (for example, odor, treatment for insects, and so forth), and insulating capability (R-value).

Roof Construction

Flat roofs require a continuous-membrane roofing material. The minimum recommended slope is 1/4" per foot
(1:50). The slope usually leads to interior drains. Flat roofs can efficiently cover a building of any horizontal
dimension, and may be structured and designed to serve as an outdoor space. Flat roofs may be structured using
the following materials and methods:

 Reinforced concrete slabs

 Flat timber or steel trusses

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |4

  Timber or steel beams and decking

 Wood or steel joists and sheathing

Sloping Roofs

Sloping roofs may be categorized into the following:

 Low slope: up to 3:12
 Medium slope: 4:12 to 7:12
 High slope: 7:12 to 12:12

The roofing material used, the requirements for underlayment, eave flashing, and design wind loads are all
affected by the roof slope.

Steeper slopes are required in areas with snowfall to ensure the weight of the snow does not cause the roof to
collapse.

The height and area of a sloping roof increase with its horizontal dimensions.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |5

Sloping roofs may be constructed using the following materials and methods:
 Wood or steel rafters and sheathing

 Timber or steel beams, purlins, and decking

 Timber or steel trusses

Roof Types

The types of roofs are illustrated in this lesson:

 Gable
 Cross Gable
 Flat
 Hipped
 Cross Hipped
 Pyramidal
 Shed

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |6

  Mansard
 Gambrel
 Salt Box

Gable

A triangular roof that enables rain and snow to easily run off.

Cross Gable

Two intersecting gable roofs.

Flat

A roof that lies flat and has a very minimal slope or none at all.

Hipped

A low-pitched roof that enables rain and snow to easily run off. The hipped roof allows eaves all around a building.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |7

Cross Hipped

Two hipped roofs that intersect.

Pyramidal

A hip roof built on a square base with eaves of the same length.

Shed

One basic face with a slope. Similar to a gable roof because it also enables rain and snow to run off.

Mansard

A gable roof with a flat area at the top, as opposed to being perfectly triangular. These are commonly used in
French-style houses.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |8

Gambrel

A gable roof with two sloped edges on each face. Many barns use gambrel roofs.

Salt Box

Similar to a gable roof, but the two sides are not symmetrical.

Roof Slope

The angle of incline on a roof is referred to as the slope or pitch. Rise and run values are used to show it as the
slope; whereas, rise and span are used to show it as the pitch.

A number indicates the value of the rise, run, and span. The run value is typically equal to 12.
 Run = 12
 Slope = rise:run
 Span = 2*run or 24
 Pitch = rise/span

If the slope of this roof is displayed as 2:12, the pitch is displayed as 1/12.
Common slopes are:

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing Page |9

  1 1/2:12  6:12  18:12
 3:12  8:12  24:12
 5:12  12:12

When designing a roof, try to specify standard roof pitch.

Slope is usually noted as a ratio, and pitch is noted as a fraction.
Terminology used to describe roof pitch or slope include 7/12, 7-12, 7 to 12, 7 and 12, 7 on 12.

Exterior elevations should include a slope note for the roofs.

The note consists of a horizontal line to indicate the run and a vertical line to indicate the rise.

Roofs
About This Lesson

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

 Create a roof from a footprint
 Create various roof types
 Assign roof structure and materials
 Create a hip roof
 Create a roof fascia
 Place gutters

Roofs in Autodesk® Revit®

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 10

The roof of a building is its top layer of protection against weather. All roofs have to be impervious to wind, water,
snow, or ice, and must have a system for draining water away from the building. Roof systems are quite varied in
design and materials. Roofs are created in Revit Architecture software by the following three methods:

 Footprint
 Extrusion
 Face

To create a roof by footprint, you specify the outline of a roof in a plan view. You then define the slope(s) of the
roof by identifying lines in the footprint that are edges of sloping roof planes.
To create a roof by the extrusion method, you sketch the profile of the roof in an elevation view and extrude it
horizontally. You can either specify the depth of the extrusion by setting a start point and an endpoint, or by letting
Revit Architecture automatically specify the depth.

To create a roof by face, you work with massing shapes and not building components. Creating roofs by using
faces is covered in Unit 2, Exercise 1: Designing with Building Forms.

