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architectural/design software

11 years ago

Anyone have recommendations for remodel/design software or architectural software (for beginners)? Free is good, but I dont mind paying for it either.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

User
11 years ago
SketchUp or the BHG versions of Chief Architect are inexpensive and let you play and visualize some 3D choices. You won't be able to create actual building plans from them though. You'd need to upgrade to something like Revit or actual Chief Architect.

But, if you are planning an extensive reno, it's better to get a good architect and let them do the work for you.
virgilcarter
11 years ago
The best software and knowledge base is found in a local experienced architect who designs and builds in your area.

Playing with CAD can be fun for us Geeks, but, more often than not, all it does is create unusable pre-conceived ideas which trained and experienced professionals have to disabuse clients about.

The Chief Architect versions are good, but they don't print large enough to use for construction documents unless you use the professional versions, and only the most expensive of the BHG versions allows one to "gang" items on a single sheet. If you haven't used them, the learning curve may be steep, depending on one's Geek-ness!

You will save your frustration and time by simply contacting your nearest chapter of The American Institute of Architects for referrals in your area.

Good luck on your project.
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The key issue is whether you are trying to design the house or create construction documents - two very different goals. Many homeowners tend to think of the "design" of a house as a "plan" when, in reality, it is just one of many ways to help someone to visualize the actual design and it is not always a very good one for complex designs. Plans, elevations, details and schedules work well for builders because they aren't trying to evaluate the overall design, only build the house one piece at a time. IMHO nothing compares to SketchUp for preliminary design at any price (SketchUp basic is free, SketchUp Pro is $495, the Student version of Pro is $49/year and a trial version of Pro is free.) Since it is unlikely a homeowner will have the knowledge to draw a set of construction documents I would suggest sticking to preliminary design and hiring someone with the proper experience to do the rest. A SketchUp model can be easily looked at in plan view especially with the Section Tool shown in the link below. It doesn't take a skilled drafter much time to enter the information from a SketchUp model into a 2D CAD file because the drafter can use the tape measure tool to find all of the dimensions (if they are not already labeled in the model) and it is possible to import a 2D version into almost any CAD program (Pro has DXF export and the free version will need a plugin script that is available free online.) SketchUp may seem intuitive and for a grade school student it is but for a house designer it has so many valuable features that it requires taking a course at a school or online to be used effectively. You should study and experiment for a month before starting to design your house. There are books available at Amazon and online courses from SketchUp and from SketchUp for Dummies/aidanchopra.com. When I open a SketchUp model from 10 years ago I am surprised at how few of the features I was able to use. There is never an end to learning with any CAD program. Each new version of the software adds incredible features. SketchUp view inside model
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Chief Architect is the company name and their professional product. The one I use is $2690. With hindsight, I should have spent more time with the $495 Home Designer Pro but they did credit me the full price against Chief Architect. Their Home Designer is a series of programs from $99 to $495 with various degrees of additional function. They have a comparison of functions here: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/product-chooser.html They have a free trial so you can get an idea of how it works. Lots of videos with basic training to help you get started. Having two monitors or a second computer to run the video really helps get you started. There are lots of catalogs that are downloadable. If you want to see what a certain Owens Corning roof looks like on your 3-D view, you just download it. I am very familiar with Sketchup, use it several time a week, and it is great for many things. Can't imagine using it for this BUT it can be done. FWIW, if you are thinking about using sketchup for woodworking, buy this training video: http://www.tauntonstore.com/fine-woodworkings-google-sketchup-guide-for-woodworkers-basics-download-067125.html I spent a bunch of time looking at free Sketchup training, this is was priceless. Chief Architect imports things built in Sketchup into your house project. You build a piece of furniture in Sketchup and bring it in as an object in CA/HomeDesigner, and then you can see how it looks.
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Where do I sign up? I did a work for a builder . Full set of plans - $3000 - and this is about 20 - 26 pages. Modifications to an existing plan + full set of plans $1500. And this was exact amount customer would be charged. @rockybird >I just paid 10k for plans for a 900 sq. ft. master bedroom bathroom addition. I thought it was a lot, at first, until I saw the final plans and how much work went into it. Not work as much as you think.... A lot of details are 100% standard. Software generates elevations, cross-sections, hvac, deck, porch, some roof. First page and TYP details: like foundation, insulation, flashing, framing for tub, standard staircases, and even trey [tray] ceiling are standard. Odd ball complex roofs, complex staircases, complex foundations - extra. And like I said before I can get architect to look over it for $75/hour. Engineer overview and "stamp" - $500 if needed. Joist framing - for me is both annoying and time consuming. Trusses are done by the supplier. >They also said they typically charge 45k. It obviously includes other services. Technically @3k I make a good profit. We wanted custom high-end look for our new / future house. While I have no issue with production, wife looked for an architect that could transfer her dreams into floorplan. We were consistently told $25k for 3k sq ft house - and I though that was outrageous.
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No one mentions model-making anymore. Can you draw a straight line? Can you cut a straight line? Can you use an architectural scale? Then you can build a "study" model. A study model can be quick, can use architectural drawings (by spray mounting the drawings to the model medium), and can be a valuable tool to investigate what you want. Don't like a feature? Tear it off or build a section separate from the main part and stick together. Don't get hung up in making it pretty - that's not the reason for it. It is gratifying to be able to hold the model in your hand and look at it in real (not fake) 3D. I dug this one up. You can see the the parts that are drawings glued to cardboard. You can buy mat board or just use any old cardboard you can find, but it helps if it's not too thin. Elmer's glue holds it together. This one's at 1/8" = 1'-0" scale. You can even use corrugated cardboard or foamcore for larger scale. Matchsticks make great posts!
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rockybird
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks guys! I will check this out!

I am working with an architect, but I want to play around with some of the plans myself. We just met and brainstormed ideas for the project, while he let me know what can and cant be done based on structural issues and setbacks. Anyway, he is working on a plan that we agreed on but I want to study it in more detail on my own before he gets it done.

Mostly, this will involve moving walls, expanding a part of the house to allow for an entrance to the master and adding a master bedroom/bath. He is great in listening to my ideas (some of which we have done) as well as answering my questions.

BTW, this architect just saved me 8k. I was going to use a contractor for some exterior work that he suggested. I thought the ctr. understood what we wanted, but the architect suggested he meet with him at the house. Turned out what they were going to do was not what we wanted at all! So I do understand the value of an architect. :)
User
11 years ago
If an architect is providing you with scaled drawings all you need in order to play with the plan layout is a roll of tracing paper, a felt tip pen and an architect's scale. Your architect can provide you with those materials or you can buy them at an office supply store.

To see how the design is developing in 3D, SketchUp8 by Trimble is by far the best tool and it's free. Just enter the information from the architect's plan and add a roof. Your architect should be doing the same thing.

You can send an uneditable version of the 3D model to anyone who has downloaded the SketchUp Viewer program.

Here is a link that might be useful: Download SketchUp8 for free

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