Is Cad Software Worth For Me?

mike stanislaw

I'm impressed with the graphics. now impress me with the costs. really think a deck builder can afford the incorporate the costs into his price before it gets to high??

ScipioAfricanus

I have no idea if you can incorporate the cost of the program into your price. I don't sell the program I just really like it. I make a living with it, I do as-built plans, remodel plans and ground-up plans for my clients. I deal with engineers, and a bunch of city planning and permit offices and I have always been able to pass con. docs. through the various departments.

It is a very powerful program but I use it all the time. As I had stated once before It can probably do it all for you (someone will be pissed at that) It does for me.

Andy.

javatom

sub it out. If you have plumbing to do call a plumber. If he is building a deck he will call you. If you need construction documents and a nice 3-D image call a designer who can do that for you.

mics_54

No program does it all. You'll probably want a midlevel cad program both suited for your current experience level and still advanced enough for your future abilities with 3D capability and intigration at some point with a BOM for estimating and cost tracking and presentation capabilities in an easily viewed format like 2D and 3D pdf files. I also suspect that as a deck contractor you would like to import photos and add your project images to the photo in a realistic presentation. Plan development, sales presentations, document management, job management, expandability, intigration and standardization...perhaps even sdk abilities for growth and adaptation suited to your own needs....It's a big bill to fill.... and you want it inexpensive...and easy.
Ultimately you should develope a plan of action regarding your business model and begin working toward that. Perhaps research these areas specific to your business and immulate to some degree the methods of other businesses like yours, fitting it to your budget.
If you would like to be more specific about what it is you wish to do, I am sure you will get all the advice you seek.

ScipioAfricanus

I think someone on this thread is having a bit of an ego collapse, see a good therapist in Alaska.

mics_54

Doesn't Cheif Architect do that??

mike stanislaw

All i wanted was a 3-d in color graphic. How good does it look and how much each drawing going to cost me. I'm a salesman I'll do the rest.

mics_54

Then were I you I would look at the Sketchup page here and check out what others are doing with it. Google SketchUp
Look at the industries page and the architecture and landscaping pages.
You can down load a fully functional program for free. If you think you like it and want the Layout capabilities to produce large print output, the pro version is about 500 bucks. You need a good graphics card and a gig or two of ram to get jiggywidit. There's some tricks to learn but once you rap your brain around the concepts, it is a blast.

ScipioAfricanus

HI Mike, click on my name above my avatar and send me a private message with details of what you are looking for. I will get back to you with a price if that is what you are looking for.

Thanks.

Andy.

mics_54

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javatom

Mike,
I suggested subbing it out because of the time factor involved. I did not mean to come off rude. What you are not being told by anyone is the very thing you need to hear. So, here it is. It's easy to create a 3-d picture on a cad system. It is hard to turn that fantasy picture into construction documents that the building department will approve. ANY designer or architect I have ever met will agree with this. The devil is in the details, just like it is in building something. Maybe a hybid situation would work for you. Use a starter level program to create the 3-d. You can wow the clients and get them to approve the look. Then, get a draftsmen to turn it into construction docs for you. Everyone will be happy. Many of the cad programs have a cheap and and expensive version of the software. This scenario is why.

mics_54

I havent seen any indication Mike cares about permitting. He may be one of the lucky guys that rarely works in municipalities where it's required.

BreyerConstruct

Mike,

I'm about 1.5 hours away.
Call or email me.
I'd be willing to meet you in King of Prussia & let you play with my copy of DeckTools on my laptop. It's a program designed specifically for decks.
You and I both focus on decks, so I understand what you're looking for (I think).

That being said, I'd love to get a copy of Chief & learn it! I've seen basements done in it, and it's beautiful!!!

~Matt

__________________
Custom Deck Builder Deck Designer Lancaster Deck Builder Berks Deck Cleaning
Breyer Construction & Landscape, LLC Facebook Page
www.BreyerConstruction.com

ScipioAfricanus

HI Matt, you can download a trial version at http://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/trial.html I use it for my business.

I think I did this link correctly.

Andy.

mics_54

http://www.idx-design.com/

BreyerConstruct

Thanks Andy!

I might just spend a day with it over the winter!

~Matt

I know, I know, it takes more than a day!

__________________
Custom Deck Builder Deck Designer Lancaster Deck Builder Berks Deck Cleaning
Breyer Construction & Landscape, LLC Facebook Page
www.BreyerConstruction.com

modterry

TO ScipioAfricanus

Here are a couple I did, these have gone through Planning and Permit review for the city of Garden Grove CA.

And believe people have done can. docs. much better looking than this. My style is very utilitarian, I just put in what is needed and not a lot else.

It seems I can only upload three. I have lots more for other cities in Orange County.

I deal with engineers that I need to place their DWG files into Chief and this works great too.


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Of topic - How do you handle specifications? I have struggled with this for a couple of years. I have stripped our drawings and put all the specs in a database and print to a project notebook. I see commercial projects doing this, but found if I only put some of the specs on the plans - then the guys ( also the city plan reviewers ) don't read the specs in the book.

Also makes it easier on our outside draftsman , as he only has to worry about the drawings - not how to import the specs. We have alot of line items with selections, specs, product used, and most important = "how to". Our specs are tied to ordering, project tasks, schedule, etc.

ScipioAfricanus

HI modterry, I have done a few commercial TIs and I have always put the majority of the specs. on the plans. Andy time the job may call for other than conventional construction and I have to sub out to a PE they have done the calcs. and other specs. and just attached them to my architectural plans.

If the job is soley conventional construction I do the "engineering" and show all specs on the plans. I use 24" x 36" paper usually at 1/4" scale.

I hope this is a help.

Andy.

siteturbo

If you're just doing rendering try Google Sketcup, it's free. If you're doing detail work, go with AutoCad Lite.