Wall base - Best Practices

[dahld]

With the advent of real time rendering (Enscape..etc).  Clients want more building walk-thru renderings.  Additional information is required to have a project look good.  A few items such as vinyl base and tile base are needed in the model.  For a medium sized office building, is it better to:

1. Embed the wall base (vinyl base and tile base) into the wall type.  A person will have multiple wall types with different base options.  (tile both sides, vinyl both sides, and tile / vinyl on opposite sides).  Can get messy with different wall assemblies.
2. Manually add the wall sweeps per room.

Just asking to see what people are doing.

[theslacollier · Accepted solution]

When it comes to adding details like wall base (vinyl or tile) in a Revit model for real-time rendering and client presentations, you can consider a few approaches. Each has pros and cons, and the best choice often depends on the specific project requirements, team workflow, and level of detail needed. Here are the options:

1. Embed the Wall Base into the Wall Type:

   • Pros:
     • Consistency: Ensures the wall base is consistently applied across similar wall types.
     • Efficiency: Once set up, it automatically applies to all instances of that wall type, saving time in large projects.
   • Cons:
     • Complexity: Increases the number of wall types, which can become difficult to manage, especially in projects with many variations.
     • Flexibility: Less flexible if changes are needed for specific areas or rooms.

2. Manually Add Wall Sweeps:

   • Pros:
     • Flexibility: This feature allows for precise control over where and how the wall base is applied, accommodating unique design requirements.
     • Simplicity: The base is not embedded in the wall type, keeping the number of wall types manageable.
   • Cons:
     • Time-Consuming: Requires manual placement, which can be labor-intensive, especially in large projects.
     • Consistency: More prone to human error, leading to inconsistencies if not carefully managed.

3. Hybrid Approach:

   • Use a combination of both methods. For example, embed the wall base in wall types for standard areas and use manual sweeps for unique or complex areas.
   • This approach can balance efficiency and flexibility, allowing standardization while accommodating special cases.

Considerations:

• Project Size and Complexity: The hybrid approach might offer a good balance for medium-sized office buildings, allowing for efficient modeling while maintaining flexibility.
• Team Workflow: Consider the team's familiarity with Revit and the project's workflow. More complex setups might require additional training or coordination.
• Level of Detail: Determine the level of detail required for the renderings. Investing time in detailed modeling might be worthwhile if the base detail is critical for client presentations.

Ultimately, the choice depends on the project's specific needs and the design team's preferences. Discussing these options with the team is often helpful in determining the best approach for your situation.

[HVAC-Novice]

Probably also depends on if your walls are per level or through multiple levels. For example exterior walls include many levels. For those you could add (and join) the inside drywall wall with that base for each level. 

[dahld]

Thank you for responding to my question.  After some real pondering of the question for a bit, I came to the same conclusions.