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Asher
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:19am
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I did a couple site searches, but either I didn't come up with much or I wasn't typing in the correct words.. I only came up with the google sketch, and some floor plan program...
We are about to kick the cabin project into high gear (breaking ground as soon as the weather breaks). We have a found a design that we want, but we also want to change a couple things. So I want to find a program that is user friendly but also helps calculate engineering requirements.
Now to complicate things.. We are really considering starting with a pavilion post/beam structure and then start framing in the walls after the roof is complete. The reason behind this method is so more open ceilings and we will have floor plan flexibility and not have to be concerned with load interior load bearing walls.
The cabin design we have settled on is has a dimension of 16x28 (with a 12 foot screened porch), we are considering bumping the width to 20' instead of 16' but not completely settled on that.
Sorry got off topic....
It's been a while (10+ years) but I use to pay with CAD software at work so I know my way around it a little bit... Can anyone point me to some design software that might be a good option for us to use and come up with some plans so I can design our place and start getting lumber bids going?
Thanks in advance...
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:35am - Edited by: bldginsp
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Quoting: Asher We are really considering starting with a pavilion post/beam structure
and, as well, you want a program that will do calculations for you on such a design. I don't know much about what software is available out there, I wonder if such a program exists that can do both. Perhaps you need two programs, a CAD and an engineering calculator.
I use CadStandard, a very simple CAD program that is inexpensive, easy to use, has layers, and has enough to make sets of plans at the standard sizes. Doesn't do any engineering calculations.
Good luck!
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Jabberwocky
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:40am - Edited by: Jabberwocky
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You mentioned google sketch.... do you mean SketchUp probably? I was going to suggest that but then you mentioned calculating engineering requirements. There are vast amounts of plugins for SketchUp, but I don't know if they have what you are looking for. The professional version of SketchUp ($500) includes 'Layout,' which translates your SketchUp designs into blueprints. But ultimately, I think what you need maybe is a good design program + an engineer. 
As far as SketchUp's capability as a visual design program, there is none better. I highly recommend trying it out. With your background you would have no trouble getting the hang of it. You can go as detailed as you want.... I have built several houses in SketchUp one 2x4 at a time.
If you try it, I recommend, with your boards and such, to make them 'components.' It makes it easier to modify multiple boards etc at the same time, PLUS, it makes them easier to track inside a model. This in turn, makes cost assessment easier. There is a plugin (around $20 iirc) that allows tracking of components within your model in order to produce cost estimates. It's more designed for a builder/contractor than for a homeowner, however you may find it useful. I would highly recommend getting on 3D Warehouse and browsing the extensions offered to see if you can make use of them. Since SketchUp itself is free, you really can't go wrong.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 09:52am
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I purchased Chief Architect Home Designer Pro back in 2014 and upgraded to the 2015 version last spring before submitting my plans. I have the Full Version, not just the demo.
I found it to be a very good piece of software when dealing with standard structural stuff... Go off the beaten conventional building path and things get sticky... Things like Pole Barns or Cordwood are not a part of the default materials / structures list. These can be added in manually though and not that hard once you figure out - the trick is in figuring out how.
The software produces Materials Lists, Cut Lists (not sure if I'd trust that 100%) and more... You can even dump these lists into spreadsheets (Excel or OpenOffice) without problems. An interesting function/feature is the "Plan Check" which examines the plan you have and let's you know of shortcomings, issues or problems... This can & does save a fair bit of hassle as it can correct things you may not notice till it's too late.
The drawings can be quite detailed and can be printed or exported to PDF for large scale printing.
Our building Inspector accepted my drawings (from Home Designer) without issues under the "Owner Designed & Built" clause of our building code... Every state, province etc have their own "clauses" and most allow for owner designed (as long as it's fairly std build).
You can see some of my produced drawings in this thread, one the 1st page about 1/2 way down. Cabin Build Underway 2015 Thread
Many folks building small cabins, tiny houses and whatnot use Sketchup to create their designs and to tinker with floor plans & layouts. It's good software BUT is not a designer software in the conventional sense and does not produce materials lists, cut lists, so you would have to figure that out manually.
