Building an 'L' Shaped Structure with Full Gable Ends

Reference Number: KB-00456
Last Modified: February 11, 2026
This article also applies to the following legacy products:
Pro | Architectural | Suite

QUESTION

How do I create an 'L' shaped structure with three full gable ends automatically?

Camera view of main house with gable walls at each end and attached garage with gable roof over garage door


ANSWER

A reverse gable, sometimes called an opposing gable, is perpendicular to the main gable roof. A reverse gable can join the main roof anywhere along the main roof. 

In this example, it joins the main roof at one end. You can create this style of roof automatically by setting the correct roof directives on your walls.


To build an automatic, L-shaped reverse gable roof

  1. In the file you'd like to design the roof in, select Build> Wall> Straight Exterior Wall , and draw the walls for your L-shaped structure in a clockwise fashion.

    Floor plan of 30’ by 50’ house with 20’ x 20’ garage at one end 


  2. Using the Select Objects  tool, select the wall, then click and drag its end out to extend the wall through the bump-out of the L, so we know precisely where to place our wall break. 

    Floor plan view showing main house wall being extended behind garage to far wall


  3. Using the Select Objects  tool, select the vertical wall where where the walls connect, and using the Add Break  edit tool, click where the walls intersect to add a break, dividing the wall into two separate walls.

    Break Wall tool used to make a break in wall at intersection of extended wall


  4. Once the break has been placed, use the Select Objects  tool to select one of the walls indicated below in red.

    Floor plan view showing three walls in red to change to Full Gable Wall

     
  5. Once selected, click on the Open Object  edit tool.


  6. On the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog, select the Full Gable Wall option, then click OK.


  7. Repeat this process for each wall indicated in red in the image above.


  8. Pull the wall's end back to its original location.

    Floor plan view showing extended wall returned to original location


  9. Select Build> Roof> Build Roof  from the menu to open the Build Roof dialog. 

    • Check the Auto Rebuild Roofs checkbox to ensure the roof rebuilds.

    • Set the roof's Pitch (in 12). 

      In this example the default value of 8" is used.

    • Click OK to save you changes and build the roof.


    Floor plan view of roof planes showing three gable ends


  10. Select 3D> Create Perspective View> Perspective Full Overview  from the menu to see the results. 

    In legacy Home Designer products Home Designer Suite and Home Designer Architectural, select 3D> Create Camera View> Perspective Full Overview  instead.

    Perspective Full Overview of house with gable roof at three ends of L-shaped hosue
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