Are you planning a modern flat roof or a classic pent roof for your 3D house design? In this step-by-step video tutorial, we will show you three efficient ways to create these roof types using the cadvilla software. You will learn how to freely draw roofs on a polygonal contour, build upon existing floor plans, and construct a flat roof complete with an attic using ceiling elements and sweep solids. Discover the perfect method to elevate any architectural project and streamline your planning process.

Please note: The zoom functions demonstrated in the video are only valid up to version 5. In newer versions, you can zoom simply by scrolling the mouse wheel. For further details, please refer to our post on zooming in the 2D and 3D view.

Pent roof (Option 1): Roof on polygonal contour, without ceiling panel

With this variant, the interior of the building is bounded upwards by the slightly sloping underside of the roof. The room thus has the angle of the inclined surface in the ceiling area; an additional ceiling is not required.

[01:20] Select roof shape

• Deselect the grid and line width to be able to catch points and orient yourself better.

• In the menu, select Building > Roof construction > Insert roof > Insert roof on polygonal contour.

[02:22] Define the outline shape of the roof

• Use the polygon to define the area on which the roof is to be created (to do this, click on the outer corners of the walls).
• Afterwards, press the right mouse button and select Complete.

[02:52] Define roof sides (Hipped roof / Gable)

• The roof construction dialog opens automatically. Click on the 3D symbol (right bottom) to maximize the preview window.
• Select the individual roof sides in the preview window with a left mouse click.
• Define the roof side that should slope down for the pent roof with the profile type Hipped roof. Set all remaining roof sides to the profile type Gable.

[04:40] Adjust pitch, height, and overhang

• Now edit the Pitch (e.g., 2.00 degrees), the Height (e.g., 2.60 m), and the Overhang (e.g., 0.60 m) for the sloping pent roof side.
• For all other gable sides, define, for example, the Overhang (e.g., 0.30 m).
• Confirm your entries in the roof dialog at the end with OK.

Pent roof (Option 2): Roof on selected contour, with ceiling panel

With this variant, the interior of the building is bounded upwards by a flat ceiling panel. The roof above it rests just above in a new floor.

[07:46] Create a new floor

• In the project window, right-click on your project (Building) and select New floor above.
• Enter a name (e.g., Roof).
• Click on the Transfer tab, choose Selected > None, then expand Construction elements and select Walls, and confirm with OK.

[08:40] Insert roof on selected contour

• Select Building > Roof construction > Insert roof > Insert roof on selected contour.
• Move the cursor over the floor plan in the 2D view. cadvilla recognizes the contour automatically and highlights it in green. Confirm with a left mouse click.

[09:12] Use multiple copy for roof sides

• The roof construction dialog opens. Define the roof sides as in Option 1.
• To quickly transfer the setting (e.g., Gable) to other sides, use the Multiple copy function.
• Select the desired roof sides directly on the outline in the dialog window, click on Transfer and then OK.
• Adjust the Pitch (e.g., 0.50 degrees) and the Overhang (e.g., 0.30 m) for the sloping pent roof side.
• After entering all values, close the dialog with OK.

[12:52] Change the texture of the roof

• Drag and drop a texture from the catalog onto the roof while holding down the left mouse button.
• Alternatively, select 3D functions > Edit material. Left-click on the roof in the 3D view to open the Material editor. Right-click in the Texture field and select “Remove selection”. Then click in the Color field and color the pent roof as desired (e.g., gray).
• To transfer the new color to all roofing elements that have not yet been colored, use the Transfer material function.

Flat roof (Option 3): Ceiling and attic

[15:28] New floor for the flat roof

• Create a new floor for the flat roof area again.
• To do this, right-click on your project (Building) in the project window and select New floor above.
• Define the rough height (e.g., 0.66 m).
• Important: Deselect the checkbox Create automatic ceiling.
• Under the Transfer tab, select the Walls again and confirm with OK.

[16:56] Set guidelines for the roof overhang

• In the 2D view, define an auxiliary construction for the desired roof overhang (e.g., 0.30 m inwards) using 2D & Layout > Guidelines > Numeric parallel guideline.

[19:01] Enter the ceiling

• Select Building > Ceiling > Ceiling > Insert with polygon.
• Draw the ceiling along the guidelines, press the right mouse button and select Complete.
• Right-click on the ceiling and select Properties. Define the Level of the ceiling (e.g., 0.50 m) and the Thickness (e.g. 0.16 m) and confirm with OK.

[20:08] Make ceiling visible in 3D

• Since ceilings are often hidden by default, right-click in the 3D view and select Visibility.
• Open the “Construction elements” point, set a checkmark next to Ceilings and click OK.
• Tip: You can also click in the icon ceilings on/off

[21:52] Create attic with sweep solid

• Note: Sweep solids are only included in cadvilla professional and professional plus.
• Select Construction > Sweep solid > Insert with polygon.
• Determine in the 3D view to which surface the sweep solid should be created parallel to. In our case, this is the top surface of the roof/ceiling.
• Right-click and select Properties.
• Choose the correct reference point in the profile preview (e.g., bottom left) and set the Width (e.g., 0.40 m) and Height (e.g., 0.30 m). Confirm with OK.
• Draw the sweep solid in the 2D view. Afterwards, press the right mouse button and select Complete.

[23:30] Invert input direction (if necessary)

• If the sweep solid points in the wrong direction, you do not have to delete it.
• Select it, right-click, and select Properties.
• Under the Sweep solid tab, you can correct the general direction by checking the Invert checkbox.

Adding a covering for the attic / Adjusting material and color

• The procedure is the exact same as previously described. Simply select a different profile for the covering, or use the Edit material function under 3D functions to change the color of the attic elements.