Interior Wall Height With Dropped Ceiling

[TNMustangMan]

I am drawing up an existing two-story structure using X5. The lower level has a framed dropped ceiling, giving the rooms a finished height of 96". (The height of the exterior walls are 112".) All of the interior walls on tis level only extend up to the height of the dropped ceiling. I need to draw these walls stopping at the dropped ceiling. I have tried the "Stop at Ceiling" in the structures tab for the individual rooms, but the wall still passes through the dropped ceiling, up to the "Absolute Elevation Ceiling Height" (112"). I believe this is because of the height of the exterior walls.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have already wasted too much time with this problem.

Thank you in advance.

[perryh]

Use the 2nd floor to create the dropped ceiling in the floor DBX there. the 1st floor will stop at the dropped ceiling.

[TNMustangMan]

Thanks Perry, but I don't think I'm doing it right. I built the floor structure on the upper floor as follows (top to bottom):

1. 1/2" Plywood Base
2. 9" Floor Joists
3. 12" Air Gap
4. 3 1/2" Fir Studding 16" OC
5. 1/2" Drywall

This gives me a total thickness of 25 1/2". I also set the floor below height to 96". The normal is 120". I then added an interior wall in the foundation level and set it to "Stop at Ceiling". However, when I view the floor in perspective view the interior wall is the same height as the foundation wall, 120".

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

[RMorrison]

You could always add a 16" tall second floor wall around the perimeter and balloon frame these walls. The 2nd story would then become the third floor in Chief.

[dshall]

You could always add a 16" tall second floor wall around the perimeter and balloon frame these walls. The 2nd story would then become the third floor in Chief.

Not very clear, and I probably know what I am doing, balloon frame what walls and how does the second story become the third floor, Richard, you don't need to explain it to me, but the OP may not understand what you are saying......

[RMorrison]

dshall, You could probably have clarified my post in the time it took you tell me it wasn't clear. hehe.

To the OP, insert a floor above the existing first floor. (Check "Derive from the First Floor.") You will make this (single room) floor 16" tall, say. The framing for the dropped ceiling will be the "floor" of this fake story. Then the second floor of the actual house will become the "third" story in Chief. Play around with the "Platform Intersections" (wall DBX, under "Structures.") until you get the look you want. Hope that's clear enough for Mr. Hall.

[perryh]

You have to create the new floor system from the 2nd floor DBX. You also have a mono slab checked when you don't want that. It hard to tell what you did from your post. Post the plan so we can tell for sure. Here is how I do it. You don't need to have the drywall at the bottom, that's in the finish DBX. Depending on the conditions you can also use ceiling plane's to do it.

[dshall]

dshall, You could probably have clarified my post in the time it took you tell me it wasn't clear. hehe.

WELL, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT I DID NOT THINK I COULD DO IT..

To the OP, insert a floor above the existing first floor. (Check "Derive from the First Floor.") You will make this (single room) floor 16" tall, say. The framing for the dropped ceiling will be the "floor" of this fake story.



Then the second floor of the actual house will become the "third" story in Chief.

THIS IS WHAT CONFUSED ME. MAYBE I MISSED THE FACT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO "INSERT, I SAID INSERT" A FLOOR BETWEEN THE (E) FIRST AND (E) SEOND FLOOR.

Play around with the "Platform Intersections" (wall DBX, under "Structures.") until you get the look you want. Hope that's clear enough for Mr. Hall.

I had better shut up before I really confuse the OP. Richard, just trying to clarify it for the OP...... and I suppose I was trying to clarify it for myself.