Rooms on different levels, split level and layers

In this Video-Tutorial we show you how you can split levels with the 3D CAD house planning software cadvilla.

The basic workflow:

There are three different methods how we can define split levels in cadvilla. The ground level of the ground floor in our model project is in our example zero meter.

Option 1 – How to add a building with different ground high but the same roofline high:

  • In the first step we create a new layer. We make a right mouse click on the layer “Ground floor” – “New layer”. We enter a name for the layer, at the point “Level” we enter for example 0,30 meter (of course you can enter another height for the level, but only in the plus not in the minus area) and after it we press “OK”.
  • Now we create a new building, therefore we select “Walls” – “External walls” – “Between two points chain”. We enter the walls and we press the “CTRL” key at the same time to enter 100% horizontal and vertical walls.
  • To end the function we press the “ESC” key. To finish the room we enter a room boundary (virtual wall). Therefore we select “Walls” – “Room boundary” – “Between two points”. When we enter a room boundary it is important that the start- and the end point are at the inner side of the walls of the new defined building. The floor level has now changed but the ceiling level stayed the same.

Option 2 – How to add a building with different ground high and different roofline high (Standard Method):

  • In the first step we add a new building to our project. Therefore we make a right mouse click at “New Project” – “New building” and after it we confirm with “OK”. Now we enter the walls for the building and the room boundary (virtual wall) in the same way as in the first option.
  • Now we make a right mouse click at the layer “Ground floor” and we select “Properties”. Here we define at the point “Level” the height of the ground level. We enter for example 0,30 m and after it we click on “OK”. Now the ground level and the ceiling height have changed.

Option 3 – How to change the floor height

  • The third option is only an optical method. In this option we raise the height of the floor, the ceiling and the ground level stay the same. Therefore we select the layer “Ground floor” and we enter the external walls in the same way as in the first option.
  • After it we select the floor, press the right mouse button – “Properties” – “Layer construction”. At the point “Thickness” we enter for example 1 meter and after it we press “Ok”.
  • The floor raised but the ceiling height and the ground floor stayed the same.

More information’s about creating a new layer to change the room height in a level:
Levels can include different layers, which can work also as order elements, for example if you place all guidelines or interior objects on an own layer. When a new level is created there is always automatically a “Ground floor” layer included.
Layers have their own level which is relative to the level of the floor level.
For example: We have a first floor on a level of 2,8 meters because the ground floor below it is 2,8 meters high. In the first floor we have a ground floor layer with a relative level of zero meters. Zero means in this case the height of 2,8 meters, because the first floor is built on a height of 2,8 meters. If you create in the first floor a new layer and you change the relative level of the layer to 0,5 meters, the absolute level of the layer will be 3,3 meters (2,8m+0,5m). All elements you create on this layer will be on a height of 3,3 meters and not like at the first floor layer at 2,8 meters.
With this method you can create in a level different layers with different relative levels. If you create rooms with this method, you have to take care that the walls on the different layers don’t intersect each other and build new rooms. In this case you have to enter for example room boundaries.

This post is also available in: German