# Creating Wall, Floor & Roof

### Introduction <a href="#introduction" id="introduction"></a>

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a basic building structure in Dietrich's software, including walls, floors, and a roof. We'll use a simple rectangular building as an example.<br>

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/zYHRz-KhMlg>" %}

This tutorial demonstrates the fundamental workflow for creating walls, floors, and roofs using Dietrich's construction software. The software provides an integrated approach to building design, allowing users to create complete building structures with proper dimensions, materials, and construction details. This is part of the comprehensive Dietrich's timber construction program suite that includes modules for wall design, floor planning, and roof calculation.

The tutorial follows a sequential approach where each building element depends on the previous ones: walls form the foundation structure, floors are created based on wall layouts, and roofs are calculated from the building outline. All elements maintain 3D relationships and can be visualized together for comprehensive building visualization.

### Prerequisites

Before beginning this tutorial, ensure you have:

* Dietrich's construction software with wall, floor, and roof modules installed
* Access to the building icon and layer templates
* Basic familiarity with the software interface
* Understanding of Imperial measurement system (feet and inches)

### Tutorial Workflow

#### Step 1: Project Setup and New Building Creation

1. **Start New Project**
   * Right-click in Project Administration
   * Select "New Project"
   * Choose "Building" as project type
   * Name the project for "Wall Floor and Roof buildup"
2. **Initialize Building Module**
   * Click "Start" to begin the project
   * Select the "Building" icon from the toolbar
   * Choose "Layer Template Imperial" for measurement units
   * Set starting position number to "01" (or any preferred number)

#### Step 2: Floor Plan Setup and Wall Creation

1. **Access Floor Plan Module**
   * The software automatically opens in the floor plan view when wall/floor/roof modules are active
   * Option to import reference files (2D file, PDF, DXF, DWG, or image) or start from scratch
   * For this tutorial, we will start with direct wall input
2. **Configure Wall Properties**
   * Navigate to wall creation tool (option "2" or use direct input)
   * Access the pull-down menu and select favorite wall configuration
   * Configure wall parameters in the dialogue box:
     * **Story Setting**: Set to "Ground Floor" as starting level
     * **Wall Buildup**: Uses half-inch drywall, stick framing with insulation, and OSB sheathing
     * **Guidelines**: Standard 2x6 framing guideline attached
     * **Wall Height**: Set to 10 feet
     * **Wall Position**: Set to "fuse side" (outside edge)
     * **Direction**: Connect walls going clockwise, right to left when looking from outside
     * **Wall Type**: Exterior wall
3. **Create Building Outline**

   * Click "OK" to confirm wall settings
   * Click on the origin point on screen to start wall placement
   * Input wall dimensions using keyboard:
     * **First Wall**: Use up arrow key, input "16.." (16 feet)
     * **Second Wall**: Use right arrow key, input "24.." (24 feet)
     * **Third Wall**: Use down arrow key, input "16.." (16 feet)
     * **Fourth Wall**: Use left arrow key, input "24.." (24 feet)

   *Note: Double dots (..) indicate feet measurement. Single numbers default to inches, "16.25" equals 16 and 1/4 inches*
4. **Automatic Features**
   * The software automatically adds dimensions
   * Fuse (outside edge) of walls is clearly marked
   * Building outline creates a simple rectangular structure

#### Step 3: Door Installation

1. **Access Door Module**
   * Navigate to doors section (number "4" or use door icon)
   * Select "4-1-1" for rectangular door or use door icons
   * Choose from favorites pull-down menu for preferred door configuration
2. **Place Door**
   * Click on the wall where the door will be located
   * Dialog box opens showing door sizes and wall guidelines
   * **Positioning**: Select "Enter by Center"
   * Click on the center of the chosen wall
   * **Horizontal Adjustment**: Move right or left as needed (keep at zero for center)
   * **Door Swing Direction**: Choose inside or outside opening with right-click
   * **Hinge Side**: Adjust hinge side with right-click after confirming direction
   * Left-click to confirm and place door

#### Step 4: Window Installation

1. **Access Window Module**
   * Navigate to windows (number "4" or use window icon - blue icons indicate windows)
   * Select rectangular window option
   * Choose 4x4 window size from available options
2. **Place First Window**
   * Click on desired wall for window placement
   * The window appears as a logic block showing window type and specifications
   * **Positioning**: Select "Enter by outside corner"
   * Click on outside corner reference point
   * **Offset**: Move window 2 feet from corner
   * Click "OK" to confirm placement
3. **Place Second Window**
   * Select the same wall
   * Use the same window configuration
   * Position 2 feet from the opposite corner
   * Automatic dimensioning updates to show all measurements

