Create an opening in a roof

Step-by-step guide

Create a gable roof, and then create an opening to accommodate the chimney stack.

1. Open the project RF-Arch_Roof Opening_RVT2021.rvt. It opens in the 3D view.
2. In the Project Browser, in the Floor Plans section, double-click Level 3.

3. Zoom in on the main building.

To create the gable roof:

4. In the Architecture tab > Build panel, expand Roof and click Roof by Footprint.

5. In the Options Bar, deselect Defines slope and set the Overhang to 1'-0".
6. In the Draw panel, verify that Pick Walls is selected.
7. Hover over one wall and make sure the dashed line is on the outside of the walls.

8. Press TAB to select the rest of the walls.
9. Click to place the roof sketch.
10. Click Modify.
11. Select the top horizontal line and (with the CTRL key pressed), select one of the lower horizontal lines.

12. In the Options Bar, select Defines slope.
13. In the Modify | Create Roof Footprint tab > Mode panel, click Finish Edit Mode.
14. When prompted to attach the highlighted walls to the roof, click Attach.

15. Open the 3D view and select the chimney stack.

16. In the View Control Bar, expand Temporary Hide/Isolate, and select Hide Element.

17. Orbit around the 3D view to see that the chimney stack has been hidden, and that there is no opening.

18. Reset Temporary Hide/Isolate.
19. Open the Level 3 view and select the roof.
20. In the Modify | Roofs tab > Mode panel, click Edit Footprint.

21. In the Modify | Roofs > Edit Footprint tab > Draw panel, click Rectangle.
22. Sketch a rectangle around the chimney stack.

23. Click Finish Edit Mode.
24. Open the 3D view.
25. Select and hide the chimney stack.

Now, you can see the opening in the roof.

26. Reset Temporary Hide/Isolate.

Note that the rectangle is now part of the entire closed-loop footprint, meaning you would have to re-enter sketch mode to remove it.

To create an opening that is independent of the closed-loop footprint:

27. Open the Level 3 view.
28. In the Architecture tab > Opening panel, click Vertical.
29. Select the edge of the roof.
30. Draw a rectangle anywhere on the back of the roof.

31. Click Finish Edit Mode.
32. Open the 3D view.

Select and move the new opening. It is separate from the roof and can be edited without having to re-enter sketch mode.

33. Delete the opening.
34. Save the project.