I'm confused, Paul. I read the posts in the other thread from Matthew, Miguel and Erika and we all seem to be saying the same thing: generally model as you build (more or less).
You mention a five story wall - perhaps this is masonry or a multi-pour concrete wall. You might model that as a single wall. If it is more convenient, you might model it as 5 walls, one per story. But, we wouldn't truly model as it is built (e.g., a short wall corresponding to each max concrete pour) - although a construction model would do so.
There are other issues related to multi-story walls. One is the easy insertion of windows/openings that span multiple stories. A negative relates to reporting window sill/header heights. Neither of the wall base or story zero level may give exactly the number you want for your marker / schedule. A plus relates to canted or otherwise complexly shaped walls since you don't have to try to piece them together - and the Floor Plan Cut Plane gives you a reasonable plan representation. (So, even if such a wall - for example an Auditorium wall - is built in stages, we'd model it as a single wall in AC for ease of modeling.)
No approach is right 100% of the time - need to mix and match based on circumstances and what produces usable, modifiable drawings that fastest IMHO.
Cheers,
Karl
