When adding an enclosed section to an existing enclosed volume, where the two enclosed areas are on different locations(as in a split-level) there seems to be three possible ways. Define the two locations, put walls on one of the locations then change to the other and either:
1. Click on a wall on the other location then add walls to go out around and back to a wall on the other location. When this is done the space looks enclosed but the SW mostly gets confused about what side of the wall is the exterior.
2. Click on the wall on the other location then enclose an area but after returning to the wall on the other level complete the enclosure by adding walls over the other location walls until walls complete a perimeter all on the location. The results look good in the 2d view but in 3d view blotches of the color of one wall show through the color of the other wall. Further if it is necessary to add a door through the double wall the SW may not find a valid edge.
3. Build the walls as described in #2 but then change the elevation of the upper level wall so that its bottom sits on the top of the lower level wall and reduce the height of the wall to match other walls. This seems like it should work but:
a. I have not been able to get the two walls to meet so there is not a gap
b. Doors work but how do I adjust ceiling to not interfere with the door?
c. The adjustment process is changes to several types of parameters and the numbers in each adjustment must match. For me that's an error prone process.
Is #3 the correct way? Is there a way to make the adjustments so that the SW has to do all the calculations?
Tom B
Hi Tom,
The basic solution to completing a 'room' that is in effect only 3 sides is to use the Room Divide tool as the fourth side. This is in effect an invisible wall. If you make sure that the Room Divide line intersects correctly with the other two walls, the program will see the room as complete and the Exterior surface will work correctly.
You can also force one side to be Exterior by using the tick boxes in the Wall Properties.
Allan