Google Sketchup Tutorial - Hip Roofs and the Follow Me Tool

Full Video Demonstration Below

1) This tutorial will show you the simplest way of creating an Intersecting Hip Roof in Google Sketchup, which will also explain the functionality of the "Follow Me" Tool.

2) The two examples structures are nearly identical, except one of them has both its gables with the same dimensions, where as the second has alternative dimensions at each gable. This will help to illustrate how one utilises the Intersect Model Command.

3) To start, you will want to draw the outline shape of half of one end of the hip roof. I personally like to draw in the overhang at this stage aswell, by drawing out from the base of the roof by approx 300mm, and then up from 300mm (allows for soffit and fascia)

4) I then draw a line directly up from the centre point of the wall (1500mm in this example) and connect it to the top of the fascia line as shown.

5) Then, using the select tool I highlight the top face, as this is the path which I want the roof to follow (note the follow me tool will follow the path set by the outside lines of this face, not the face itself, Hence the chamfers for the hips of the roof)

6) Next, select the follow me tool, and click the roof sketch which you want to extrude along the pat, as shown. (note that because each end has the same dimensions, the two roofs intersect at their respective apex's.)

7) Next, we move to the second structure, where one gable is longer than the other. It is important to remember to sketch the roof extrusion on the larger gable end, as it allows for easy trimming later on, as opposed to more modelling.

8) Draw the Sketch of the extrusion as before, just on the larger gable. (I allowed 1700mm for gable height here, just to maintain proportions - not essential.)

9) As Before, using the select tool I highlight the top face, as this is the path which I want the roof to follow. Then select the Follow me tool and click on the face which you want to extrude.

10) Note how because the roofs shape was determined on the larger gable wall, there is some unnecessary geometry protruding from the roof. Triple click a roof face to select all the roofs geometry.

11) Right Click, then select Intersect - Intersect Model. You should see linework appear where there was none previous defined. Now, very carefully, erase away the unnecessary geometry.

12) Now you are finished, and you should clearly see that one part of the hip roof has an apex higher than the other, to coincide with the larger span, yet they should both neatly intersect with one another seamlessly.

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