Google Sketchup: 3D Modeling Basics

Interior and Exterior Walls with Door/Window Cutout

By: Matthew Jourden
Brighton High School
Brighton, MI

1. Accessing Google Sketchup

a. Option 1: Navigate to Gmail > Login in with your Brightonk12.com email address > Select the Apps Icon on the
Top Left of the Screen > Scroll Down to where Google Sketchup for Schools is Located Select Software. Note:
Advantages of using Google Sketchup for Schools is your files will accessible on any device since the file will be
stored in your Google Drive
1. Select Apps Icon

Scroll Down to

Sketchup for Schools

b. Open Google Sketchup Pro from your Desktop after installation

Note: the Google Sketchup Files can be imported into each System Online and Desktop
 2. Google SketchUp User Interface: the user interface and colors looks slightly different between the two interfaces. To
Start the tutorial will look at both but as the tutorial moves on and subsequent tutorials will focus on Google Sketchup
Pro based on the Desktop
Create New Document Based on Defined
a. Online Measurement System

Open Files from Google

Drive or Users Desktop

Open Files from various Locations Area Shows all Projects Created by User

Account: Sign In/Out

Google Drive: Files are automatically saved to

your brightonk12.com Google Drive Account

Imports/Exports: User can import from Google

SketchUp Pro Desktop or export a file to the
desktop

Add Location:

Curriculum: SketchUp Community Tutorials and

Projects
 b. Desktop

Create a New File based on

Measurement System

Open Files from the HardDrive

Maybe Exported Files from SketchUp

for Classrooms online version

Shows all Created Models in Sketchup

3. Create a New File that uses

a. Online: Feet and Inches
b. Architectural Inches
4. Rename/Save
a. Online: Click on Untitled > Rename House Tutorial “Your Last Name” (I.E House Tutorial Jourden) > Ok > Select
Folder in Users Google Drive to Save the File too.

b. File > Save > Choose Location on the Computer to Save Material > Name: House Tutorial
5. Environment Overview

Icon Referenced Sheet

 a. Online Environment:

c. Mannequin Properties

Reference Sized Human

Drawing Toolbar Select Mannequin > Right
Click to adjust properties
or delete Properties Toolbar

Includes: Materials,
Scenes, Components
Library, etc.

Type Measurements
of Geometry
b. Desktop Environment

Drawing Toolbar
Properties Toolbar
Reference Sized Human Includes: Materials,
Name: Laura Scenes, Components
Library, etc.
Select Mannequin > Right
Click to adjust properties

Inspector: Virtual
Tutorial/Tool Guide
 Online Desktop

House Design
1. Select Mannequin > Right Click > Select Hide 2.
Rotate View to Top View:
a. Online: Select Scenes > Select Parallel Projection > Select Top View

Select Top View

Select Parallel Projection Select Scenes

b. Desktop: Select View > Toolbars > Check Views, Measurements, Construction, Camera, and
Section(Check any other toolbars you want to appear at the top of the workspace) Optional: Large
Tool Set (no drop down menus) > Close > Drag and Move Menus around to fit Users Layout

Reorganized Menu

Optional ToolBar: Large Tool Set

Displays all tools without and drop down
menus (Black Down Arrow next to an
Icon)

Select Pull-Down Menu Camera > Select Parallel Projection

3. Interior and Exterior Wall Outlines and Wall Thicknesses
a. Exterior Outline and Exterior Wall Thickness:

i. Select Rectangle Tool > Place Cursor at Origin Left Click > Drag Top Right Corner > Type the
Following Size

(Length x Width) 15’,10’ > Press Enter

‘ = Foot
2. Drag cursor up to the left
“ = Inch
DO NOT Left Click

1. Left Click at the Origin

3. Type Size of Rectangle: Length, Width

Size: 15’,10’ > Press Enter

 ii. Offset Tool: Allows the user to select an entity and type a measurement to distance to for the new
entity to be away from
1. Select Offset Tool (Located Online below Push/Pull Icon )

Select any of the edges

of the rectangle

iii. Left Click one of the rectangle Edges > Drag cursor into the Rectangle > Type 6” > Press Enter
NOTE: Standard wall thickness for exterior or interior is 6”, which is larger than a normal wall (Studs +
Drywall + Drywall or Siding) To account for the use of dimensional lumber.

