Model-friendly Carpet layout pattern?

[Sahay_R]

Good morning! Can I get suggestions for the best way and most efficient way to show this carpet pattern (just the squares) in my floor finish plans? Revit 2018 / 2019

[L.Maas · Accepted solution]

I would say, depends. There might be several approaches depending on several factors:

-Repeating patterns?

-Many rooms to be done?

-Many big square areas or many small areas (i.e. lots of cut tiles)?

-Tile layout pattern fixed (or random)?

-Rendering needed?

-Requirements for scheduling?

Some possible solutions.

-Create a tile family with the different patterns and lay them out. The corner/edge pieces could be done with parameters to allow change shape of tile or by using in-place families. When bigger areas you could use a family with multiple tiles/patterns (e.g 2x2, 3x3)

-Make use of hatches (i.e. annotation, thus view specific).

-Create a (tileable) material with chunks of the pattern and use on objects

-Not model it and use drafting view(s) to describe the pattern.

[ToanDN]

If you really need to model it then use Sloped Glazing and play with grid and panel types.

[constantin.stroescu · Accepted solution]

hi Rina,

If I understand you well , you need a custom .pat for your drawing , not a render outcome.

A script will be then necessary.

I'm testing now some free Python Scripts and I found there a script that creates pattern from Detail Lines in Revit.

It worked well for me:

•  PyRevit an IronPython script library for Revit

https://eirannejad.github.io/pyRevit/whatspyrevit/

https://eirannejad.github.io/pyRevit/pyrevit/update/2017/03/04/patternmaker.html

Constantin

[Pattycake_Kyle · Accepted solution]

From your request, it appears this is for documentation only and this wasn't a request on how to model it?

Therefore... I'm answering this with the approach that this is a real project and you are trying to complete documentation set for this design intent. It looks like this is meant to be a "random" layout... with 4 different carpet colors rotated differently to create a "random" effect. (this means 2 different variables, rotation & color). (I see its not covering the entire floor, i presume this is because you are in the process and asked, and it in fact would cover the whole floor)

I would treat this like you would a wood flooring. This would mean having a regular PAT pattern applied to a finish floor that represents the basic idea, and tag/call out the floor as say "CPT-1" or whatever. In each location you would then callout a 'tile start' point and dimension that location. Then... you can either do one of two things. In your document set create a carpet tile detail sheet... this could show exactly what rules you want for how to lay out the tile. Or (and in my opinion better)... similar to a wood flooring... you would provide a special SPEC section for this carpet flooring. This will list out the parameters for how to achieve your 'random' (for example: no similar 2 tiles may ever be laid adjacent in color and rotation could be a rule). If its a super special piece of your project and critical to achieve for design intent, you could also put "dry layout tiles for 75% of room prior for architect approval prior to install" or something similar. Even a 10'x10' mock-up could go a long way in then letting the installers further know your wishes (depending on project budget). If you think about it... this is exactly how a wood flooring is done. Your spec will callout "90% of boards required to be between 6' and 8' of length. No joints to be closer than 4"... etc.etc." These rules then allow you to achieve the 'field of boards".

Parquet Paver Example

For a .pat... i made this one for you as an example: https://pattycake.io/pat/WlvbQEB7KBM

Its a random 5'x5' grid of 1'x1' (4x4) pavers. (just rotate 45 degrees after placement)

If you wanted it to even look more 'random' you could simply increase the PAT to be a 10'x10' grid with 100 tiles instead of 25. That would probably cover most rooms.

My 2 cents: If you do not need to model it... absolutely do not model this --- i think sometimes people get into revit modeling holes with certain things (just because you can, doesn't mean you should). Only reason to model it would be for renderings or perspectives... and those hopefully will be rendered in another program or using vray and these will handle it completely different with material mapping (and don't need tiles to be actually modeled). Modeling it will only cause difficulties down the road... ignoring the strain of the model which could be large depending on model strategy and locations across the model... it will be incredibly hard to keep it coordinated and accurate, especially if a wall moves for example. Only other reason I would model this is if its for a lobby or a one-off space and its incredibly critical to get the layout perfect. And even then... I think i'd just do a split face floor or multiple floor types with boundary edits.

[Sahay_R]

Thank you, gentlemen. My concern was to reduce the amount of time and effort being taken to place the filled regions in our plans - and since this is being used in multiple sister projects, the time involved is significant. Out of the solutions that you have offered here, these are the possibilities that could possibly work - 

1) The family - which is repeated and tweaked at edges

2) The PAT approach. 

A major drawback is Revit 2018's inability to create shaded PATs. like 2019 does, and a lot of our projects are still in 2018 - but for those I think that a few shaded regions can be placed as required. 

I will accept solutions and float the possibilities to the concerned parties as needed. And get PyRevit on my work machine. Thank you again, gentlemen!

[danielabrahamson572]

Can anyone recommend good rugs for the living room?