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April 2, 2026Michael Wilson/4 min read

How to Split and Join Walls with Different Types in Revit

Master advanced wall splitting techniques in Revit

Wall Location Line Fundamentals

When a wall is set up with its center line as the location line, it grows equally on either side when wall types are changed. Understanding this behavior is crucial for proper wall alignment.

Key Wall Properties to Check

Location Line Setting

Verify if the wall uses center line as its location line. This determines how the wall will grow when types are changed.

Exterior Face Direction

Use the toggle indicator to identify which face represents the exterior. Correct this before changing wall types to avoid extra work.

Wall Splitting Process

1

Configure Split Settings

Ensure Delete Inner Segment is unchecked to avoid deleting wall segments. The goal is to break the wall into pieces, not remove sections.

2

Execute the Split

Split the wall approximately at the face location. The cursor will lock to specific points as you move through the split operation.

3

Change Wall Type

Select the split wall segment and change to the desired wall type. Use Most Recently Used Types for quick access to previously used wall types.

Keyboard Efficiency

Use keyboard shortcut SL for Split command and AL for Align tool to speed up your workflow when working with multiple wall segments.

Wall Alignment Checklist

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Wall Join Preparation Steps

Detail Level Adjustment

Change Detail Level from Coarse to Medium to visualize all wall layers. This visibility is essential for proper join configuration.

Thin Lines Display

Switch to Thin Lines view to see all layers clearly without heavy line weights interfering with layer visibility.

Wall Joins Tool Workflow

1

Access Wall Joins Tool

Navigate to the Modify tab and select the Wall Joins tool to begin the join configuration process.

2

Select Wall Intersection

Hover over the wall intersection until a selection box appears, then click to select the Wall Join for editing.

3

Cycle Through Options

Use Previous and Next buttons to cycle through available join conditions until you find the appropriate configuration for your project.

Join Condition Consistency

Apply the same join condition to both sides of the wall intersection to maintain visual and structural consistency throughout your project.

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When dealing with a wall that transitions from interior to exterior within the same location, you'll need to strategically split this element to maintain distinct wall types on each side. Since this wall uses the center line as its location reference, any modifications will extend equally in both directions—a critical consideration for maintaining proper alignment throughout your model.

Before proceeding with the split, verify the wall's exterior face orientation using the flip toggle indicator. This visual cue consistently identifies the exterior face, and in this instance, it's incorrectly positioned on the interior side. Correcting this orientation now prevents additional adjustments later and ensures your wall type changes align with the intended exterior direction—a best practice that saves significant time during the modeling process.

Initiate the split operation while ensuring the "Delete Inner Segment" option remains unchecked, as your objective is segmentation rather than deletion. Position your split point approximately at the face where the wall type transition should occur. The software's intelligent snapping will guide your cursor to logical break points, typically aligning with the exterior face boundary for optimal results.

With your wall segment selected, update the wall type to "Exterior Brick on Metal Stud." Take advantage of the "Most Recently Used Types" feature, which streamlines your workflow by providing quick access to previously selected wall assemblies. This functionality becomes increasingly valuable on complex projects where multiple wall types are frequently applied throughout the model.

The equal growth on both sides will inevitably create alignment issues with adjacent walls. Address this using the Align tool, accessible from the Modify tab. This precision tool ensures perfect face-to-face alignment between wall segments, maintaining the geometric integrity essential for accurate construction documentation and quantity takeoffs.

Execute the alignment by selecting the Align tool, then clicking the reference face followed by the face requiring adjustment. The walls will automatically align, creating a seamless transition. While joint conditions may appear imperfect at this stage, address these after completing modifications to the opposing side for optimal results.

Repeat the splitting process on the remaining segment using the Split command (keyboard shortcut: SL for efficiency-focused users). Maintain the same methodical approach: verify exterior face orientation, split at the appropriate transition point, and create two distinct segments ready for individual wall type assignment.

After confirming proper exterior face orientation, apply the Brick on Metal Stud wall type and utilize the Align tool (keyboard shortcut: AL) to achieve precise positioning. This systematic approach ensures consistency across all wall segments while maintaining the geometric relationships essential for professional-quality models.

The final step involves optimizing wall joins using Revit's Wall Joins tool to create appropriate connections between your three wall segments. Begin by adjusting your Detail Level from Coarse to Medium, which reveals the individual layers comprising each wall assembly. This enhanced visibility is crucial for making informed decisions about joint conditions and layer interactions.

Consider switching to Thin Lines view to eliminate visual clutter from heavy line weights, allowing clear assessment of all wall layers and their relationships. From the Modify tab, access the Wall Joins tool and hover over the intersection point. The software will display a selection box indicating the available join area.

Select the wall join to access the Previous and Next navigation options, which cycle through available join conditions. Each option represents different layer interaction approaches, from simple overlaps to complex interlocking arrangements. Evaluate each condition against your project's construction intent and detailing standards.

The optimal join condition for most projects typically maintains material continuity while respecting the structural hierarchy of your wall assemblies. Apply the same systematic evaluation to the opposite intersection, ensuring consistent joint treatment throughout the wall assembly. This attention to detail distinguishes professional-quality models from basic geometric representations.

Key Takeaways

1Always verify wall location line settings before splitting, as center line locations cause equal growth on both sides during type changes
2Check and correct exterior face orientation using the toggle indicator before changing wall types to minimize post-change adjustments
3Uncheck Delete Inner Segment when splitting walls to preserve all wall segments while creating separate editable pieces
4Use keyboard shortcuts SL for Split and AL for Align to improve workflow efficiency when working with multiple wall segments
5Change Detail Level to Medium and enable Thin Lines view before using Wall Joins tool to properly visualize all wall layers
6The Align tool is essential after wall type changes to realign faces that shift due to different wall thicknesses
7Wall Joins tool provides multiple join condition options - cycle through all available options to find the best fit for your project
8Maintain consistency by applying the same join conditions to similar wall intersections throughout the project

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