Drag Cursor towards the

Center of the 1st Rectangle

iv. New Rectangle

Note: Once a Closed Profile is drawn Sketchup will divide the space up into two separate entities. In this case there is two
sperate Areas. This will come in handing when extruding walls, doors, windows, roofs, etc.

Exterior Wall Area House Area

 b. Interior Wall Outline and Thickness

1 Drawing Center of Interior Walls: Select Line Tool > Draw the following two line

NOTE: do not worry about location; Dimensions will be set to move into place
NOTE: Rectangle Tool can also be used for this process

Draw Two Lines as Shown

Location is not critical at this point; will
be modified with dimensions

ii. Using Selection Tool > Select parts of the lines that are inside of the exterior wall

(Left Click and Hold Shift when selecting > Press Delete Key
NOTE: Eraser Tool will also work to remove the lines

OR Use the Eraser Tool to select and delete the lines

Select Line Segment within the Exterior Wall Press Delete Key to Remove
iii. Setting Dimensions: Select Dimension Tool (Note: Online Located under Tape Measure Tool )
> Select Point 2 Points Shown > Drag Cursor to location of Dimension > Left Click to Place Dimension

1. Move Cursor away

from building > Left
Click to Place

2. Select 2 Points:
Left Click on Each

Repeat the Process for the following Dimensions

iv. Adjusting Dimensions: Add/Subtract the Value on the screen from the final value to determine how far

the line should move > Use the Move Tool to select the line to be moved > Drag in the
direction in which to move the line > Type in the difference between
Final Measurement (Worksheet) – Current Value) > Press Enter
I.E. Final Value = 8’
Current Value = 5’ ½”
Moveable Value = 8’ – 5’1/2”
= 2’ 11½” (This is the value to type in)
So, I will Select the Move Tool > Select (Left Click) the Vertical Line to move > Drag Cursor to the Right
> Type 2’11 1/2” (Note: 11.5” works as well) > Press Enter

Final Measure

Adjust the Vertical Measure to 6’ 0” (Current Case, which users will be different would be 6’ – 5’ 3 3/16” = 8 13/16”
 v. Setting Wall Thickness: Since the 2 lines drawn represent the Center of the wall we will need to create
an offset that is only 3” and Create a Second Offset that is 3” in the L Shape Area.
1. Select Offset Tool > Select Vertical Line of Interior Wall > Drag to the center of Rectangle > Type
3” > Press Enter

Select Vertical Line > Drag to

Center of Rectangle

Type 3” > Press Enter

2.

Extend Lines to
Exterior Wall

Trim Outer Lines of New Rectangle (3” Box) Use Line Tool to Extend Lines

Trim Exterior Wall to

Connect Interior Wall
Repeat this process for the L-Shaped Area. See Below for Finished Outline

vi. Add the Following Addition onto the House

4. Tags

Tags are like layers that a user can assign parts of their design to and have control over to turn off and on depending
on what the user would like to see. The Tag Menu can be found on the Right Hand Side of the Screen Toolbar

+ Creates a New Tag

Eyeball Turns Tag ON/OFF

Tag
Color

a. Create the follow Tags

- Walls
- Interior Wall Outline
- Plan Dimensions
- Door/Window Dimensions
b. Assigning Entities to Tags
i Use the Select Tool > Hold CTRL Key Select all of the dimensions (selected = highlighted in BLUE

b. Tool Tray on the Right Hand Side of the Screen > Select Entity Info (Top Tab) > Select Tag
Option (Listed as UnTagged) > Change to Plan Dimensions

