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MarkusBohu
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confused How to use levels properly for a real world scenario

Hi,
I would like to accurately model our current house in SweetHome 3D, but I get confused about how to properly build the entire house. I already have modeled the inside 1st floor (and with less accuracy the 2nd floor) but when I try to think about getting the entire house right, I get stuck:

The front Yard is at a certain level (it is actually sloping up slightly but I am ok with ignoring that).
The level of the actual 1st floor is about 2 feet higher. So there is about 2' of plain concrete before the 1st floor walls start and there are some concrete steps leading to the entry.
The inside 1st floor is at that 2' level.
There is also a second floor, and it does not completely follow the shape of the 1st floor.
Lastly, I can't figure out sloping roofs at all, especially to add them so they do not obscure visibility of the inside floors--because if I add them on top of everything else, it all becomes hidden under the roof--the same problem occurs on the inside, where in some places the ceiling drops lower than the default ceiling height.
most disconcertingly: In the back, the backyard actually is also not at the same level as the front yard, but is about 3.5' lower than the level of the 1st floor of the house.


I would really like to model that accurately so I can experiment with different yard configurations and decks.

If I start with the street level (=front yard), then the back yard would be at a negative elevation.
Also, I can't figure out how I would wrap a deck around the house from back to front, because the deck has to be created on ONE level, but I need it visible in the front AND back.

I just can't figure it out. Do I start with the lowest elevation as the base level (=backyard?)

it's really easy to build anything on a given floor, but I can't figure out the exact logic of levels when dealing with real world situations that have different elevations and sometimes even slope.

Any good tutorials on that?
[Jul 5, 2025, 1:55:26 AM] Show Printable Version of Post    View Member Profile    Send Private Message [Link] Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
hansmex
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Re: How to use levels properly for a real world scenario

see this example

The attached file gives a schematic of your house:
- foundation level 60 cm = 2 ft
- 1st floor
- deck around 1st floor
- 2nd floor

Check out the heights of the levels by double-clicking the tabs at the top of the 2D design window.
In the 3d preview window, do a right-click and select Display ALL Levels or Display SELECTED Level to change between two views. This is what you need to see the house without a roof (once a roof has bee added on its own level).

Download and install the plugin Roof Generator to experiment with the roof.
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Hans

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[Jul 5, 2025, 6:07:15 AM] Show Printable Version of Post    View Member Profile    Send Private Message [Link] Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Keet
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Re: How to use levels properly for a real world scenario

Follow the advise from Hans but also check out my manual Levels explained. It will give you a better understanding of how levels relate to floors and walls. When you understand that it's easy to set the correct numbers on your levels.

For the front yard check out the Terrain Generator plugin and read more about it here. It allows you to create your sloping front yard.
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Dodecagon.nl
1300+ 3D models, manuals, and projects
[Jul 5, 2025, 8:36:57 AM] Show Printable Version of Post    View Member Profile    Send Private Message [Link] Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
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