Best home design software?

[Kaido]

I thought it'd be fun to play with some home design software, but there's zillions upon zillions of software packages out there. Any suggestions as to what's good?

 

[RKS]

My brother builds custom homes but he uses architects.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RKS
My brother builds custom homes but he uses architects.

Nice! I've done a lot of researching into materials and systems, but I need something where I can get a feel for the interior & exterior design, where the sun will be at different times of the day and how it affects interior lighting, and so on and so forth. There's so many packages out there it's ridiculous lol.

 

[badkarma1399]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I thought it'd be fun to play with some home design software, but there's zillions upon zillions of software packages out there. Any suggestions as to what's good?

Text

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: badkarma1399

Originally posted by: Kaido
I thought it'd be fun to play with some home design software, but there's zillions upon zillions of software packages out there. Any suggestions as to what's good?

Text

LOL

 

[Drakkon]

Turbocad Home and Interior

 

[Throwmeabone]

The Sims

 

[vshah]

i used 3d home architect way way way back to help my dad with a remodel, but that was like version 3 or 4 10 years ago. no idea what the deal is now.

 

[skyking]

http://www.plan3d.com
I tried that out, paid 35 for a one year subscription to the database.
I found it quite useful. The program itself can be installed on several computers and I put the designs I was working on on my network. I could edit and work on the plans from my lappy, desktop, wife's lappy, etc.
caveats: It won't work properly without a net connection. All the fixtures textures cabinets etc are online.

 

[Zebo]

I used chief architect for years in 13 homes I've built
http://www.chiefarchitect.com/

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Zebo
I used chief architect for years in 13 homes I've built
http://www.chiefarchitect.com/

That looks pretty good, thanks!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

If you want to spend $2K+ for the best, get Softplan.
http://www.softplan.com/

If you want to spend under $100, just go get an Intuit branded product from best Buy.

And let us cut the BS. You do not need to plan outlets and heating systems. Electricians and HVAC people have to do things to code. They will size hte heating system and run the ductwork as they need to. And electricians need to place the outlets every 6 feet (or something liek this) by code. The only thing you need to do is tell them where switches should be for the various lights in your home.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
If you want to spend $2K+ for the best, get Softplan.
http://www.softplan.com/

If you want to spend under $100, just go get an Intuit branded product from best Buy.

And let us cut the BS. You do not need to plan outlets and heating systems. Electricians and HVAC people have to do things to code. They will size hte heating system and run the ductwork as they need to. And electricians need to place the outlets every 6 feet (or something liek this) by code. The only thing you need to do is tell them where switches should be for the various lights in your home.

Actualy HVAC isn't normally inspected in single residential, because it have to be design to spec by engineers, however there are many flyby night companies with half wit mechanical engineer that couldn't tied their own shoes doing the sizing & calculating.

Get reference from electrician/HVAC companiese, and call up the reference, call up local suppliers for recormmendation, call the BBB.

Now, get your solfware and play, but don't forget to get books (plural).

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
If you want to spend $2K+ for the best, get Softplan.
http://www.softplan.com/

If you want to spend under $100, just go get an Intuit branded product from best Buy.

And let us cut the BS. You do not need to plan outlets and heating systems. Electricians and HVAC people have to do things to code. They will size hte heating system and run the ductwork as they need to. And electricians need to place the outlets every 6 feet (or something liek this) by code. The only thing you need to do is tell them where switches should be for the various lights in your home.

I'm looking for something more like layout, than designing floor plans. i.e. see what it looks like, how the sunlight works, how interior lighting would work, that sort of thing. Almost an interior design app, but for the whole house.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa
Now, get your solfware and play, but don't forget to get books (plural).

Anything in particular you'd recommend?

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: badkarma1399

Originally posted by: Kaido
I thought it'd be fun to play with some home design software, but there's zillions upon zillions of software packages out there. Any suggestions as to what's good?

Text

LOL

He posted what I was going to :'(

Can't you just get out a ruler and a piece of paper, jeez...

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

AutoCAD

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa
Now, get your solfware and play, but don't forget to get books (plural).

Anything in particular you'd recommend?

UBC, NEC

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
If you want to spend $2K+ for the best, get Softplan.
http://www.softplan.com/

If you want to spend under $100, just go get an Intuit branded product from best Buy.

And let us cut the BS. You do not need to plan outlets and heating systems. Electricians and HVAC people have to do things to code. They will size hte heating system and run the ductwork as they need to. And electricians need to place the outlets every 6 feet (or something liek this) by code. The only thing you need to do is tell them where switches should be for the various lights in your home.

