Walls and Roof placement (request)

[Error404]

The following request would be incredibly helpful:

When a Sketchup wall is exported into REVIT. The default alignment is the Exterior finish of a wall. However, for construction is usually more common to dimension to the core.

Let’s say for example I’m working with CMU (Concrete masonry units) as the core wall and 7/8" stucco finish.

If I’m trying to make a 10’-0" by 10’-0" room in SketchUp. I would need to make the walls in SketchUp 10’-1 3/4" to account for the 7/8" finishes on both sides. It would be incredibly helpful, if HELIX had an option so the wall is placed “Core Face: Exterior”… just like REVIT when placing a wall.

Similarly for the roof. When I create a roof in Sketchup the Thickness of the roof is reflected upward. I would like to have the option to switch it so the thickness of the roof is downward. I don’t believe the orientation of the surface in sketchup has any effect.

Thanks

[Ben]

These are great ideas!

I’ve update the Helix roadmap to include these features: Helix Roadmap | SketchUp ⇌ Revit

[Error404]

Great… Thanks!
This will be very useful
I might have some more requests. I will prepare another post when I get a chance.

[Eank1954]

@Error404

The following request would be incredibly helpful:

When a Sketchup wall is exported into REVIT. The default alignment is the Exterior finish of a wall. However, for construction is usually more common to dimension to the core.

Let’s say for example I’m working with CMU (Concrete masonry units) as the core wall and 7/8" stucco finish.

If I’m trying to make a 10’-0" by 10’-0" room in SketchUp. I would need to make the walls in SketchUp 10’-1 3/4" to account for the 7/8" finishes on both sides. It would be incredibly helpful, if HELIX had an option so the wall is placed “Core Face: Exterior”… just like REVIT when placing a wall. Also, since this project includes some historically inspired interiors, I’m experimenting with gothic peel and stick wallpaper to complement the architectural features. The detail and texture these patterns add really elevate the space, especially when visualized alongside accurate wall alignment.

Similarly for the roof. When I create a roof in Sketchup the Thickness of the roof is reflected upward. I would like to have the option to switch it so the thickness of the roof is downward. I don’t believe the orientation of the surface in sketchup has any effect.

Thanks

You’re absolutely right — having walls align by “Core Face: Exterior” when exporting from SketchUp to Revit would be a game-changer, especially for teams trying to maintain dimensional accuracy from concept through documentation.

Currently, the default behavior (aligning to the exterior finish face) can indeed throw off your room sizing unless you’re manually compensating for the finish layers in SketchUp, as you mentioned with the CMU + 7/8" stucco example. A toggle or export setting that lets users specify wall alignment relative to the core (like Revit’s wall placement options) would be a very practical addition.

Same goes for the roof behavior — being able to control the vertical orientation of the roof thickness (whether the depth extrudes upward or downward) is crucial when you’re trying to match ceiling or parapet conditions. It’d be especially useful if this could be set per element or at least as a global export preference.

Until there’s an update or option from the HELIX team, one possible workaround is to offset the wall or roof geometry in SketchUp before export — not ideal, but might help minimize downstream corrections.

Definitely worth submitting this as a feature request if you haven’t already — I think a lot of users would benefit from more control over these export alignments.