Revit provides you with the ability to define roof structures so you can assign materials and layers to your roof.
Once you create a roof, you can add gutters, soffits, dormers, and fascia.
 Gutters are channels at the roof edges, or eaves, that convey rainwater to drains
 Soffits are the visible underside of structural members such as cornices and beams, or roof overhangs
 Dormers are projections in a sloping roof
 A cornice is a horizontal projection at the top of a wall or under the overhanging part of the roof
 A fascia is a vertical member at the outside edge of a cornice, often supporting a gutter
Key Terms

cornice face gutter

dormer fascia pitch
extrusion footprint soffit

Exercise: Create an Extruded Roof

In this exercise, you create an extruded roof. To

create an extruded roof, the top of the roof profile is
sketched, and then extruded by applying a thickness
value.

The completed exercise

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 11

Create an Extruded Roof

1) Open Roofs_01_Exercise.rvt

2) Verify that the Floor Plan: Level 1 view is active.

4) In the Work Plane dialog box, select the Name

option. Select Reference Plane : Breezeway
You place the roof in the area indicated by the from the list. Click OK to continue.
red rectangle.

5) You are prompted to select a view to use while

sketching the roof. A section view parallel to the
work plane has been defined.
Reference planes are required to sketch this
roof. This exercise file has one reference plane
defined for your use as shown in the In the Go To View dialog box, select Section:
illustration. Section 1. Click Open View.

6) In the Roof Reference Level and Offset dialog

box, select Level 2 with an offset of 0' 0".

3) Click Architecture tab > Build panel Roof >

Roof by Extrusion.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 12

 The section view should display as shown.
Drawing the Reference Planes
7) The Modify | Create Extrusion Roof Profile
context tab is open. Before sketching the roof's
profile, you define four reference planes to help
determine key points on the sketch.
On the Work Plane panel, click Ref Plane.
8) In the Place Reference Plane context tab, Draw
panel, click Line.
9) Sketch a reference plane 1' 6" to the left of the
left side wall:
 On the Options Bar, enter 1' 6" for the
Offset value.
 Sketch from down to up on the external
face of the wall.
 Use the image below for guidance.
Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing
10) Sketch top to bottom on the external (right)
side of the right hand wall to place a reference
plane 1' 6" to the right of the right exterior wall
face of the breezeway.
11) Add a vertical reference plane midway between
the breezeway walls.
To keep the reference plane centered:
 Click Modify to end drawing reference
planes
 Left click to select the reference plane
just drawn
 Click the icon below the temporary
dimensions that display on each side of
the new reference plane to make the
dimensions permanent
 Select the new dimension
 Click the EQ toggle near the dimension
string to center the reference line
P a g e | 13
 Image below shows EQ enabled

Click APPLY button.

The name displays when you select the

reference plane.

15) To sketch the roof profile:

 On the Draw panel, click Line.
 On the Options Bar, click Chain.

16) Start your line at the intersection of the two

reference planes to the left of the vertical wall.

12) Using the image below for guidance, sketch a

horizontal reference plane 1' 6" below Level 2.
Using a positive offset value, sketch from right
to left along the Level line.
17) Your third point is at the intersection of the
right reference plane and the horizontal
reference plane.

Right-click. Click Cancel to terminate the Line

tool.

Use Reference Planes to Create a Roof Profile

To make it easy to identify the reference planes, you

can label them. 18) Your next point is at the intersection of Level 2
and the centered reference plane.
13) Click Modify. Select the horizontal reference
plane you just placed.
.
14) On the Properties palette, for Name, enter
Horizontal.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 14

19) On the Mode panel, click Finish.
20) Revit creates the roof using the Generic - 12"
type.
21) Switch to a 3D view.
Notice that the roof penetrates the walls
inappropriately.
Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing
Join/Unjoin Roof
To change the length of the roof extrusion, you use
the Join/Unjoin Roof command. Not only does this
adjust the length of the roof, it mates the roof edges
to the exterior walls.
22) On the Modify tab, Edit Geometry panel, click
Join/Unjoin Roof.
This is a two-step process.
 Select the edge of the roof as shown.
 Then select the exterior wall face of the
garage.
23) The roof extends to meet the selected wall
surface.
P a g e | 15
 roof.

24) Click Join/Unjoin Roof again.

Using the images for guidance, carefully select Trim Walls
the far right roof edge. Then select the exterior
(left) face of the wall at the right side of the 26) In the Project Browser, open the view Sections:
breezeway. Section 1.

27) Select both walls.

To select both walls together, hold down the

CTRL key while selecting them in turn.

25) The roof is now trimmed on both sides.

