A Beginner’s Guide to Avoiding Common Mistakes in Revit Modeling

Revit is a groundbreaking innovation in the construction industry that facilitates BIM (Building Information Modeling) processes. BIM is a procedure that includes Revit for developing 3D models of a structure that demonstrate its physical and functional attributes. 

Revit modeling experts say that beginners often make mistakes while using this software. It can affect their learning and job experience. Moreover, such common mistakes can negatively impact construction projects. In this write-up, let’s discuss the common beginner mistakes to avoid in Revit modeling.

10 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid in Revit Modeling

Downloading Free Families

The quality of most of the Revit families online is not up to par. Always search for Revit families that are efficient, lean, and do not include too many parameters. Manufacturers offer free families as a strategy to encourage users to purchase premium versions, as free ones are not efficient and lean. 

Also, these families are super ones and offer 50 options to activate them after checking the parameters. It increases their size up to 3MB, which is a high size, and can affect the performance of the software. Using default Autodesk Revit families is ideal to counter such issues, as they are efficient and well-constructed. If online available families suit a project, then clean and purge them first.

In Revit, Explode DWG Files

Another common mistake beginners commit in Revit modeling is to explode a CAD file in the software. Revit converts all layers into a linestyle, which causes issues. Hence, if the user possesses a huge CAD file encompassing a lot of layers, it will pave the way for multiple useless linestyles. 

Thus, purging all CAD files and utilizing Link CAD instead of Import CAD is recommended. In case of urgency to explode a CAD file, use a dummy project or a family.

Using CAD for Detailing

A common wrong practice among Revit’s new users is that they go back to CAD for detailing during Revit modeling. However, this leading-edge tool offers flexibility in organizing detailing. Adding detailed components to 3D BIM models is one of the hacks. Users can also leverage Drafting Views – a set of 2D views, not linked to the model. It is easy to use this ‘2D Safe Space’ for creating drafts without affecting the Revit model.

Opt for ‘Reference Other View’ and select a Drafting View while generating a callout, section, or elevation. This way, it is easy to properly reference a view when it is placed on a sheet. It will be a fully 2D view. To use another way for detailing, select callouts and sections, but make sure the model is shut down. In this process, professionals can only see grids and levels, while elements become invisible. 

Using Worksets for Visibility

New users of Revit have a common misunderstanding that worksets are identical to layers, just like in CAD. However, it is not a fact in Revit modeling. The major objective of using worksets was to avoid performance problems. To make a model faster, worksets enable the designers to turn off a few parts of a building. 

Emphasize minimizing the number of worksets by keeping them only for grids, levels, and reference planes. Use a workset named ‘A-Architecture’ to put all other elements, and it is ideal to develop other worksets for linked elements with a prefix Z. Using the Visibility/Graphics menu with the feature of View Template can facilitate controlling the visibility of elements.

2D Elements’ Overuse

A suggestion on our list of beginner mistakes to avoid in Revit modeling is not to overuse 2D elements. Revit contains some annotation elements that appear in a view, and professionals can use them for lines and masking. These tools play a vital role in detailing views; however, it is not right to overuse them in plan views to showcase real geometry.

Small 3D Elements’ Overmodeling

Freshers doing Revit modeling may feel passionate and end up doing over-modeling. One should not try to model elements smaller than 4″ (100mm). Following this way is right, as every project and BIM LOD requirements may vary. 

For example, if a designer creates fancy moldings at the lower part of the walls, it might seem too much. However, if the user wants to use a model for renderings, then it is fine to create such elements. Thus, focus on developing a simple drafting view, which includes the profile of the model.

Inadvertently Deleting Crucial Elements

Deleting important elements, such as grids and levels, is a mistake that new users of Revit often commit. AutoCAD users may commit this mistake, as deleting a line does not cause a major issue in that software. First of all, learn about the ‘Hide in View’ tool. It can hide an element, but it stays in the model. 

However, this command is effective for small projects. On large BIM projects, Hide in View is banned, as BIM managers leverage Visibility/Graphics and Filters. After that, use the PIN tool. Designers can find this tool in the contextual tab after choosing the elements. In case of moving or deleting elements, unpin them first while doing Revit modeling.

Inadvertently Moving Elements

In Revit modeling, new users often move elements by mistake. It happens due to the ‘Drag Elements on Selection’ option, which is placed at the bottom right of the screen. Users just need a single click to select and move elements after activating it. 

Deactivating this tool by default is recommended, as it may cause issues. To do so, click on the small icon, and a small red X appears there, indicating that this option is not on now. Additionally, pin all critical elements, as it is impossible to move them.

Giving Much Space Between the Building and the Internal Origin

Revit includes a crucial point named the internal origin. After the Revit 2020.2 update, the internal origin’s position is visible through a marker, which was hidden earlier. One must understand that internal origin distinguishes from the project base point and survey point. 

To activate visibility of this point, users can visit the Graphics/Visibility menu. Put the structure near the internal origin in areas such as foundation walls or the intersection of grids. Linking another file will lead to using it as the 0,0,0 point. If the designer exports to CAD, then it will be the default origin. 

Overusing RPC Families for Rendering

Professionals use plugins like Enscape to render directly in Revit. However, users put multiple objects in Revit models, even if they are for rendering purposes only. It can lead to creating a set of CD documents containing cars, birds, and plants in the plans. 

To avoid issues with these RPC families, follow these three ways:

• Develop a workset that is hidden by default. To manually activate this workset visibility, go to the Graphics/Visibility menu inside the views used for renderings. 
• In a design option, add all RPC families and, using default settings, make that option visible. 
• Create a linked rendering model, encompassing all families related to renderings.

Final Thoughts

Revit is a powerful tool that enhances the capabilities of BIM. Professionals and students from the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry are learning Revit modeling to level up their careers. Hence, mistakes can occur during the learning process, but one must learn from them and show improvement in the next try. 

Apply these tips to your learning and keep improving. Also, enroll in a BIM course online to learn Revit and many other cutting-edge software programs under the supervision of seasoned professionals. Also, obtain globally recognizable certificates to establish yourself in the AEC industry.

FAQs

Q 1: What are the limitations of Revit?

Ans: Some of the disadvantages of Revit are slow performance on large models, limited customization, high learning curve, compatibility problems, and high cost.

Q 2: How much RAM can Revit use?

Ans: Considering the nature of the project is necessary to decide about the RAM requirement for Revit software; however, 32GB is most recommended. This way, designers can easily work on a 1GB project file and use other software for multitasking. 

Q 3: On how many devices can I install Revit?

Ans: A single license user can use Revit modeling software on three devices. 

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