Good Deck Design Programs

Jeff Weldy

I have been keeping relatively busy with my deck building business and I am wanting to start offering the design aspect of building as a part of my business. I have a lot of experience in CAD '05, but I am wanting to buy a program that will offer a better picture of what the new/remodeled deck would look like. I would like for it offer a 3D picture so I can "walk" my potential customer through their new deck. figured one of you custom deck builders out there will have some good programs that you use that you could recomend. Thanks so much

deckman22

I've had some customers that were hi tech geeks that had some cool programs that would do that sort of thing, can't remember the program tho.

Of the ones that I do know about & have seen in action I'd say decktools is the best out there. If you want to spend 2500 plus on a high end laptop & the 1500 they want for the program then that's the one. It is a nice sales tool.

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Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

BreyerConstruct

www.decktools.com
Become a NADRA member first, and the membership will pay for itself. www.NADRA.org.

If you're serious about decks, then you need the best tools and training available, IMHO.
~Matt

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bmcquin

Jeff,
Deckman is right. I've been using Decktools for about 3-4 years and have found it to be very helpful in the sales end.
Clients love the ability to see their deck in 3D! I like the ability to make changes right there with them at their house! That aspect alone is worth the price of the program since it keeps you from having to go back to the office redraw the changes and come back out to their house for another visit.
I also find it extremely helpful when just doing an email bid for the client. Once you have all of the parameters setup Decktools will spit out a complete estimate a long with a total material takeoff. This alone will save you a bunch of time!
Hope this helps!
Bubba-mac

deckman22

How accurate are those take-offs? I've torn down enough decks to know I don't build decks the same as everyone else. Can it be tweeked to fit your own building style?

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Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

redwood

In the demonstration that I saw, over a year ago, Deck Tools was not as flexible as you might like. There are usually work arounds, of course.

There are things that I can do with my current program, that are much easier. However, there are many things that my program cannot do, that Deck Tools can. Mostly in the presentation aspect.

Output, I thought, was a big drawback to Deck Tools. It would not allow you to plot/print to a specific scale, only to paper size. Also, I found fault in it's dimensioning capabilities. It was a all or none situation.

That being said, I think that it has great potential. I wish it was cheaper and did not need such high end hardware.

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Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

BreyerConstruct

Correct, the 3D imaging & presentation is the best part of DeckTools.

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It sold this job...

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redwood

Matt, I love the conceptual and final product pics, but you forgot the house next door.

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Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

deckman22

That's where I'm at Mark. One of my suppliers bought 25 licences & has the take-off part all keyed into their product line/pricing. If he were to give me deal on it I might force myself to learn how to use it tho.

I know there are about a half dozen guys using it here.

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www.alscustomdecks.com

redwood

Al, let me know if he gives you a great deal on the program. If so, can my sister in DeSoto buy one at the same price and send it to me?

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Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

Jeff Weldy

So do you do all your material take off's trusting Deck Tools? I mean I am sure you double check stuff but I was wondering if you draw the structural plans out on CAD or some other program and double check everything. Thanks for your response I had checked that product out but was hoping there was something that my laptob could run and was CHEAPER!! I need to get a lot more busy before I make that kind of purchase, I am sure that it will def help sell me some jobs!

naptown CR

more care needs to be taken with the existing the window spacing and number of windows on the house are wrong there is no roof shown.

But then I am an anal retentive dweeb

neolitic

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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

deckman22

This guy is all about doing deals, all I have to do is ask.

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Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

BreyerConstruct

It's great when you can leave a thread and someone else answers for you- and they get it right!
Thanks Neolitic!

For what it's worth, I don't use DT for my take-offs. I figure that by hand. I like to do that thinking... However, I do use it to calculate the sq. ft. of decking, & lin. ft. of railing, which I use in my own XLS for pricing. FWIW, there is a pricing feature built in, and I use that as a double-check of my own work.


HTH,
~Matt

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sirlopez

At DeckTECH last year BigHammerPro was showcasing their new deck design software. It was VERY slick - and FREE. It had almost all of the capabilities of DeckTools (I know because I plunked down the $1,500 for a license) at no cost to the contractor. I think BigHammerPro is making their money from charging manufacturers a fee to have their products included in their materials catalog.
All that being said, I was told it was supposed to release a couple of weeks after the show (that was in January), and it still has not released - not even in Beta.
Another option with a bit more of a learning curve is Google SketchUp. Much more powerful than Decktools, but doesn't provide material take-offs or pricing information. It is strictly a user friendly 3D CAD program.

I personally would hold off on buying DeckTools for a little while....

BreyerConstruct

Sir Google Lopez...

Sketch-up is more powerful than DeckTools?


However, welcome to the site.
~Matt

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sirlopez

Matt,
Thanks for the welcome to the group.

I have found that SketchUp is much more powerful for me. I build a lot of custom docks that are beyond the limitations of DeckTools. To be able to accurately depict the product to the client, I have to use some form of true CAD program (AutoCAD, SketchUp, etc.). While the convenience of DeckTools is unrivaled (except for the non-existent BigHammerPro software), the actual drawing capabilities of DeckTools are very limited and thus, not powerful for my applications.

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BreyerConstruct

Agreed.
Sketchup is simpler & more customer friendly than most CAD programs.
For docks I can see where it'd be preferred over DT.
Sorry for the sharper reply. We get a lot of "1 post wonders" who are mostly spamming.

Oh, find the "introductions" section of this site & tell us about yourself; we're always looking for more quality deck guys!
~Matt

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