How to put a roof on a house in Revit?
Short Answer
To put a roof on a house in Revit, the most common professional method is to use Roof by Footprint from a roof plan or level view, then sketch the exterior walls as the roof boundary and set the slope-defining edges. This works best for standard residential roofs. It is less suitable for complex freeform roof shapes.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: If the exterior walls are not properly constrained or their tops are not aligned with the intended roof level, attaching walls to the roof can produce bad joins, gaps, or unexpected wall extensions. Incorrect slope lines in the footprint sketch are also a very common cause of failed roof geometry.
How to Put a Roof on a House in Revit
Command: Roof by Footprint
Shortcut: No default shortcut
Quick Steps:
- Open a roof plan or level view, then go to Ribbon > Architecture tab > Build panel > Roof > Roof by Footprint.
- In the sketch mode, use Pick Walls to select the exterior walls, then set Overhang in the Options Bar and leave Defines Slope checked only on the edges that should pitch.
- Click Finish Edit Mode, then if needed use Attach Top/Base on the walls so the wall tops cleanly connect to the new roof.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Defines Slope
Expert Setting: This checkbox controls which footprint boundary lines generate roof pitch. Turn it off for gable ends and keep it on for eave sides. Wrong use of this setting is one of the main reasons roofs form the wrong shape.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The footprint sketch is not a clean closed loop, or slope-defining edges conflict at corners, causing the roof form to generate incorrectly.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): Picked walls may be attached, offset, or constrained to levels differently, which can create misalignment between roof edges and wall tops.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Roof by Footprint is intended for standard roof layouts; complex curved or non-orthogonal designs may require extrusion roofs or mass-based workflows instead.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Edit the roof footprint, verify the boundary is fully closed, and correct the Defines Slope checkboxes before finishing the sketch again.
- Manager’s Verdict: Use Roof by Footprint for almost all typical house roofs because it is fast, editable, and reliable. Avoid forcing unusual geometry with it when a custom roof method would be cleaner.
FAQ
Can I make a flat roof in Revit?
Yes, create a roof by footprint and remove slope from all boundary lines.
Can I attach walls to the roof automatically?
Yes, use Attach Top/Base after creating the roof.
Can I edit the roof shape later?
Yes, select the roof and use Edit Footprint to change boundaries, overhangs, or slope settings.
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