Change from Untagged

to Plan Dimensions

c. Test to see if items were selected correctly by selecting the Tags Tab > Select Eyeball next to
Plan Dimensions > Dimensions should turn off

Tag OFF
Tag ON
 c. Interior Wall Outline

1. Using the Selection Tool Select the two lines that represent the Center of the Interior Walls > Entity Info Tab
Change Tag to Interior Wall Outline > Turn Tag Off

d.
Wall

1. Turn off Plan Dimensions > Use Selection Tool > Place Cursor outside of the floor Plan up and to the Left >
Hold Left Mouse Key Down to Draw a Window around the house (selecting ALL lines ) > Entity Tab > Set Tag to House
Outlines
5. Extruding Walls
a. Rotate the House to a pictorial view
i. Use Middle Mouse Button

ii. Select the Isometric Icon in Views

iii. Push/Pull: This is the Extrusion Tool for Sketchup. It will either Add or Subtract Material Depending
on the Direction into or away from Material.

1. Select Push/Pull Icon > Place Cursor in the Center of the Walls (6” Space) > Move
Cursor Up the Z Axis > Type 8’
Since the Walls are one continuous piece of Geometry only that area is extruded Vertically

Place Cursor in the Wall Area Drag Cursor Up > Type 8’ > Press Enter
 iv. Check Walls for extra Lines

Check to make sure

the walls do not have
any extra lines. If they
do like what is shown;
use the Eraser Tool to
delete the extra line
to make the wall
smooth

6. Doors and Windows

Note: For these Features we will be just creating openings that would represent a door or a window. In future
tutorials we will add more detail to these features.

a. Doors:
i. Standard Hinge Doors
1. Exterior minimum of 3’ wide to provide enough room to move furniture and other large
parcels in and out of the door. Also, this provides better fire safety
2. Interior Doors Range in size from 24” (2’-0”) going up in 3” increments up to 36” (3’-0”). New
construction homes will typically have 27” or 30” Interior Door Openings
3. Interior and Exterior Doors are typically placed closed to an Interior Wall to reduce the wasted
floor space due to the swing of the door. The Door should be a minimum of 3” from the wall
to prevent the door knob from going thru the drywall when the door is opened and closed.
4. Standard Height for Doors is 6’-8” ii. Front Door
i View Menu > Select Front View

ii Select Rectangle Tool > Draw the Following Size: 3’, 6’8”
 5. Dimension: Use the Dimension Tool to Set One of the Two Dimensions Shown > Place
Cursor inside the door Rectangle > Left Click to Select and Move Door to Proper Distance using
one of the following
a. From Left Edge of House to Left Edge of Door will be 9” (6” for the Exterior Wall + 3”
Door Spacing from Wall)
b. Measure From Left Edge of House to Mid-Point of Door 2’-3” (6” for the Exterior Wall +
15” to Mid-Point of Door)

Move the Door to Set the dimension

as shown
NOTE: Door Dimensions for Ref Only
DO NOT PLACE

Set one of the two Dimensions

Set one of the

c. two Dimensions
Rotate House into a pictorial and/or Isometric

d. Select Push/Pull Tool > Place Cursor in the Door Rectangle > Left Click to Select > Drag
Cursor in the house to the inside of the wall to Cut out the Door

e. Set all Door Dimensions to Door/Window Dimensions Tag

 iii. Interior Door

Within Sketchup and most CAD software it can be difficult to see interior details in order to work. In
other software features of the house can be attached to layers which can be turned on/off. In others like
Sketchup we will create a Full Section View that will allow us to cut away a defined area of the house without
cutting the house using the Push/Pull Tool.

