Phase settings is a subject you would think everyone should be on the same page with and it is a lesson you learn early on when you are introduced to the software. However, I have seen every variation under the sun used on all sorts of projects. Not getting the basics set correctly for single phase projects only exacerbates the issue further when you have multi-phase projects.

Phasing is, and should be, dead simple. Revit starts with two construction phases set, and if you only have one phase of construction for a project, that is all there should be. No, you do not need a demolition phase between existing and new, nor should your walls show up as temporary when conveying demolition. If you have to do gymnastics to make your views look a certain way, you are over complicating the solution.

I have spent way too much time sitting in awe at the number of back flips used to set up views correctly. Please, for the love of BIM, stop over complicating it.

To start, if your project only has only one phase of construction, your model should only include “Existing & New Construction” Project Phases. Using only these two, you can show existing, demo, and new construction information for every view in your project. Existing conditions modeled in the “Existing” phase and all demo work and new construction are added in the “New Construction” phase.

Once Project Phases are established, Phase Filters will be used to fine tune each drawing view and schedule for what you want to show. My settings are what is shown below.

If a phase is set to “Overridden” then whatever you have set under Graphics Overrides will display for all families hatching and line patterns. But if you have a phase set “By Category” then you will be able to fine tune how you want your drawing to look using each views Visibility/Graphics settings.

You should not have to mess with the Graphic Overrides tab unless your office has different graphics standards.  

Now that phases are set up correctly, below are the three settings I use display each phase.

For all existing conditions views, “Existing > Previous and New” - this will show all existing conditions.

For all demo views, “New Construction > Previous and Demo” - this will show all existing conditions and all demolition work to be performed.

For all new construction views, “New Construction > Previous and New” - this will show all existing conditions and all new construction.

I typically only show demolition plans and new construction plans for issued documents since “Existing” phase drawings repeat the same information shown on demolition plans. However, they are useful for reference when building the model.

These standards are bulletproof and you will always have properly set phasing no matter how big the project is. You will save time, effort, and a lot of headache from other people.