In this article, we will see how to create and position a dormer window in a slanted ceiling, an example of which can be seen in the below image:
Ceiling View
First and foremost, starting with v.2020, you now have two views available in the Layout window:
- The traditional “floorplan” view (same as previous versions);
- A new “ceiling” view to be used when you need to customize the height of the ceiling (this view does not show the furnishing items in the room, as it only represents the ceiling).
In the top left corner of the Layout window, you can see which view you are in (Plan/Celing).
You can switch between the two views in a few ways:
- Hold CTRL and use the scroll wheel on the mouse.
- Right click, Ceiling -> Customize Ceiling.
- Right click on the grey text (“Plan”) in the top corner and select “Show ceiling”
| Change view from floorplan to ceiling | Change view from ceiling to floorplan |
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Creating a Dormer Window
Firstly, you need to create an inclined ceiling by right clicking and selecting Ceiling -> Customize ceiling.
Let’s create an A-frame roof, first drawing the middle line and giving it a height greater than the other four corners.
For more details on how to draw a slanted ceiling, see this article:
https://support.domus3d.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360023403674-How-to-insert-an-inclined-ceiling
A dormer window should be considered as a vertical window that opens in a slanted ceiling and for this reason it can only be inserted into specific types of roofs. Your slanted roof must be able to host the selected dormer window.
As we can see in the next image, the dimension of A (the height of the slanted roof) has to be greater than or equal to the dimension B (the height of the dormer window).
To insert the dormer window, you must be in the Layout window with the Ceiling view. In the Furnishing tab of the Components window, select “Doors/Windows -> Roof Windows -> Dormer Windows”. Choose the dormer window that you want to insert and drag it into your project to the desired position.
After you drop your dormer window into your project, you’ll see the geometric outline of the object, which can be two different colors:
- If it’s red, it means that it is not possible to insert the dormer window in that position as it is not compatible with the size of the roof;
- If it’s blue, it means that it can be placed correctly.
Once your dormer window is in the desired position, hit Enter to confirm.
You can change the size of the dormer window only after you’ve placed it in the room. Right click on the outline of the window and select Properties. You can change the size of the dormer window from here.
The new dimensions of the window will change the overall size of the dormer window as well as the window within it. The program will automatically check that the new dimensions are possible with the existing roof based on its height and depth. If the newly sized window does not fit, it will be removed from the roof.
If you’d like to insert the dormer window at an exact position in your floorplan, use the “Point 2D” command in the context menu (right click): drag the object into your project and right click. Select “Point 2D” and insert the desired 2D coordinates. You can view exact coordinates of any point in your floorplan by selecting “Point Info” under the “Tools” tab of the Ribbon.
If you want to move a dormer window that is already in your project, right click and select Move.
The depth of the windowsill between the window and the ceiling will be created automatically by the program. To change the size of the windowsill you must change the depth of the ceiling: right click and select Ceiling -> Thickness.
This article is valid for the 2020 version and later.