Modeling Grade Beams

[eric.anastas]

Ok this has been driving me crazy. On all the projects I am working on I have to model grade beams as part of the foundation. Since they are actually defined by a depth and width with a varying length I would like to use the beam objects. However, I keep having problems with Revit trying to be too smart and attaching the beams to the shearwalls that they support above. Even though the defining line of the beam is below the defining line of the walls the beams always seem to want to attach to the walls above. So where I want the beams to be continuous around corner they lock to the walls above and a notch is created as they turn a corner.

Now of course the proper tool for this kind of condition are the wall footings. However, I don't really like using wall footings because inevitably I'm going to have a footing that extends past a wall, and then I have to use multiple object types, which in the sense of the design of the building are really only one object.

[sbrown]

I would use a foundation wall. Structural framing as you have found is a pain. You can then edit the elevation profile to make it step or slope and you can still get a schedule of the quantiy of material.