AutoCAD is pretty advanced, and more modeled for the manufacturing environment (IMO).

The norm around here so I believe is Sketchup. I use the free version and that is pretty powerful in itself. But anything concerning layout designs, you'd definitely want the paid version.

Sketchup

 

Ive tried google sketch, it was very confusing. maybe ill try it again if no one has any other suggestions. I looked into "Cad Pro" the website seemed exactly what i wanted, but user reviews are horrible.

 

If Sketchup is confusing you need to learn it before you move on to other programs.

I'm finishing 5 years of architecture school and they didn't teach us a single program. You have to sit down and force yourself through one program regardless of what it is. If you can't do that with sketchup then your out of luck.

 

AutoCad still has the same basic functions and can be used pretty much the same way you know it. Especially if you used the keyboard short cuts. Interface these days is stupid overwhelming in comparison tho.

Have you looked at AutoCad LT?

Sketchup is about as easy as it gets these days in terms of drafting-3D applications.

In your situation, Pencil and paper may still be faster and much less irritating than any CAD program. Especially if you are old school proficient at it.

 

I'm using Home Designer Pro 2014. You can download and try it for free, you just won't be able to print or save with the trial version. They also have demo videos.

 

I use AutoCad LT on a daily basis and SketchUp at least once a week.

When I draft plans for custom homes or T.I.'s in 2D, I use AutoCad. Yea, there's a bit of a learning curve like everything else. But the toolbar is really straight forward. Line, offset, trim. You can draw the Golden Gate Bridge with those three commands.

Anything else you can't figure out... there's always YouTube and AutoDesk's help forum.

Anything 3D it's Sketchup. All. Day. Long. But it feels too cumbersome to me when I'm doing flat drawings. But if you're not doing a lot of drafting, it would work just fine after you got the hang of it.

I also love the new AutoCad LT "pay as you go" subscription. It's three or four hundred dollars a year for the latest version of LT. It pays for itself literally 100 times over each year, for me at least.

 

I use AutoCad LT on a daily basis and SketchUp at least once a week.



I also love the new AutoCad LT "pay as you go" subscription. It's three or four hundred dollars a year for the latest version of LT. It pays for itself literally 100 times over each year, for me at least.

Careful!!!! If they get that idea, they will jack up the price some more! :sad:

 

I've used many different design programs in school and out of school... AutoCad is extremely powerful and the interface has changed but learning it again I think would be like riding a bike...

Recently I've been using chief architect, I like it a lot. I think it's perfect for quick design to show a customer the project in a realistic view not just straight elevations. You can do a walk through of the house with a camera and show them the finishes and layout like nothing. Revit you can also but I tried to learn it, could not...

Now if your just doing plan modifications autocad is probably the best. I find it easy to adjust things. Chief is a little more difficult on tricky plans.


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I have used chief architect since 1998. It is pretty awesome for rendering and generating really quick renderings. Helps solve a lot of problems in the front end being able to render and look at items. It's not CAd heavy. Object oriented

 

Somewhere in a box I still have a 6 CD set of CA and the parallel port dongle.

For a long time, when Jack Simpson first started out - after switching from database software to CAD, he had a deal - first with Broderbund then Better Homes & Gardens - who sold it under their branding - probably kept the cash flow up.

 

I've been using SoftPlan since high school. It's a few grand to buy but they offer a plan to break it up into 12 payments.

 

As I said, maundering. :laughing:

That was a pretty spot-on maunder. :thumbsup:

 

Meandering around the maundering... :whistling :laughing:

 

"Maundering", thank you.

Learned a new word today.

Andy.

 

The thing about Chief Architect I love is the cabinet design. I've done several kitchens and baths with it and it is so powerful for that. I can give a client a rendering of it not just a 2d line drawing which is invaluable to helping them "picture" the finished project.

It's also very easy to do a complete plan set for kitchens with all elevations detailing wall finishes and other little things.


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Knowing that you have used AuotCAD and also knowing that, like me you are a cheap bastard, I would suggest trying Draftsite.

It is a free to use AutoCAD clone. It is also very powerful and very similar to AC.

Andy.

 

Sketchup does nothing for me.

I create plans for permit. I use CA to get a solid model. (I bought it over 15 months last year.) Then I export elevations, plans, sections, etc to DWG so I can "clean" things up to what I'm used to using AutoCAD.

I've used SoftPlan and SolidBuilder. Neither felt "normal" to me. Although, SolidBuilder did hand cut roofs and wall panels accurate like a framer would do it.

CA still feels a bit clunky to me when I'm trying to make my layouts exactly like I like. And in such, I can spot a CA set of plans a mile away. Also, any collaboration with others around here are mostly AutoCAD.

The one guy who was a CA phenom that I worked with, was on a PC and I was on a mac. CA has problems with plans and layouts created on macOS Chief then opened on Windows Chief. That ended our drawing collaboration.

Determine your end-state then map the best way to get there. Free is a consideration, but it shouldn't be the ONLY one.

 

I've seen some really nice Construction Documents done in Sketchup Pro layout but it looked like a tremendous amount of work went into the model.

