Adding Roof Elements

Once a roof object has been created, roof elements, such as dormer windows and skylights, can be added.

Creating Dormer Windows

VectorWorks can create a wide variety of dormer windows in roofs. There are five styles to select from: trapezium, gable, shed, hip, and bat; each gable type has unique parameters. The Edit Roof Element dialog box, used to create and edit the dormers, changes according to the style of dormer chosen.

Dormer walls are always drawn in a clockwise direction for easy texture application.

To create a gable dormer window in a roof object:

1.	Select View > Standard Views > Top/Plan.

2.	Select Window > Palettes > Resource Browser.

3.	Select a window symbol.

The window must be a symbol, not a plug-in object.

4.	Select Make Active from the Resources menu. The 3D Symbol Insertion tool is automatically activated from the 3D Modeling tool set.

5.	Click to place the symbol in the roof object.

The roof must be a roof object with a fill, and not simply a roof face.

The Edit Roof Element dialog box opens.

6.	Click Edit Dormer.

7.	Select the dormer style.

The parameters automatically change according to the selected dormer style, with values for placing the dormer at the location specified with the mouse click.

Parameter	Dormer Style	Description
Center vertically	All	Places the center of the window symbol in the center of the available vertical space in the front face of the dormer; the normal insertion point is not used
Offset from top	All	Locates the top of the window symbol a set distance from the top of the dormer face; the normal insertion point is not used
Height offset	All	Indicates the vertical distance from the top of the point of engagement with the roof, or where the roof and the dormer meet, to the bearing point, which is usually along the top of the bearing wall
Building line offset	All	Specifies the distance from the building outline to the plan center of the window symbol
Offset from corner	All	Sets the distance from the corner of the roof to the center of the dormer; the roof corner that the measurement is taken from is always to the left of the dormer when facing it
Top width	Trapezium, Bat	Determines the width of the top roof and sets the front face’s trapezoid shape; the front face is always symmetrical when using this option
Right slope	Trapezium, Gable, Hip	Determines the angle of the right edge of the front face; the front face can be asymmetrical when using this option
Left slope	Trapezium, Gable, Hip	Specifies the angle of the left edge of the front face. Along with the Right Slope, this dimension determines the top width of the front face. Right Slope must be selected for this option to be available.
Bottom width	Trapezium, Gable, Bat	Sets the width of the bottom edge of the front face; works in conjunction with either the Top Width or the Left and Right Slope entries and is required
Slope	Trapezium, Shed, Bat	Indicates the angle of the pitch of the top dormer roof as measured from a horizontal line
Width	Gable, Shed, Hip	Horizontal distance of the front face of the dormer
Front Slope	Hip	Indicates the angle of the pitch of the front face of the dormer roof as measured from a vertical line
Height	All	Specifies the elevation height of the front face of the dormer; determines the plan depth of the dormer
Top width	Bat	Indicates the width of the top of the roof as measured along the front face of the dormer
Bottom Height	Bat	Distance from the bottom of the dormer to the beginning of the compound curves of the roof as measured along the front face of the dormer
Depth	All	Sets the plan distance from the point of engagement with the roof to the front face of the dormer; determines the elevation height of the front face of the dormer
Overhang	Gable, Shed, Hip	Amount of roof extension past the dormer’s front roof face
Control Point	Bat	Point where the two curves of the roof meet. This option controls the location of that point from the side edge of the dormer as measured along the roof. The location of this point determines the depth of the curves that make up the roofline.

8.

Click OK.

The gable dormer with window is created and placed according to the parameters specified. A hole is automatically created in the roof where the dormer walls exist.

Editing Dormer Windows

Once created, the dormer window parameters can be edited.

To edit a dormer window:

1.	Select the dormer.

Selection handles display around the roof and at the location of each dormer.

2.	Position the cursor over the selection handle for the dormer and click.

The Edit Roof Element dialog box opens.

3.	Select Edit Dormer and change the desired parameters as described in Editing Dormer Windows.

To remove the dormer completely, select Remove Object.

4.

Click OK.

The drawing area displays the specified changes for the selected dormer.

Creating Skylights

A similar process to creating dormer windows is used to place a full skylight, complete with a window symbol, in the roof.

A cut-out can also be created through this process, but it is easier to create a cut-out by following the procedures described in Creating Cut-outs in a Roof Object.

A 3D-only window symbol is required for creating a skylight. An existing hybrid symbol can be converted to a 3D symbol by editing the symbol and deleting the 2D component. When creating skylight symbols, set the insertion point of the symbol at the back and center of the symbol.

The insertion point of the symbol determines whether a skylight will be flush or surface-mounted.

Inserting a Skylight

To insert a skylight:

1.	Select Window > Palettes > Resource Browser.

2.	Select a 3D window symbol to use in the skylight. Hybrid and 2D window symbols will not work for skylights, though hybrid symbols can be used to create a cut-out.

3.	Select Make Active from the Resources menu. The 3D Symbol Insertion tool is automatically activated from the 3D Modeling tool set.

4.	Click to place the symbol in the desired location in the roof.

The roof must be a roof object, and not a roof face.

The Edit Roof Element dialog box opens.

5.	Click Edit Skylight.

The skylight parameters are displayed.

 

Parameter	Description
Offset from corner	Specifies the distance from the edge of the roof to the center of the skylight symbol
Offset from building line	Sets the distance from the edge of the building to the center of the skylight symbol
Do not insert symbol	Select to use create a cut-out in the roof without inserting the window symbol
Remove object	Deletes the skylight from the roof
Edit dormer	Accesses the dormer parameters instead of the skylight parameters

6.	Click OK to create the skylight (or cut-out).

Editing Skylights

Skylights and cut-outs are edited and deleted in the same manner as dormers.

To edit a skylight:

1.	Select the skylight.

A selection handle displays at the skylight location.

2.	Position the cursor over the selection handle for the skylight and click.

The Edit Roof Element dialog box opens, with the skylight parameters displayed.

3.	Edit the parameters as described in Inserting a Skylight.

To remove the skylight completely, select Remove object.

4.

Click OK.

The drawing area displays the specified changes for the selected skylight.

The skylight miter parameters can be changed from the Object Info palette.

 

Skylight Miter	Description
Vertical	Cuts the roof vertically at both the top and bottom of the skylight
Splayed	Cuts the roof horizontally at the top of the skylight, and vertically at the bottom
Square Cut	Cuts the roof perpendicular to the roof at both the top and bottom of the skylight