Stairs and railings layout and design in Revit - Modifying and sketching new railings

Tutorial resources

These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:

Step-by-step guide

Sketch a new railing element and modify the sketch using draw tools.

Open the file Create Railings.rvt. It opens in the Entrance Lobby 3D view, where a staircase and railings are created.

In the Revit interface, the project for this example open in the Entrance Lobby 3D view, where a staircase and railings are created.

To create a handrail:

Switch to the Level 2 floor plan view.
In the Architecture tab > Circulation panel, expand Railing and select Sketch Path.

With the Level 2 floor plan displayed, in the Architecture tab, Circulation panel, Railing expanded with Sketch Path selected.

In Properties, click Edit Type.
In the Type Properties dialog box, click Duplicate and enter the name “Wall Mount Handrail”.
Click OK.

In the Type Properties dialog box, Duplicate highlighted in red, and in the Name popup, the name for this example entered, with OK selected.

In the Type Properties dialog box, next to Rail Structure (Non-Continuous), click Edit.
In the Edit Rails dialog box, delete all the rails.

In the Edit Rails dialog box, a list of 5 rails, with Rail 1 highlighted and the Delete button selected.

Click OK.
In the Type Properties dialog box, next to Baluster Placement, click Edit.
In the Edit Baluster Placement dialog box, in the Main pattern section, change the Regular baluster to None.
In the Posts section, change the other balusters to None.

In the Edit Baluster Placement dialog box, settings for this example configured and highlighted in red, with OK selected.

Click OK.
In the Type Properties dialog box, in the Handrail 1 section, next to Type, click the value box and click the Browse (…) button.
In the handrail Type Properties dialog box, set the Type to Pipe – Wall Mount.

In the handrail Type Properties dialog box, the Type drop-down expanded, with Pipe – Wall Mount selected.

Click OK.
In the main Type Properties dialog box, in the Top Rail section, deselect Use Top Rail.
In the Handrail 1 section, set the Position to Right.

In the Type Properties dialog box, in the Top Rail section, Use Top Rail deselected and highlighted in red, and in the Handrail 1 section, the Position drop-down expanded with Right selected.

Click OK.
In the Modify | Create Railing Path tab > Draw panel, click Line.
Draw a line along the stair tread.

In the Modify | Create Railing Path tab, Draw panel, Line selected and highlighted in red, and in the Level 2 view, a line drawn along the stair tread, highlighted in red.

In the Modify | Create Railing Path tab > Tools panel, click Pick New Host and select the stairs.

In the Modify | Create Railing Path tab, Tools panel, Pick New Host selected and highlighted in red, and in the Level 2 view, the stair selected.

Click Finish Edit Mode and view the new handrail in the Cropped Stairs 3D view.
With the new handrail still selected, in Properties, click Edit Type.
In the Type Properties dialog box, in the Handrail 1 section, next to Type, click the value box and click the Browse (…) button.

In the Cropped Stairs view, the new handrail; in Properties, Edit Type highlighted in red, and in the Type Properties dialog box, in the Handrail 1 section, next to Type, the Browse (…) button selected and highlighted in red.

In the handrail Type Properties dialog box, in the Extension (Beginning/Bottom) and Extension (End/Top) sections, set the Extension Style to Wall and the Length to 6".

In the handrail Type Properties dialog box, the Extension Style and Length set for both extensions in this example.

Click OK.
Click OK to complete the Railing type update.

In the Cropped Stairs 3D view, the updated railing.

The handrail needs to be offset to touch the wall.

Switch to the Level 2 view and select the handrail.
In Properties, under Constraints, set the Offset from Path to 2". The railing now touches the wall.

In Properties, under Constraints, the Offset from Path set to 2 inches, highlighted in red, and in the Level 2 view, the railing touching the wall.

Switch to the Entrance Lobby 3D view to see the completed handrail and the balcony, where a railing needs to be added.

In the Entrance Lobby 3D view, the completed handrail and the balcony where a railing needs to be added.

Open the Level 2 view.
In the Architecture tab > Circulation panel, expand Railing and click Sketch Path.
In Properties, in the Type Selector, select Railing: Glass Panel – Bottom Fill.
In the Options Bar, set an Offset of 6".
Zoom in and draw the sketch using the edge of the balcony as a guide.

In the Options Bar, the Offset set to 6 inches, and in the zoomed-in Level 2 view, drawing the sketch line using the edge of the balcony as a guide.

Click Finish Edit Mode.
Open the Entrance Lobby 3D view to see the new railing.

In the Entrance Lobby 3D view, the new railing across the balcony.

Save the project.

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Modifying and sketching new railings

Step-by-step guide

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