#### Step 5: Floor Creation

1. **Access Floor Module**
   * Navigate to floor creation (1-2-3 for floor or use floor icon)
   * Select floor module from toolbar
2. **Configure Floor Properties**
   * **Copy Walls Feature**: Since wall outline matches desired floor area, select "Copy Walls"
   * Review floor properties showing:
     * 6-inch concrete base layer
     * Terra cotta tiles as finish surface
     * Additional insulation layers available but not used in this example
   * Save changes and click "OK"
3. **Position Floor**
   * Position floor directly underneath walls at zero elevation
   * Use measure button if uncertain about height positioning
   * Execute "Copy Walls" command to generate floor
4. **Floor Visualization**
   * Switch to 3D view (9-6) to see floor installation
   * Tiles extend to inside wall face
   * Concrete foundation extends to wall exterior
   * Right-click or press Escape to exit floor mode

#### Step 6: Roof Construction

1. **Access Roof Module**
   * Navigate to roof creation (1-5 or roof icon)
   * Use "Copy Walls" function to create building outline for roof calculation
2. **Apply Roof Properties**
   * **Building Site Creation**: Copying walls creates the "building site" for roof application
   * Access building site properties (2-8 or building site icon)
   * Select roof surfaces (number 4 and number 2 surfaces)
   * Right-click to access roof buildup properties
3. **Configure Roof Buildup**
   * Select roof configuration from e-learning folder: "2x8 Rafter Roof"
   * **Roof Layers** (from inside to outside):
     * Half-inch drywall (interior finish)
     * 2x8 rafters (structural framing)
     * Half-inch plywood (sheathing)
     * Asphalt shingles (exterior finish)
   * **Wall Integration**: Controls how walls extend to roof line
4. **Set Roof Parameters**
   * **Roof Slope**: Input as degrees or calculate using pitch ratio
   * **Example**: 8/12 pitch automatically calculates proper angle
   * **Overhang**: Set 24-inch overhang on eave sides
   * **Eave Calculation**: Software calculates eave relationships
   * **Height Settings**:
     * Heel height or perpendicular offset from wall plate
     * 6-inch perpendicular offset for this example
     * 10-foot wall height measured to outside of OSB sheathing
     * 0.5-inch offset for OSB thickness
5. **Complete Roof Calculation**
   * Click "OK" to calculate eave dimensions
   * **Gable End Overhangs**: Before final calculation, apply 24-inch overhangs to gable ends
   * Select two gable ends, right-click, and enter 24-inch overhang
   * Execute roof generation

#### Step 7: Gable Wall Construction

1. **Assess Roof Integration**
   * Switch to 3D view (9-6 or L button) to examine roof-to-wall relationship
   * Notice walls are 10 feet high, requiring gable end walls above this point
2. **Create Upper Story**
   * Return to floor plan view
   * Navigate to story creation (2-1)
   * Select "New" to create upper story for gable walls
   * **Start Height**: Set to 10 feet (matching existing wall height)
   * Click "OK" and make new story current
3. **Build Gable Walls**
   * Access wall creation tool (2x6 wall configuration)
   * Confirm wall settings
   * **First Gable Wall**: Create wall from one gable end to the other
   * **Second Gable Wall**: Right-click to repeat function, use plus sign for repetition
   * Create matching wall on opposite gable end
4. **Final Visualization**
   * Turn on roof objects and wall displays
   * Toggle between ground floor and upper floor stories using navigator
   * Verify complete building assembly with walls, floor, and roof integration

### Measurement System Notes

The software uses Imperial measurements with specific input conventions:

* **Feet Input**: Use double dots (..) after number (e.g., "16.." = 16 feet)
* **Inch Input**: Single number without dots (e.g., "16" = 16 inches)
* **Fractional Inches**: Use decimal (e.g., "16.25" = 16 and 1/4 inches)
* **Feet and Inches**: Combine using dots (e.g., "1.3." = 1 foot 3 inches)

### Key Features Demonstrated

1. **Integrated Workflow**: Wall, floor, and roof modules work together seamlessly
2. **Automatic Dimensioning**: Software maintains dimensional relationships automatically
3. **3D Visualization**: All 2D input creates 3D building components
4. **Copy Functions**: Efficient building creation using wall outlines for floors and roofs
5. **Logic Blocks**: Doors and windows contain complete specification information
6. **Material Layering**: Wall, floor, and roof assemblies include multiple material layers
7. **Building Physics**: Components ready for structural analysis and material takeoffs

### Next Steps

This tutorial establishes the basic building structure ready for:

* **Wall Framing**: Detailed timber frame component generation
* **Material Ordering**: Automated material lists and cutting schedules
* **Construction Documentation**: Plan generation and construction drawings
* **Structural Analysis**: Load calculations and engineering verification

The building model created in this tutorial serves as the foundation for all subsequent construction planning and documentation processes within the Dietrich's software system.