28) On the Modify Wall panel, click Attach: Top/
However, the vertical walls extrude through the
Base.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 16

 In this exercise, you:
 Created a roof using an extrusion
 Placed reference planes to help sketch the
roof profile
 Used Join/UnJoin to trim the roof to the
On the Options Bar, select Attach Wall: Top. walls
 Used Top/Base: Attach to trim walls to the
roof
Select the roof. This will join the wall tops to
the roof.
Exercise: Create a Roof from a Footprint

The roof footprint is a 2D sketch of the perimeter of

a roof. You draw the footprint using sketching tools,
or you can select walls to help define the roof
outline. You can specify a value to control the
footprint offset from existing walls. The footprint
sketch is created at the same level of the plan view
where it is sketched.

The height of the roof base can be offset from this

level using Properties. The sketch must contain a
closed section representing the outside of the roof,
and may also contain other closed loops inside the
perimeter sketch. The inner loops define openings in
the roof.
29) Switch to a 3D view. In this exercise, you create a gable roof using a
footprint.

The roof now looks correct.

The completed exercise

30) Save the file as Create a Gable Roof

Roofs_01_Exercise_finished.rvt.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 17

1) Open Roofs_02_Exercise.rvt or continue
working from the previous exercise.
2) On the Architecture tab, Build panel, click Roof >
Roof by Footprint
 In the Draw panel, click Pick Walls
 On Options Bar, click Defines Slope
 Set the value for Overhang to 2' - 0"

6) Select the right vertical wall of the garage. Use

the image below for guidance. Make sure the
dashed green line is to the right of the wall. If
you place a line on the wrong side, the double
arrow placement control enables you to toggle
the line from side to side.

3) Because you are in a 3D view, a dialog box is

displayed, prompting you to define the level the
roof resides on. From the drop-down list, select
Garage Roof. Click Yes.

7) Next, select the vertical wall on the left.

4) Use the ViewCube to orient the 3D view to the

Top, so you look straight down as in a plan.

8) To finish the roof sketch:

 On the Options Bar, clear the Defines
slope option.

 Select the top horizontal wall and

5) The Modify | Create Roof Footprint context tab bottom horizontal wall.
opens. To start the roof sketch:

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 18

 11) To complete the roof, click Finish.

This creates a closed loop and completes the

roof footprint sketch.

Change the Roof Pitch

When prompted to attach the exterior garage
To change the roof pitch, you can edit the roof walls to the roof, click Yes.
properties or change the properties of the slope,
defining lines separately. When a roof line is set to
slope defining, the slope arrow symbol displays next
to it. Two slope arrows display in our roof sketch.

9) Click Modify. Select the left slope defining line.

By default, roof slope is set to a 9" rise over a
12" run. That value displays next to the slope
arrow. Other controls also display. The new roof displays.

10) Click the 9"/12" text. It becomes an editable
field. Change this value to 6"/12". Click beside
the edit box to enter the value.
12) Use the Home icon of the ViewCube to reorient
the view away from Top.
Note: Home icon appear only when hovering
over ViewCube.

Spin the view to see the new roof and attached

walls.

Select the right side roof line. In the Slope field

of the Properties palette for that line, change
the value to 6"/12".

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 19

 Open or continue working in
Roofs_03_Exercise.rvt.

The file opens to a 3D view.

1) Open view Floor Plan: Level 3.

2) On Architecture tab, Build panel, click Roof >

Roof by Footprint.

13) Save the file as

Roofs_02_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you created a roof using a footprint

and you modified the slope.

Exercise: Create a Roof with a Vertical

Penetration

In this exercise, you create a gable roof using

a footprint. The roof requires an opening to 3) On the Options Bar, set the overhang to 1' 0".
accommodate a chimney. Clear Defines Slope.

The completed exercise

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 20

4) Click Draw panel > Pick Walls. 7) Using the image for guidance, sketch a
rectangle over the chimney's exterior face.

To chain-select all of the walls, place your

cursor over one of the walls and press the TAB
key. When all of the walls pre-highlight, click to
select them.

As an alternate, you can activate the Pick Lines

option and select the four sides of the chimney.
Create a Roof Opening

5) Zoom into the chimney area.

8) Right-click. Click Zoom To Fit to view the entire

floor plan.

6) On the Draw panel, click Rectangle. On the Add Slope Lines

Options Bar, verify the 0' 0" Offset.
9) Click Modify. Select the uppermost, horizontal
line.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 21

 15) Switch to a 3D view to see the roof, attached
walls, and chimney penetration.

10) On the Options Bar, select Defines Slope.

11) Select the left lower horizontal line.

16) Save the file as

Roofs_03_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you created a roof with an opening

for the chimney and applied slopes to existing roof
lines.

Exercise: Create a Hip Roof

12) On the Options Bar, select the Defines Slope.
The slope indicator displays. In this exercise, you create a hip roof.

