Thanks to you all for your insight. I appreciate the help and I look forward to haunting these forums!

Thanks for the help. The Component method got me over the hump.

General question since two solutions were offered. One being Grouping and the other making a Component; is there a general rule of thumb as to when I should use one over the other. In my mind I would use Components if it is a part that I would use over again in the same or other project and I would use Groupings for one-offs. Does this logic sound OK to you?

TIA

Thank you so much.

Now that that is working properly and I want to show a cross section using the Section Plane Tool, I am assuming I need to manually close the ends so the components do not appear hollow?

Here is an example of one that needs "clean up" for the construction crew: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/39HYhlDDtlyr7HoHtOf6kQ?feat=directlink

TIA

I am a newbie, so be kind. I am trying to get up to speed fast for a bathroom remodel job.

Here is my current problem:

I am illustrating the a small 3" riser at the entrance to a shower and I need to show the underframing, mortar bed thickness for the tile and the tile thickness. See this image: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ztYPzyiSZZqt_dNULiNyRQ?feat=directlink

I have the various material borders defined and the wood framing pulled up to the proper height. My next step is to pull the mortar bed up and above the wood framing (by 1 1/4") to surround the wood with mortar. When I pull up the mortar bed and then drop it slightly, I notice the wood framing now takes on the mortar material. See this image: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cmgjwb2hCPjXkKaH99TOjA?feat=directlink

Additionally, when I bring the mortar above the wood framing, the wood becomes a flat plane again. See this image: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UGuiedITW77YcSbVpMqbUA?feat=directlink

I suspect there is a way to "lock" the wood framing so the new mortar material does not alter it when passing over the surface, but I am at a loss.

Any hints are most appreciated and I am excited to have found this forum!!