Conceptual stair design software - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

StairJunkie · 04-13-2009, 10:01 PM

I'm going to revisit the field of stair design software. I'm not looking for a cut list or exact dimensions but if I could get that then it would be a huge plus.

What I do need is to replicate part styles that I use and plug them in to a staircase design, apply some paint and stain to various parts. Something so the customer can visualize what the finished product will look like.

Examples of the stairs I need to be able to draw:
http://eastcoaststairscompany.com/im...ernandez_3.jpg

http://eastcoaststairscompany.com/im...fanout_1_3.jpg

http://eastcoaststairscompany.com/im.../large/box.jpg

http://eastcoaststairscompany.com/im...ut_metal_2.jpg

The cheaper the better but I understand the good software does cost money. Sketchup and Chief Architect come to mind.

Any suggestions?

ScipioAfricanus · 04-13-2009, 11:56 PM

Chief Architect does a very nice job with staircases and balusters and newel posts but is not a staircase specific program. It would be very difficult to do the real nice volutes that I see in your pictures. And it is about $2300.00 per seat.

If you just want the software to do staircases and such maybe Sketchup wouldbe your best bet at only about $600.00 for the Pro version and the non pro version is free, just download it. The non-pro doesn't have the 'Layout' module with it but you can do some really nice things with it anyway.

There is a guy that sells a very nice stair specific program that is truly awesome called stairdesigner (I think) do a search. I think it is about 1K USD. It will do the layout and material lists I think all the way to programing for a CNC machine.

Andy.

StairJunkie · 04-14-2009, 10:53 AM

I'm researching sketchup more (since it's free I guess

) and found part of a foyer design that includes part of a nice looking staircase http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc837t9h_103fwkqqdrs

Examples in the 3D Warehouse: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...8043&scoring=m

I'm quite impressed with the detail of the staircase, what's viewable, and with the rest of what seems to be the foyer. Is there a dedicated sketchup forum where I could ask active users if I can achieve what I'm looking to do?

(I realize there's another active thread about it right now, I'll add info there as appropriate)

**Cole** · 04-14-2009, 11:30 AM

I could do what you are wanting to achieve in Sketchup with no problem.

StairJunkie · 04-14-2009, 02:54 PM

What would I be missing out on in Chief Architect that Sketchup doesn't offer for staircase design?

ScipioAfricanus · 04-17-2009, 08:51 PM

Hard question to answer. Sketchup does great things but everything you have to show has to be made individually.
Chief has automatic banisters and newels that you can change but I think is not as easy to make as they are in Sketchup.
Doing flared and rounded stairs in Chief can be done but I think they would lack precision.

You should check out Stairdesigner at http://boole.club.fr/english/stairdesigner_eng.php

It is a stair specific software and I think it is about $1.1k.

They have a demo you can download.

Andy.

jimmys · 05-12-2009, 03:05 PM

I'm quite impressed with the detail of the staircase, what's viewable, and with the rest of what seems to be the foyer. Is there a dedicated sketchup forum where I could ask active users if I can achieve what I'm looking to do?

Google to Sketchup Forums and you'll have it.
Scipio is right about SU - you have to draw everything! Though there is a large database of items you can download and alter, including lots of stairs. It's free, why don't you try it? Makes drawing actually fun.
Jim