Get the total surface area of selected surfaces and objects

[danielhibner55]

Hello,

I must admit that Im very new to REVIT (Im in the beginning of beginner course of REVIT in UDEMY). I have the 2026 version. I got an existing file (which is in 2023 version) of a building and this building have decoration on it. My mission is to calculate the total surface area of that decoration. Specifically, I aim to sum up all the visible area of it (for a price quote) so If I can selectively choose which surface to add it will be great. I wonder if I can do it easily in REVIT. By the way, I have Inventor also, so maybe its relevant if there is a better or smarter way using it.

the .rvt file attached.

The image below demonstrate the decorations I am talking about. 

[RDAOU]

@danielhibner55 

Try Material Take off, that should get you there. If you wish to total only the external visible surfaces, you would need to Edit the Generic Model (Dekton.rfa) and Paint those faces...example:

1. the 665m2 shown below is the portion I painted in Blue
2. the 101m2 the Columns I painted in Red...

How accurate the total will be depends on the cuts and joins between the vertical and horizontal elements. In your model they are overlapping; hence, the overlaps will not be deducted. It might be easier applying the paint/material in the original software you modeled these in if you do not wish to paint them in revit

[danielhibner55]

Hey brother thank you very much!

So I have to learn a ton about REVIT and material take off and all the families and types stuff, but for now I just want to ask you how did you know (and what is it) that I have to click the Generic models. Second, I would really appreciate if you can tell me how you paint the surfaces.

And you suggest deal with it in the original software it designed in but I only get this REVIT file and nothing else. How do you sure that this is not design in the REVIT in the first place?

Thanks a lot!

[RDAOU]

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@danielhibner55 wrote:

Hey brother thank you very much!

So I have to learn a ton about REVIT and material take off and all the families and types stuff, but for now I just want to ask you how did you know (and what is it) that I have to click the Generic models. 

How did I know its a Generic Model? When you select the buidling envelop (the one you highlighted in the image of your first post) and look at the properties panel it says it is a generic model. To edit it, simply click Edit Family and it should open in the family editor

Second, I would really appreciate if you can tell me how you paint the surfaces.

Watch the GIF in my previous email.

1. Edit the family
2. GO to manage >> settings >> material to open the material editor
3. Add the material you wish to paint and click ok to close the editor (either use one from the existing library and load into the project or create a new one)
4. Go to Modify tab >> Geometry >> Paint 
5. A dialog pops up
6. Pick the material from the swatch (do not close the dialog box)
7. Hover over the material and click to apply paint
8. Swivel the 3D model as necessar to apply paint to the applicable surfaces
9. once done close the dialog box and reload the generic model family into the model and overwrite

And you suggest deal with it in the original software it designed in but I only get this REVIT file and nothing else. How do you sure that this is not design in the REVIT in the first place?
It has been modeled in a different software and imported into a Generic Model family in order to make it Cuttable or to see it CUT in floor plans. It is easy to know that it has been imported because when you edit the family and select any of the members, you will notice that they are lacking the editing tool. That's what tells it is a non-Revit native geometry.

If you do not have the native model/software it was modeled in, your only option is the paint + material takeoff

Thanks a lot!

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@danielhibner55 

See reply in red

[danielhibner55]

Thank you very much brother! I really appreciate your response.

I would like to ask some questions that unclear to me brother. If you could answer it I can learn from it.

After I click on the Dekton and click Edit Family (Family is a new term for me which I learn on the go), the view of the Dekton opened up. On the material takeoff the Dekton seems like a family:

but on the edit family view, I see that the family is "General model" (image attached below), can you explain it to me please?

Secondly, I dont understand stage 3. this is the window pops up when I click on materials (under Manage on the edit family view):

What exactly should I do here and what is the purpose of it please? This relate to the color of the paint or the Dekton material?

Lastly, this is the windows pops up when I click Paint:

I cant see the colors actually. And I dont sure about the connection between the color to the Material: name in the material takeoff, why painting the surfaces give a "Material: name"?

I am very sorry that the questions are of a beginner level, hope it is legit.

[danielhibner55]

I have sent you a private message also, glad if you could take a look