Hope this helps.
Steve
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Jabberwocky
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 10:51am
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Steve_S
Yes that sounds like a good assessment of the situation. I think your program might be more of what Asher is looking for based on your own screenshots.
I just love SketchUp though... I'm totally addicted to it.
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Don_P
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 05:12pm
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Strucalc and Beamchek are two common engineering calcs.
I don't know of any software (yet ) that can do what you are asking.
For working drawings and calcs I use Sketchup and some simple engineering equations written into javascript. When it gets beyond that I call in the pro's. If you know your way around the equations a little bit my calcs are here;
timbertoolbox.com
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rockies
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# Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:21pm
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I use the Chief Architect demo version. I'm not spending thousands on a full version since I don't need it. The demo version has everything you'd need except for access to their product library (specific doors, windows, appliances, etc). They don't let you save or export your drawings in the demo version but I get around that by taking screen shots of each plan, elevation and section. Of course, once you shut down the program everything is lost and you have to start over from scratch, but that actually gives you a lot more practice at using their software.
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Asher
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# Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:59am
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Thanks for the replies everyone, Steve S... I down loaded the trial version and like the features... Not perfect for my application, but probably as close as I'm going to get...
Is there anything I am missing about the different versions of that software? It looks like $495 for the pro, but $199 for the Architectural edition... If I want to upgrade from Arc to pro it's a $295 upcharge... Seems like I am going to try the Arc edition but if it's not enough then jump into the pro...
Thanks again everyone... Hopefully soon I'll be posting my plans for critics to review and then hopefully the real world project will follow shortly after...
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:26am - Edited by: Steve_S
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I first bought the basic version which I believe was 199 at the time. It did not have the ability to make layout sheets and several other limitations including making "custom materials" which I needed so that I could define custom wall types (structural components) and a few other things. The Pro edition does all that and more plus it has a vast amount of materials within it's library.
I spent quite a long time trying to find decent architecture design & planning software and found this to be good. I did try many and downloaded a lot of different ones and none came up with all the goodies as it were.
I had used Autodesk Cad before and had several years experience designing with Virtualization Software and Virtual Modelling (3D) so fortunately my learning curve wasn't too bad... It was more adjusting to the interesting quirks and figuring out the tweakings for things.
It took me about a months of fiddling and reading through techno docs to become fairly proficient with the software... As a former Systems Engineer & Programmer, IT Technology is very old hack to me, so I'm maybe a tad more fiddly than others would be.
IF you buy the lower version and decide to upgrade, there IS a catch in there that caused me a lot of confusion... including some serious drunken sailor talk too... When you buy the upgrade version (always get the media sent to you, it's worth the extra $10) you FIRST have to "de-register" the current installed version which removes the licence key, then install the new version. You can only run one version at a time on a machine and NO, you can't just install the previous version on another PC and use it there... The licences are inter-connected.
The various walk through modes and view modes I believe are also a bit limited in the lower versions.
Something to note but you likely already have that figured out... Chief Architect IS a real CAD system and as such with it's heavy rendering engine requires fairly decent video graphics capability... The software actually gave my heavy workstation a good workout. It's an AMD 4.0 Ghz 8 Core, 32GB Ram, NVidia GTX660-ti video. So don't expect wonders on a low end machine.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Points to NOTE on the versions which makes a big diff, especially if you want to do your own design and submit it to your building dept.
Printable Layout Sheets. Create blueprint layouts with 3D, CAD, Cross-Section / Elevation, and Plan Views. Define any scale for the drawing.
Labeled Callouts. Use callouts to reference between details, plans, and cross-sections in a blueprint layout.
Reference: Product Comparison Page
I had thought of whipping up some designs and posting them for sale (to recover cost of software and other plans purchased) but I'm too old & burnt out from IT for end user support in that way but who knows, once I have my place built and I'm in it.... something for cold day's maybe....
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