a. Creating a Section
i. Drop Down Menu Tools > Select Section Plane > Select the Front of house with the door we just created
Note: Part of the Front Wall will appear to have been cut > Pop Menu Keep at Default Click OK

ii. Using the Move Tool > Select Section (Cutting) Plane (Orange Box) > Drag the
Cursor to the Desired Location to be able to cut away a specified area of the
house to see the room to work on > Cut away into the Front Room (Behind
the Front Door

Note: View Drop Down Menu gives the User to Hide the Section (Cutting) Plane and/or the Section View or Use the Toolbar
 Section Plane

Section Cuts
Section Plane
Turn ON/OFF Section Fill
ON/OFF Section Cuts Turn ON/OFF
Turn ON/OFF

iii. Rotate to the Front View > Draw a Rectangle with the size and location
dimensions as shown
 iv. Rotate to Pictorial View > Select Push/Pull Tool > Cut the Rectangle into the
Wall

v. Set all Door Dimensions to Door/Window Dimensions Tag

b. Interior Opening 2
i. Select the Move Tool > Select the Section Plane > Drag Cursor so the Section
Plane is in the hallway Area

ii. Create the Following Door

 iii. Create a Tag Called Section Cuts > Select Section Plane > Set Tag to Section
Cuts > Turn OFF Section Cuts Tag by clicking the Eyeball and the Show Section

Cuts Icon on the Main Toolbar (Top of Screen)

2. Windows
a. Window Standards
i. Windows Provide: architectural focal point, balance/symmetry outside/inside,
, light and ventilation ii. Window Sizes Vary based on the Type (Double Hung,
Casement, Hopper, etc.) and Manufacturer
1. Heights of Windows will vary based on the room location (i.e. shorter
windows in the bedrooms for privacy/taller windows in living spaces
to provide more light and visualization in and out of the house.
2. From Floor to the Top of Window is typically 6’-8”, which matches the
top of doors. We do this to provide symmetry and balance for the
occupant in the building.
3. Windows are rarely square because it is hard for our brains to
interrupt the shape in the real world
iii. Windows are rarely centered on a wall within a room because the window
should be balanced with other windows from the exterior and from the inside
it restricts the size and configuration of the furniture that can be placed within
the room
b. Creating Windows is the same as creating a door > Create the following Windows with
the stated measurement
NOTE: Set all Door Dimensions to Door/Window Tag
Front Elevation

Right Elevation
Back Elevation

b. After Placing all Door/Window Dimensions to Tag Door/Window Dimensions > Turn OFF Door/Window Dimension Tag

7. Setting Exterior Dimensions

a. Place the Drawing in a Top View Perspective with Plan Dimensions Tag Turned ON > Add the following
Dimensions> Set all Dimensions to Tag Plan Dimensions
Note: All Dimensions need to reference a point from the bottom of the exterior/interior walls
 Hint: To Create a point from the center of the door/window > Using the Line Tool Draw a line Vertical from the
center of the window (Place Cursor on the bottom of door/window Green Dot will Appear) down to the
bottom of the wall > Set Dimension > Delete Line after dimension is set

Draw a Line Vertical

down to the bottom of
the window

8. Rendering/Materials
Adding Materials and Colors is very easy within Google Sketchup

a. Select Materials Menu on the Right Hand Side of the Screen (Online Icon: ) > Select Desired
Material/Color

Sample Color

Select Material Type

b. Coat the Complete Wall: Select the Wall to Apply Material/Color

 NOTE This will coat the whole wall that is selected; Notice the edges and the reverse side of the wall is not
changed to the material; See Part c to coat a specific part

c. Coat only a part of the Wall

i. Using the Line or other geometric tool draw around the area that is to be changed

Drawn Line to
separate two areas
 ii. Select Material > Select the area to be coated
Notice the area selected below the line is coated, but the other part of the wall is not.

iii. Apply Materials and/or Colors to a minimum of 10 wall faces using a minimum of 5 different
materials/color

Submission: Face to Face: Show Mr. Jourden the Completed Tutorial

Remote Learning: Email File to Mr. Jourden at [email protected]