13) Click Finish.

The completed exercise

1) Open Roofs_04_Exercise.rvt or continue

working in Roofs_03_Exercise_finished.rvt.
The file should open to a 3D view.
14) When prompted to attach the walls to the roof,
click Yes. As in the previous exercise, the view
Cut Plane makes the roof appear incomplete.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 22

2) Open view Floor Plan: Level 2. Select the three walls shown in the image.

3) Zoom into the area shown.

7) Roof sketches must create a closed loop. In

addition, sketched lines cannot overlap or
intersect each other. To close the roof sketch,
you use the Line tool.
 On the Draw panel, click Line.

4) On the Architecture tab, Build panel, click Roof >

Roof by Footprint.

 Clear Defines Slope.

 Draw a line with no offset to close the
roof sketch.

5) On the Options Bar, set Overhang to 2' - 0".

Select Defines Slope.

6) Click Pick Walls if it is not already active

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 23

8) Use the Trim tool to clean up the corners of the 11) Switch to a 3D View.
roof sketch if needed. Right-click the ViewCube. Click View > Orient to
a Direction > Northeast Isometric to quickly flip
to the rear of the building.

Raise the Roof

9) On the Properties palette, change the value of

the parameter Base Offset From Level to 2' - 0".

Click APPLY button.

10) Click Finish to complete the roof.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 24

 Join/Unjoin Roof

12) To properly join the new rooftop to the main

building, click Modify tab > Edit Geometry
panel > Join/Unjoin Roof.

Select the edge of the hip roof first, and then

the face of the bordering exterior wall as 13) Save the file as
shown. Roofs_04_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you created a hip roof using a

footprint, and then joined it to a wall.

Exercise: Create a Shed Roof

In this exercise, you create a shed roof using the

footprint method.

The completed exercise

Create a Shed Roof

1) Open Roofs_05_Exercise.rvt or continue

working in Roofs_04_Exercise_finished.rvt

The file should open to a 3D view.

The hip roof joins to the wall and continues into 2) Open view Floor Plan: Level 2.
the main roof.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 25

3) Use Zoom In Region to zoom into the area 8) On the Draw panel, click Line.
shown.

9) Set the Offset to 0' 0".

10) Draw a line along the outside face of the wall to

4) Click Home tab > Build panel > Roof > Roof by close the roof sketch.
Footprint.

11) Use the Trim tool to clean up the roof sketch

profile.

5) On the Draw panel, click Pick Walls.

6) Set the Overhang to 1' 0". Clear Defines Slope.

12) Click Modify. Select the lower, horizontal line at
the front of the roof.
7) Select the three walls that define the entryway 13) Right-click the line. Click Toggle Slope Defining.
as shown.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 26

14) On the Properties palette, edit the Base Offset
From Level parameter to 2’-0”. Set the Slope to
6”/12”.

18) Save the file as

Roofs_05_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you created a shed roof using a

footprint.

Click APPLY button. Exercise: Create a Mansard Roof

15) Finish the Roof. In this exercise, you create a mansard roof by
cutting off a roof at a specific level and adding an
additional roof on top of it.

16) When prompted to attach the walls to the roof,

click Yes.

17) Switch to a 3D view. The completed exercise

Click the Home icon above the ViewCube
to return the view to Southeast Isometric Create a Mansard Roof
orientation.
1) Open Roofs_06_Exercise.rvt

2) Activate the view North Elevation.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 27

 5) Open Floor Plan: Level 3.

You see four levels defined in the model. You

will constrain the current roof so that it does
not rise above Level 3. 6) On the Home tab, click Roof > Roof by
Footprint.
3) Select the Roof. On the Properties palette,
Cutoff Level list, select Level 3.

7) On the Draw panel, click Pick Lines.

On the Options Bar, select Defines Slope.

Click APPLY button

8) Select the inner rectangle as shown.

The roof updates.

4) Open the Default 3D view. On the menu bar,

click View > Orient > Northeast to orient the
view.
Notice that the roof is cut off at level 3.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 28

 Roof design is an important consideration for
9) To set the slope for the new roof, select all sustainable design. Roof insulation prevents heat
sketch lines and in the Properties palette, set the loss in cold weather and unwanted heat gain in
slope value to 3"/12". summer, thereby reducing energy consumption.

Click APPLY button

10) Finish the Roof.

The completed exercise

Assign a Roof Structure and Materials

11) Switch to a 3D View. Zoom and spin to see your
model.
1) Open Roofs_07_Exercise.rvt or continue
working in Roofs_05_Exercise_finished.rvt

The file should open to a 3D view.

