If you’re ready to elevate your Sims 3 builds—literally—then this step-by-step guide is your new best friend. Whether you’re a building beginner or a terrain tool veteran, we’re diving deep into constrained floor elevation (CFE), foundation tricks, split-level magic, modern rooftop structures, staircases, and functional garages. And don’t worry—it’s a lot easier than it sounds once you follow the steps slowly.

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Foundation Height Control: The Goldilocks Zone

In Sims 3, you can’t just adjust foundation height on the fly like in Sims 4. Once you lay a foundation, its height is fixed—unless you know the trick. Hold ALT while placing a foundation piece and you’ll get a one-step-high foundation, as opposed to the default four-step version. Perfect for more grounded, suburban-style homes.

Want more control? Enter the cheat: constrainfloorelevation false. With this enabled, use the ALT key and stairs to lowerthe foundation by one tick at a time. After placing stairs, delete them, and then use Level Terrain to even out the whole foundation. Compare foundation sections using stairs for visual reference: four, three, or two steps high—custom heights are now in your toolbox.

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Split-Level Interiors: Sunken Living Rooms Made Easy

With CFE still enabled, remove a section of flooring and foundation to plan out your sunken space. Even though it may spike your roof or distort surrounding walls, this is normal.

• Extend walls under the ‘spiked’ portion to box it in.
• Turn Auto Roof off to keep control of the build.
• Use Level Terrain again to drag a low section forward, lowering the sunken area.

Visual glitches? No problem. Delete and undo a wall segment—this resets rendering. Finish with ALT-placed stairs into the lowered section, add carpet, different walls, fences—whatever suits your vibe.

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Floating Foundations for Roof Detailing

Want a chic, modern roof feature or a double-decker community lot? Use PlaceFriezes on to place foundation pieces above the ground floor. This enables sleek, layered roof builds.

• Return CFE to true.
• Extend your second floor with overhanging foundation bits.
• Build a ‘box-on-a-box’ layout to stack the look.

To finish, slap on some windows for effect, sledgehammer away unused parts, and use clean white and black paneling for a modern aesthetic. Plants, balconies, telescopes—decorate the upper area however you want.

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Stairs That Work: Connecting Those Layers

Modern builds can get tricky with stairs, but you don’t need cheats for this part.

• Delete foundation sections in the center of a structure for stair space.
• Plan with a simple L-shape staircase by layering from the inside out.
• Use PlaceFriezes to fill in the stairwell’s edges with short walls and box in the build.

You can even copy the same sunken-floor method to create cozy, recessed spaces on upper floors, too.

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Building a Functional Attached Garage

Yes, you can build a working garage that connects to a foundation house:

• Start with a six-tile-wide garage for proper door spacing.
• Add the Garage Door first.
• Use Level Terrain to flatten the area from the main house outward.

If the garage door gets blocked or the wall spikes:

1. Delete the garage door.
2. Delete the wall section it was attached to.
3. Redraw the wall (it will spike).
4. Use Level Terrain to flatten the top again.

This fixes visual weirdness and lets the door reattach. Add a parking space, insert a car, and you’re golden. Want an interior connection? Add a stair and hallway to the house, just like a split level.

Style tip: Avoid horizontal siding on warped walls—it stretches. Use vertical paneling or blank walls for clean looks.

Want to add more doors? Just repeat the leveling process for each one.

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Final Thoughts: One Step at a Time

If you’ve been afraid of building cheats like CFE, don’t be. The key is to go slow, practice one thing at a time, and get comfortable. Don’t try to learn it all at once—start with simple foundation tricks, then move to split levels, and finally try a garage or rooftop feature.

Future guides will cover fun projects like houseboats in base-game worlds and adding apartment buildings with expansions like Island Paradise or Late Night, so keep an eye out.

Now go build your Sims the dream home they deserve—even if it includes sunken red carpet floors and a Mario mushroom roof. You’ve got the tools now. Happy building!