The information in this article applies to:
QUESTION
I need to create a Saltbox style roof, which is similar to an Offset Gable, in my plan. How can I create this?
ANSWER
A saltbox roof can be created automatically by generating an additional floor level and utilizing the Knee Wall setting located on the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog.
To create a saltbox roof
- In a blank plan, navigate to Build> Wall> Straight Exterior Wall
, then click and drag out 4 walls to create a basic 30' x 40' structure.
![Floor plan view of the basic structure](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00119/119-fig1-14.png?1726685303)
- Use the Select Objects
tool to click on the left 30' wall and select the Open Object
edit tool.
- On the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog that opens, select the Full Gable Wall option under the Roof Options section, then click OK.
![In the left wall's Wall Specification set the Roof Option to Full Gable Wall](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00119/119-GableWallSpec-16.jpg?1726685303)
-
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to make the opposite wall a Full Gable Wall as well.
- Select Build> Floor> Build New Floor
, and in the New Floor dialog that opens, choose to Derive new 2nd floor plan from the 1st floor plan, then click OK.
![Build a new floor and choose to derive the 1st floor floor plan.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00119/119-BuildNewFloor-16.jpg?1726685303)
- On the newly created 2nd floor, Move
the top horizontal 40' wall inwards so that its distance from the bottom horizontal wall changes from 30' to 20'
![2nd floor with the wall moved in to 20 feet](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00119/119-fig4-14.png?1726685303)
- With this wall still selected, click the Open Object
edit tool.
- On the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog that opens, select the Knee Wall option under the Roof Options section, then click OK.
A knee wall's height is defined by the roof above, not the ceiling height.
![In the Wall Specification set the Roof Option to Knee Wall.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00119/119-KneeWallSpec-16.jpg?1726685303)
- If Auto Rebuild Roofs is not enabled, navigate to Build> Roof> Build Roof
from the menu, check the Build Roof Planes box, then click OK to see the changes reflect in your plan.