Having said that, as with any software, the more it's used the easier it is to use. We use it for modeling to show clients what's going on more clearly than 2d drawings and also use it for reference when doing plans. Once one uses it a bit it's easy to pop up a model and it comes in handy. Attached is a snap shot of it being used to help track solatubes down from the 3rd story to the lower two floors.

For submitting plans it's still a 2d world and AutoCADs hard to beat for speed once one is up and running on it.

 

Anyone use Revit? Revit is the devil on which I'll spend the rest of my career (until I hack the system).

 

Just too bad Revit won't work with other versions/years!!!

 

whoa! so chief architect is like 2 grand? I guess since im just a builder remodel contractor scratching out a living (barely) Im looking for software that is better than sketchup but not 2 grand better. I dont do design or architecture for a living nor do I draft plans all day either. I just need something kinda like ever customer is now wanting cause of the television shows that has every option and design laid in computer so its easy to see their options beforehand.

I know that the shows are spending booku bucks to have those done up probably but its creating an expectation in the customers mind that i will be able to present them their options in the same way.


So.....what are the best bets do you think?

 

whoa! so chief architect is like 2 grand? I guess since im just a builder remodel contractor scratching out a living (barely) Im looking for software that is better than sketchup but not 2 grand better. I dont do design or architecture for a living nor do I draft plans all day either. I just need something kinda like ever customer is now wanting cause of the television shows that has every option and design laid in computer so its easy to see their options beforehand.

I know that the shows are spending booku bucks to have those done up probably but its creating an expectation in the customers mind that i will be able to present them their options in the same way.


So.....what are the best bets do you think?

i did just kinda peruse the chief architect website and saw it is indeed 2695.00 but......if its useable for years and years to come, like i could use it for the next five years pretty easily, and its fairly easy to learn and work with, it would be something I could use. And is it once you buy it you own it kinda deal, or do they keep squeezing you for extra money, like oh your software licenese expired please pay another 500 dollars to keep using the software you already bought. But it would take a good minute before i could scratch up 2700 bucks. in the mean time........

You could start by reading the entire thread. No one can answer that question but you.

And no one has to shell out 2600 bucks for CA and the same holds true for some other design software.

Autodesk for example will let anyone download their entire product line. I think they even offer extended grace periods for laying with their software.

I kept a $200 Broderbund branded version of Chief Architect on my field laptop for years just because it was cheap and quick.

If I had the talent for it, I could have migrated to the fullblown Chief Architect - but I didn't - because I HAVE NO TALENT. Still, the toolsets and principles between the two are the same, meaning I didn't have to completely relearn the software.

Which you will come to find out is daunting.

Which is true for most of us lackeys. We think we do - we go spend the money, buy the expensive stuff thinking that premium will automagically flow thru our fingers and we'll be darn good overnight - but it just doesn't work that way.

 

i did just kinda peruse the chief architect website and saw it is indeed 2695.00 but......if its useable for years and years to come, like i could use it for the next five years pretty easily, and its fairly easy to learn and work with, it would be something I could use. And is it once you buy it you own it kinda deal, or do they keep squeezing you for extra money, like oh your software licenese expired please pay another 500 dollars to keep using the software you already bought. But it would take a good minute before i could scratch up 2700 bucks. in the mean time........

 

Try out Chief Architect's Home Designer Pro series, click link.

This may just be what you are looking for.

 

I have used Home Designer Pro for 3 years and really like it.
Its $495.

 

I did read the entire thread, if you mean this thread with 2 pages so far. I had follow up questions or was looking for follow up recommendations based off a simpler user. For example I probably wouldnt need to do a full set of plans more than likely. So thats why i posted.

But I am still looking into these software options and I appreciate all who took the time to point me in a better direction than my previous lost and wandering meander.

So am i to understand that Chief architect has various versions some of which might be less expensive? although probably also lacking in certain features i imagine.

 

well......in what i fear might be becoming my trademark style of askin here first then delving into the software websites, i just clicked on the link posted above for the diy version of chief architect and did see the options are a lot less expensive for the diy style of software and they may be more in alignment with what i will be needing as a semi basic user. im 8 parts craftsman and 2 parts software and technology guy sooooo......

I might wait until my next project and do the trial run. or do you think it has a steep enough learning curve that i would be best to begin my tutelage now.

 

I would start now because with the trial versions you cannot save your drawings or print. Also Home Designer Pro allows you to do full size construction drawings.
If you need to do roofs and renderings I would at least start with Home Designer Architect which I believe is $199.

 

Good cad program

I use Chief Architect, AutoCAD LT and Revit Lt. I have primarily used Chief for years to produce my plans. The renderings are great and you can pump them out quickly! I recently have switched over to Revit because I have been working more closely with a local engineer on design work and he uses Revit. I rent my software from Autodesk for $65.00 a month, it sounds like a lot but I generally bill out substantially more than this for drafting work every month. For the $65.00 a month I get AutoCAD LT and Revit LT. Its a good way to go and your are not bound to any length of time, so if it doesn't you will know quickly and not be out a ton of money.

 

Use chief architect. By using this I think some of your problem's will resolved. This will be helpful for you. Try it once.