Actualy HVAC isn't normally inspected in single residential, because it have to be design to spec by engineers, however there are many flyby night companies with half wit mechanical engineer that couldn't tied their own shoes doing the sizing & calculating.

Get reference from electrician/HVAC companiese, and call up the reference, call up local suppliers for recormmendation, call the BBB.

Now, get your solfware and play, but don't forget to get books (plural).

Don't know where you live, but it sure as hell is inspected here in California.

For software, chief architect and solid builder are both pretty good, I haven't used softplan.

Every one of the low end programs I've tried (under $200) have been near useless.

Edit: You also need to think about how you're going to print those plans out, D size plotters aren't cheap.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
If you want to spend $2K+ for the best, get Softplan.
http://www.softplan.com/

If you want to spend under $100, just go get an Intuit branded product from best Buy.

And let us cut the BS. You do not need to plan outlets and heating systems. Electricians and HVAC people have to do things to code. They will size hte heating system and run the ductwork as they need to. And electricians need to place the outlets every 6 feet (or something liek this) by code. The only thing you need to do is tell them where switches should be for the various lights in your home.

Actualy HVAC isn't normally inspected in single residential, because it have to be design to spec by engineers, however there are many flyby night companies with half wit mechanical engineer that couldn't tied their own shoes doing the sizing & calculating.

Get reference from electrician/HVAC companiese, and call up the reference, call up local suppliers for recormmendation, call the BBB.

Now, get your solfware and play, but don't forget to get books (plural).

Don't know where you live, but it sure as hell is inspected here in California.

For software, chief architect and solid builder are both pretty good, I haven't used softplan.

Every one of the low end programs I've tried (under $200) have been near useless.

Edit: You also need to think about how you're going to print those plans out, D size plotters aren't cheap.

Sorry my bad, was only thinking for Canada, however if HVAC are inspected why you still have so many incorrect sizing & ductwork complaints that I have seen on various web sites?

 

[Zebo]

Yeah I'm with greenman on this mechanical inspection.

And mechanical, electrical and plumbing (the big 3) are hardy done by fly by nighters. Licenses for those costs lots of money and lots of experiance. now painters OTOH...if thery are not flakes they are nuts- too much lacquer.

 

[skyking]

I looked into the expensive software and decided to use the plan3d because all I really wanted to do was create the spaces and looks. I would still take the final concept to a local architect firm. They will know how to deal with the national, state, and local codes.

 

[Zebo]

kaido If you obtain chief architect I can send you a couple houses I designed and built for you to play with. it's probably best way to learn by just tweaking stuff after going though tutorial.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Yeah I'm with greenman on this mechanical inspection.

And mechanical, electrical and plumbing (the big 3) are hardy done by fly by nighters. Licenses for those costs lots of money and lots of experiance. now painters OTOH...if thery are not flakes they are nuts- too much lacquer.

plumbing is part of mechanical and it is inspected, but some how HVAC in single home residential isn't as big of a concern. I wish it were more of a concern, because it would stop a lot of crappy companies, or smarten up and give license guys more work/more money

<--- have to resize/recalculates many HVAC sys design by know it all engineers to make it work.

What worst was that, one project I couldn't balance the system because the HVAC system was put in by another company (we were called in to correct the problem). We called Honeywell and they send 2 engineers (1 senior engineer with over 30 years experience was happen to be on a conferrence in a city nearby), and for 5 fustrating days they couldn't balance the system. We had to rip appart the finish walls/celing and repair part of the ductwork at $170,000 damage to get it going. The Fup was due to poor engineer design, and the company that put it in didn't pickup the error, then the intaller mised that too. The supply/return air was more than 60% undersize for the CFM & cooling ratio. Engineered with 80 tones, and my calculation for the building was only 43 tones.

PS. Un like the US many Canadian companies employ journeyman with multiple tickets

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: skyking
I looked into the expensive software and decided to use the plan3d because all I really wanted to do was create the spaces and looks. I would still take the final concept to a local architect firm. They will know how to deal with the national, state, and local codes.

Yeah I think that's more what I'm leaning towards - design rather than specifications. I'm not interested in a plotter or plans, that's the architect's job. I won't be building for at least 2 years, and I know that since it's a complex project I had better start learning and planning now (including saving! haha).

Plus I'm going to be using some...interesting materials, including ICFs and stone-coated steel roofing, which I'm not sure many home design apps have. I need something to help me visualize how it will look and feel, do walkthroughs, see how the sunlight affects things, that sort of thing.

But it's all a pipe dream right now, and dreaming is cheaper than building, hence the software