Revit 2022 Tip – Problems aligning patterns on shape edited slab objects

By Dennis Collin

I recently had a question from a user who had issues adjusting fill patterns on a modified floor slab. Their software was Revit version 2022, but I could also replicate the problem on the 2020 and 2021 versions as well.

The issue is where a floor might be distorted to represent a site slab like an area of paving that has some kind of blockwork or stone paving pattern. When the slab is modified, and points set with ‘Z’ values, the patterns do not line up as expected. When attempting to use the Align command, although lines can be selected, Revit does not modify adjacent patterns to suit the desired direction. This limitation seems to have been fixed in Revit versions 2023 and 2024. However, whilst this is good to know, several projects need to be kept in a 2022 or prior format.

Fortunately, there seems to be a workaround. Switch to a 3D view! Set the view to a top aspect using the View Cube and the Align command rotates and positions the hatch in a consistent direction as desired. If the Align command doesn’t work, use the Rotate command by selecting a line within the hatch using the original direction of pattern as a reference and then rotate to a desired angle. NB. It may help to draw a reference plane to aid snaps and set rotational origins and angles.