Best program to draw house plans.

[Tollster]

Here are a couple of free ones I got off here a while back, some seemed to like the software.

PTC Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 6.0 | PTC

Free 2D: Siemens PLM Software

 

[boggen]

one last push for the extreme basic, of works for ya.... don't get all fustrated with various computer programs. just break out some paper and penicels/markers/pens. and go at it. rough things out your plans will change multi times. cut out some pieces of cardboard or paper, mark what it is, bed, couch, chair, etc.... to near size. and move stuff around.

figure approx 30" to 36" for walk ways. (measure width of doors, when doors are open ya walk through them. not overall size but just the area you walk through), measure distance from around bed, and dressers, around the kitchen for an island, etc..

the cardboard cut outs work out nicely, if you have something drawn up on graph paper say 6" per square, and trying to move a bed, couch, dresser or like to a bed room through a hallway and trying to get it to fit around corners. ya just put the cut out on the graph paper and push it around. same goes for washer/dryer, bathtub, etc...

 

[rtimgray]

Paper or computer, either one is fine, whatever you're comfortable with. My only comment on this is a common mistake I see folks made (and I'm not assuming anybody on here would do it, but just in case...): When drawing your plans, don't forget the thickness of the walls. I've converted many, many one-line sketches to house plans (I use AutoCAD, because that's what I have at work), and almost all of them, people just draw a line and forget that walls are anywhere from 4" to 12" thick (depending on interior/exterior/brick veneer/etc) and all of a sudden their 16' wide room is only 14'. Wall thickness can eat up a lot of space, as can door jambs. I've run into the problem of making sure that I have room for a 36" door going into every room in my house, and by the time you have a 36" door, plus casing, plus framing on each side, you're getting into a pretty wide framed opening.

Whatever you choose, good luck and take care.

 

[newbury]

one last push for the extreme basic, of works for ya.... don't get all fustrated with various computer programs. just break out some paper and penicels/markers/pens. and go at it. rough things out your plans will change multi times. cut out some pieces of cardboard or paper, mark what it is, bed, couch, chair, etc.... to near size. and move stuff around.

figure approx 30" to 36" for walk ways. (measure width of doors, when doors are open ya walk through them. not overall size but just the area you walk through), measure distance from around bed, and dressers, around the kitchen for an island, etc..

the cardboard cut outs work out nicely, if you have something drawn up on graph paper say 6" per square, and trying to move a bed, couch, dresser or like to a bed room through a hallway and trying to get it to fit around corners. ya just put the cut out on the graph paper and push it around. same goes for washer/dryer, bathtub, etc...

IF you do not have any experience with a software CAD package this is the best way. Measure and cut carefully, use plenty of tape. It may look crude but learning and buying a "package" strong enough to do good scale and 3D can be frustrating. I recently retired from almost 40 years using software GIS and CAD packages. Unless you are doing it routinely the learning curve is steep and they often make changes in the software which are frustrating when you see the fast quality changes like they do on the house flipping TV shows.

PLUS if you take the time to make several good 3D model pieces to scale (say a sofa, bookcase, frig) you can always EASILY use them later without learning new software.

OR buy some Lego

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

Have you looked at Microsoft's Visio, which should be part of their Office Suite. This program uses templates and stencils which are drag and drop. A lot of templates such as Floor Plans and be downloaded off the net for free. This has a quicker learning curve than something like AutoCAD. I have and use both programs.

Dave

 

[dodge man]

I am also a user of AutoCAD for my job, them and Microstation are the big players in the industry. I have also been using it for 20 or more years and it has a very steep learning curve. I think you are better off just drawing it up on paper. I also agree with others that this is a job best left for experts. Maybe get something on paper as a rough working idea and then take it to a builder or architect that you trust.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have:
Microstation (old Dos version)
Autocad 2010 LT
Chief Architect
sketchup



I used microstation to design my house. It's by far my favorite, and easiest to use of the 3. I have used autocad since V2.5 and now use Autocad 2010. I would not use chief architect to design a house, but I suppose you could. It's more for modeling finishes.

 

[JRobyn]

Have you looked at Microsoft's Visio, which should be part of their Office Suite. This program uses templates and stencils which are drag and drop. A lot of templates such as Floor Plans and be downloaded off the net for free. This has a quicker learning curve than something like AutoCAD. I have and use both programs.

Dave

I sure miss Visio from my days "in the office", but it is no longer included in most MS-Office packages and is ridiculously expensive as a stand-alone item.

- Jay

 

[Ed of all trades]

I got Sketch up and like it so far. Used it a little and it does a good job of drawing to scal. Still have a lot of work to do just to figure out what we want. Thanks for the help. Sketch Up is what I was looking for. Thanks for your tips on walls, flow etc.