DIY home design software

[dmccarty]

We're out in the county, so our property isn't subject to any building codes/inspections that I'm aware of (at least that's what everyone I've talked to who should know tells me). My banker had suggested hiring a building inspector to check on the progress periodically, take pictures, make recommendations, etc. This makes sense and I'll probably end up doing that. We did have to get a permit from the Corps of Engineers for our creek crossing and driveway. That project is nearing completion. I'm pretty proud of it and keep thinking I need to post pictures.
As for structure, my plan was for my wife and I to piddle around on some sort of design program until we were happy with it, then meet back with our architect and have him hammer out structure, HVAC routing, rooflines, builders sets, elevation, etc. I feel like when we met with him before we were just going back and forth with design changes. This got expensive, so we cut to the chase and just stopped. Between my parents and my uncles, I grew up around construction, so I'm pretty knowledgeable, but it would be nice to have someone else "bless" the plan. There's a big engineering university here in Rolla, but no architecture.
...

Design is an iterative process. This is fine if YOU are doing the work but it can get expensive if you are paying some one.

I forgot how many sketch designs we had before I pulled out the drafting board. After I got General Cadd I had a couple more versions. We had at least 25 different sketch designs. To pay someone to do that would have been expensive.

We 1/4 inch graph paper with each square being 2 or 4 feet. If you design on 2 or 4 foot lengths it should help with material costs. With the graph paper sketches the rooms need to be a bit bigger since the walls will take up space. Our exterior walls are close to a foot thick.

We met with our builder, who was a PE, numerous times. He would review what I was doing give a price guestimate. This allowed me to refine the house to a design and price point we liked. Frankly, having someone else make the design choices would have been a PITA. Far easier for me to do it.

The wifey and I were discussing this the other day even though we have been in the house for seven years. We really would like another two feet in the closet. Does not sound like much does it. But that two feet would add 110 square feet to the house. If the average cost per square foot is $100 that would have increase the cost of the house by $11,000! To get two feet of space in a closet! The extra space was not needed else where. It would be nice to have another foot or so in the utility room but the math is about the same.

Having an inspector is not a bad idea. We looked long and hard for a builder and we got lucky. He was honest and good man. We ended up being friends with him and his family. Picking the right build is the most important thing you will do if you build. I talked to some builders who I liked. I talked to others I would not trust to build a bird house. Some I think would have built a good house but I would not get along with them. You really need The Right One.

Later,
Dan

 

[beppington]

I'm capable of drawing the house we want within budget for the construction itself, since I know how much money I have now ...

... What I need is a magic program that can help me design it so future property taxes won't end up bankrupting us.

 

[dmccarty]

I'm capable of drawing the house we want within budget for the construction itself, since I know how much money I have now ...

... What I need is a magic program that can help me design it so future property taxes won't end up bankrupting us.

If you had such a magic program you would not care about property taxes since you would be richer than Gates or Buffet.

Later,
Dan

 

[dstig1]

Here's an idea of what one can realistically do with Chief. I have not worked on a lot of exterior details as of yet so there is a lot of "plain gray" out there and a lack of detail in exterior finish. But I have real 3d data for my lot and a fully sorted out house plan with site elevations built in.

You will note that this is not pretty like the sample pictures on the web sites. The time to make pretty is extensive and not relevant to me. I am not selling anything, unlike architects.

Good architects are very helpful, but they are hard to find. Many are "artistes" that will leave you with a mess for a plan. If you walk in to one with any sort of plans that you have drawn, you will get an instant reaction that will tell you a lot. Many will turn sour on you right away. Those are the type that think "nobody but an architect can design a house, you miserable pig-dog!" The ones that treat your plans/efforts with respect will be likely to be worth more discussion with. Even though a lot of changes will be needed, they will try to understand what you were looking for and give that to you.

Keep in mind that Archies go through a lot of training and many of them have both talent and skills for this, so they see a lot of rookie mistakes instantly - as they should. But I think what separates the good ones from the bad ones is that reaction you get. If they look down their nose in disdain at what you have tried to express in your plans, then expect that attitude down the road, and probably you will get drawings that your builder will say "that can't be done" about some portion of them. And then the finger pointing starts...

So here's a quick look:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

microstation, autocad and chief architect.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have Chief Archetect 9.0 that I use mostly for bathroom remodels. I can draw the floorplan, then make changes quickly. I have printed out as many as five different floorplans for clients when bidding jobs.

I like how simple it is to use, and how easy it is to move walls around, change the location of fixtures of features of the room.

I had Broaderbund for years and years. I think I had four different versions of it, but finally gave up on them a few years ago.

Eddie

 

[lockhaven]

I make my living designing in 3D solids and have been using cad since its beginning. The soft ware is much more then pencil and paper. The cost has come down for many nice features over the years. Most programs will give you a bill of materials after the design is complete. Another nice thing is you can design in full scale, the computer will size things on the monitor so you can see the complete model. The nice thing about full scale is you can print out a tricky cut and use it as a template for rafter ends and such. Some of the programs have a walk through where you can actually "walk" through your cyber house to see what it looks like. I have taken digital pictures of a house then designed a deck and placed the deck on the house picture to get an idea of what it will look like from the curb. Good luck with your project, just remember start slow and build on your CAD knowlege

 

[CharlieR]

gocards1177 - By modular construction I refer to a building built in a factory in "modules" (or "boxes") then assembled on site.
For example we built a Cape so that the first floor was delivered as two boxes.
The front of the roof was folded over on top of the front "box" and unfolded on site with a crane.
The rear "box" had all the second floor walls laid on top of it and these were lifted into place by crane on site.
The roof cap came as one piece, 50' long fully shingled but with one edge folded over to get the package under the width limit for over the road travel.
This was also lifted into place by crane on site.
In two days it was all fastened in place and weather tight.
We chose this construction method mostly because we wanted as much of the construction to occur in doors under tight quality controls.

 

[IXLR8]

gocards1177 - By modular construction I refer to a building built in a factory in "modules" (or "boxes") then assembled on site.
................
We chose this construction method mostly because we wanted as much of the construction to occur in doors under tight quality controls.

If you don't mind me asking, who did you use for your modular home? I have thought about going this route and I have looked at all of them in my area. They are all garbage, I wouldn't use them to build a dog house.

 

[piller]

Thanks for the input. I used google sketchup for our driveway bridge. Considering it for the house.

Since you already are familiar with Sketchup it should be simple and fast to draw what you want to get an idea of how the roof lines look.