How to Effectively Use Elevations in MeasureSquare 8?

In this Article we will cover How to Effectively Use Elevations (Casework, Knee Wall, Tubs/Sinks, Irregular Stairs, Stage/Platform)

For all versions of Desktop MeasureSquare 8

Note: Elevations can be drawn:

1. On the floor for spaces that protrude or recess into the floor.

1. On walls for any other non-rectangle shapes (like ramps, barrel vaults, angled ceilings).

1. On ceiling to accurately render drywall headers or soffits.
   

Step 1 – Draw a Room

Begin by drawing the room. The room provides the necessary foundation for any elevation.

Note:

When an elevation is attached to a room, floor and wall products can be trimmed accurately as needed.

Step 2 – Draw the Elevation (General Characteristics)

Using the Elevation tool, draw the desired shape (e.g., casework, tub, shower curb, irregular stairs, stage/platform, knee wall).

Start by drawing the edge that extends farthest into the space, making sure to connect it to existing walls. Click and hold to draw a rectangle in 1 move.

If drawing corner-to-corner, the system will display a magenta preview line and if it matches the intended shape, you can right-click to automatically complete the elevation without further drawing.

Depiction of drawing casewook Elevation within a room

Depiction of elevation drawn within a room - Grey is attached - good to go, Purple is NOT attached - a problem

 

 Note:

1. A grey border around the elevation indicates that it is properly attached to the room.
2. A purple border indicates that the elevation is not attached and must be redrawn.
   

Step 3a – Wall Base at Casework

When wall base is needed at the front of casework, using an elevation can be a fast way to achieve the look and apply wall base.
Follow Step 2 to Draw the Elevation in the desired location, then ensuring that Deduct Wall is checked in Property View (therefore removing the wall base at the backside of the casework, drag-and-drop the wall base product to the front and side edges of the elevation.

Completed casework elevation with wall base application at the front faces

Property View options for casework elevation

Applying wall base to front faces of casework

Step 3b – Draw Elevation for Knee Wall

To apply product to the top of a knee wall, will require use of an Elevation as the wall. Follow Step 2, but instead of click-and-hold, draw the shape of the knee wall corner-to-corner. This will allow precision in sizing. Once the shape is drawn, set the height using Property View.

Note: Zooming in as much as necessary so only the knee wall is in view, this will allow added precision.

Drawing knee wall point-to-point to ensure accuracy - notice the zoom level

Elevation options in Property View

Top view of knee wall depicting applied materials to exposed surfaces

View of knee wall through adjacent wall - notice trimming of wall base and 'hole' in floor area

Step 3c – Draw a Secondary Elevation for a Basin

(Same methodology for sinks)

For tubs or sinks that require a recessed basin area, draw a secondary elevation directly on top of the existing elevation.

In Property View (Right-hand side menu), check "Is Recess" and specify the desired recess depth.

Completed Bathtub Drawing

Settings for secondary Elevation as Recess

Note:  For shapes with rounded edges, the simplest method is to:

1. Draw a basic rectangle.
2. Use Split Wall Segment to add points along the edges.
   
3. Use Delete Wall Segment to create chamfered (angled) corners.
   
4. Apply Set Arc to round those corners, pulling until the line turns green to ensure a smooth transition between straight and curved segments.
   

Split Wall Segment to add points for rounded corners

Delete Wall Segments (working Clockwise) to create chamfered corners

Set Arc to stretch chamfered corners into arc - remember to pull until line illuminates green to ensure smooth transition from straight to curve

Step 3d – Draw Additional Elevations for Irregular Stairs

(Same methodology for Riser Seating)

For irregular stairs, set the Elevation System Setting (under the Takeoff tab) to match the riser height (e.g., 6"–7").

Draw the stairs in stacked layers: 

• Start with the largest shape for the bottom step.
• Draw each subsequent step one tread smaller than the previous, continuing until all steps are represented.

Note: This methodology removes the need to do math to set the height of the next tread, and removes the necessity to add wall stacks when applying product to the riser.

1^st Step is largest Elevation

Draw the bottommost step as the largest shape

Subsequent layers are drawn on top, following the shape of the 1^st stair

Each subsequent step up, is a smaller shape drawn directly on top

Completed Stair in 2D

Completed curved stair in 2D

Completed Stair in 3D

Completed curved stair in 3D

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