2) Select the main roof over the house.

12) Save the file as

Roofs_06_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you created a mansard roof using

the footprint method and modifying properties.

Exercise: Assign a Roof Structure and Materials

In this exercise, you specify the material and

insulation used in your roof. A roof is considered a
compound structure and is defined similarly to a
wall.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 29

3) In the Type Selector, select Basic Roof: Wood  For Name, enter Clay Tile.
Rafter 8" - Asphalt Shingle Insulated.

 Click OK.

6) For Structure Value, click Edit.

Define a Roof Structure

7) Select Layer 2 as shown.
4) Select the roof over the garage. It is a generic
roof type.

Click Insert to add a layer.

8) Set the following properties:

5) To define a new roof type:
 On the Properties palette, click Edit
Type.
 Set Layer 2 Function to Structure [1]
 Click the ellipse button indicated by
Mark 1 to assign materials
 Set the Layer 2 Material to Masonry-Tile

 In the Type Properties dialog box, click

Duplicate.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 30

 9) Click OK twice.
 Set the Layer 2 Thickness to 6"
 Set Layer 3 Function to Thermal/Air
Layer
 Set the Layer 3 Material to Insulation/
Thermal Barriers-Rigid Insulation
 Set the Layer 3 Thickness to 2"

 In the Materials dialog box, click the pattern

field for Surface Pattern, indicated by Mark 1  Click OK button
 In the Fill Pattern dialog box, select Model
indicated by Mark 2 10) Click OK to exit the dialog box.
The garage roof displays a pattern.
 Select the Shake surface pattern indicated
by Mark 3

11) Save the file as

Roofs_07_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you defined a new roof structure

and assigned roof materials.

Exercise: Create a Roof Fascia

A cornice is a horizontal projection at the top of a

wall or under the overhanging part of a roof. A fascia
is a flat member placed in a vertical position at the
outside edge of a cornice or roof to serve as a drip
edge, to support a gutter, or for decoration.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 31

In this exercise, you define and add a fascia to an
existing roof. 4) On the Home tab, click Roof > Fascia

The completed exercise

5) To create a new fascia type using the profile you
Create a Roof Fascia just loaded:
 On the Properties palette, click Edit
1) Open Roofs_08_Exercise.rvt Type.

2) On the Insert tab, click Load From Library panel

> Load Family

3) In the Open dialog box, open the  Click Duplicate

Imperial/Profiles/RoofsImperial/Profiles/Roofs
Select Fascia-Built-Up.rfa 6) For Name, enter Built-up Fascia as the new
fascia type.

Click Open

 Click OK.

7) In the Type Properties dialog box, for Profile,

select Fascia-Built Up: 1 x 12 w 1 x 8.
Set the Material value to Metal - Paint Finish -

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 32

 Ivory, Matte. In this exercise, you defined and applied a roof
fascia.

Exercise: Place Gutters

Gutters are important because they collect rainwater

and route it away from the building walls and
foundation. Architects are careful to make gutters
unobtrusive, so as not to detract from the design of
Click OK to exit the dialog box the building.

8) Verify that your new fascia type is listed in the

Type Selector list.

Move the cursor to the top edge of a roof

overhang.

The completed exercise

Place Gutters

In this exercise, you add gutters to a building.

1) Open Roofs_09_Exercise.rvt or continue from

the previous exercise file. The file should open
Select all of the roof edges to place fascia to a 3D view.
segments.
2) On the Architecture tab, click Roof > Gutter

9) Save the file as

Roofs_08_Exercise_finished.rvt
3) To create a gutter type for this project:

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 33

  On the Properties palette, click Edit
Type
 Click Duplicate

4) For Name, enter Cove Shape Gutter as the

new gutter type. Click OK.

Note: Fascias have interior and exterior

faces. If you click the interior face, the gutter
5) In the Type Properties dialog box, under Profile displays on the wrong side. You can use the
parameter, select Gutter - Bevel: 5" x 5". double-arrow orientation control to flip gutter
Under Material parameter, select Metal - segments as necessary.
Aluminum. Click OK
10) Place gutters on the eaves of the garage roof as
well.

6) Click OK to exit the Type Properties dialog box

7) Verify that your new Cove Shape Gutter type

appears in the Type Selector

8) Move the cursor to the top outside edge of the

fascia

11) Save the file as

Roofs_09_Exercise_finished.rvt

In this exercise, you attached gutters to a roof.

9) Select all the fascia top edges to place gutter

segments. Segments will clean up at corners.

Lesson Plan – Roof Layout, Design, and Editing P a g e | 34