Tricks to placing roof?

[tomomi1922]

As simple of a function as it is, I find it rather annoying to place roof and get the roof to to the direction I want.

Take the first roof "Gable Roof". When I place it on top of a 2x5 room for example, the sides will likely get onto the long 5 click sides, while the short sides will get the triangular walls. It is very simple and perfect until I have a need for my roof to face the other direction instead. For whatever reason it may be, I think it is bad to leave TS3 to decide how my roof will go.

I try < > key which usually rotates doors, windows, and objects, but in this case it does nothing but rotating my camera. Anyone has any trick to place the roof exactly the direction we want?

[missroxor]

There's two different types of gable: one for short bits and one for long bits :)

[BenC0722]

Roxor is correct, though there's a bit more to it.

For instance, there's half-gable, but no "tall half-gable."

Placing roofs can take some getting used to, to get the roofs to behave just the way you want. Though it all makes sense if you do it enough.

One thing I always do is never place roofs so that it covers an exactly square area (for example, 5x5, 6x6, 10x10, etc.) unless it's a circular or hipped roof. I've heard that the roof orientation can depend upon the lot orientation, which is why I don't. So for instance, instead of using "gable" on a say, 12x12 area, I will instead use two tall gable roofs, where each would cover 6x12 (or 12x6). This way, any concerns about lot orientation, will not matter.

Here's another thing to keep in mind. Roofs will NOT "stack," so to speak. So it's not possible to have a roof over an area, and then have a roof on a higher level, covering that same tile. The higher roof will have a higher "priority," so to speak. Because of this, roofs that might intersect into places to prevent the placement of objects, will not.

As an example, I direct you to one of my uploads:
http://www.modthesims.info/d/442273

See the windows above the garage? Because of the roofs I placed on top of them, the space just behind those windows are usable, despite the fact I placed a much larger roof to cover the entire garage.

I hope that made sense. If not, I could probably post some pictures to better explain.

[missroxor]

For instance, there's half-gable, but no "tall half-gable."
Huh? I'm confused. I don't know what you mean by "tall half-gable"? You can alter the individual roof heights so some would be tall and others short...is that what you mean?

I didn't know that about the lot orientation, though I don't think it's an issue I've ever come across but good to bear in mind for the future :)

[BenC0722]

Huh? I'm confused. I don't know what you mean by "tall half-gable"? You can alter the individual roof heights so some would be tall and others short...is that what you mean?

I didn't know that about the lot orientation, though I don't think it's an issue I've ever come across but good to bear in mind for the future :)

No, that is not what I mean.

Suppose there's an area of say, 3x5, or whatever. As long as one side is longer than the other.

If the gable roof is used, then the top seam (can't think of a better term off hand) would be parallel to the long side. If the tall gable roof is used, then seam would be parallel to the short side.

If you place a half-gable covering that same area, it has a certain....direction, I suppose? Anyway, the tall part of the roof would be along one of the long edges. If there was a tall half-gable roof, then the tall part would be along one of the short edges.

Make sense? I hope so.


As far as lot orientation, it's just something I remember reading somewhere. Though if you follow what I do about roofs covering perfectly square areas, I don't foresee any problems.

[tomomi1922]

So you are saying there is no way to force TS3 to use the orientation the way we want? How do you place on square room then? Or how do you place roof on places that are not the default orientation.

"If the gable roof is used, then the top seam (can't think of a better term off hand) would be parallel to the long side. If the tall gable roof is used, then seam would be parallel to the short side." So what do I do if I want the exact opposite of this?

[BenC0722]

So you are saying there is no way to force TS3 to use the orientation the way we want? How do you place on square room then? Or how do you place roof on places that are not the default orientation.

I'm not aware of any way to do this.


"If the gable roof is used, then the top seam (can't think of a better term off hand) would be parallel to the long side. If the tall gable roof is used, then seam would be parallel to the short side." So what do I do if I want the exact opposite of this?

I'll repeat what I said in a previous post. Just use multiple sections of roof.

[Volvenom]

It is annoying when your roofs want go the way you need them to. I usally try and use flat roof instead, build a balcony, or add an extension to the house. Anything but having a wrong oriented roof basically.

[tomomi1922]

I'm not aware of any way to do this.

I'll repeat what I said in a previous post. Just use multiple sections of roof.
Just wanted a confirmation, thanks!
It is annoying when your roofs want go the way you need them to. I usally try and use flat roof instead, build a balcony, or add an extension to the house. Anything but having a wrong oriented roof basically.
I agree, but sometimes a flat roof is not always an answer to everything. For BenC0722's creation mentioned above, a flat roof is totally a kill shot for the lot. Even having the roof going in wrong direction is enough to make it very ugly.

[armiel]

I find It funny that BenC0722 is offering half gable roof as solution to the roofing problems, as that, along with the other half roof what ever it's name is, are the only roofs that cannot be placed to any desired position.

Roofing can be tricky at times yes, but usually there is a way to roof even the most funkiest house shapes. Pure rectangles are the easy stuff.

I plan on making a little roofing picture gallery thingy later, to show what can be easily done, and what needs a little fiddling.

[missroxor]

Ah...now that I have the game open I see what you were on about, I didn't know that was their names :rolleyes: Though, in response to the OPs original question which specifically mentioned the gable roof, I still don't see the problem since the tall gable is the opposite and therefore the solution but yes, I see the issue with the half-gable and half-hipped.

It is possible to get a tall half-gable roof though, if I've really needed it in the past I just created a dummy short level where the half-gable stopped then build a half-gable on top. It's just a case of getting them to line up then. It's not ideal and it doesn't work in every situation (like if you already have 5 levels) but it's better than nothing. :)

[BenC0722]

I find It funny that BenC0722 is offering half gable roof as solution to the roofing problems, as that, along with the other half roof what ever it's name is, are the only roofs that cannot be placed to any desired position.

Huh?

How did I ever say that was the end-all, and be-all, ultimate solution? I'm confused.

Also, other half-roof? There's no such thing, I don't think.

There's just the half gable roof, where the higher part of the roof, will be along the edge of one of the longer edges of the where the half gable roof was placed.

[armiel]

There is the other half roof Ben, the half-hipped as Missroxor kindly put up the name of it.

[BenC0722]

There is the other half roof Ben, the half-hipped as Missroxor kindly put up the name of it.

Oh that, then yes that's there.

I was talking about a tall half-gable. That doesn't exist. You just have to use a convoluted and complex method much like what Roxor just described.

[Spiker_90910]

Does anyone know how to create different roof shapes?

[BenC0722]

Does anyone know how to create different roof shapes?

What do you mean? Could you elaborate on this?

Right now, it could mean complex roof placement, or you could mean making CC for a custom roof.