Design Software for building projects, what do you use?

[Rustyiron]

I use a tape measure, paper, pencil, some stakes, line and a level. Works better. HS

:laughing:
Me too! I can draw, scratch out & erase 10 pages of paper faster than trying to figgure out computer "stuff" like CAD. :confused3:
As much as I try, I just do not understand or think like a computer, and on line forums are the extent of my capabilities sadly.

 

[jenkinsph]

It is looking like I will be launching out on a project to build a 500 square foot live in cottage/shop (tiny house if you will) that I will live in while subcontracting a home build over the next two or three years on a 15 acre piece of property in central KY. The cottage might turn into a guest house, storage building, shop, play house for the grandkids, who knows as life continues. I am a DIY with an engineering background with some experience with AutoCAD over 20 years ago. I find it hard to work through design problems with out some kind of tool like AutoCAD because am to lazy to work out problems the old fashion way with Trig and all the math when I know what AutoCAD can do. I have long since forgotten all the formulas and conversion factors and even have to think hard about calculate the length of an arc etc.

AutoCAD to me has a stiff learning curve and unless you use it often, the awkwardness (to me) menu structure just stumps me after I have been away from it for a few years. I am sure it has been made more user friendly in the past 20 years, I used the beginning windows versions which were still tied to the old menu hierarchy. I am saying all that to say this. I am wondering if there is not some basic novice level cad program that will let me work out things like how for to set a post out from a wall to allow a certain roof pitch, or how far I can go at a certain pitch, with a given length rafter, or draw up a truss type structure with all the angles for the cuts generated by the program, or calculate the square footage with in a delineated area etc.

And not cost so much as AutoCAD lite around $400 I think. I have been saying just go ahead and get the tools you need and enjoy but just wondering if there is some sort of engineering Cad program out there that is slated to home design, project layout such as the grid pattern for a floor tiling, floor plan quick design tools that you guys have fallen in love with.

I have been using TurboCad Pro versions since about 1998. I use to update the versions each year or so but have not done this in the last 4 years. I don't use it enough to be proficient and frankly find it overwhelming most of the time. I use it for implement design more than building construction.

For a 500 sq. ft. project I would find it easier to use a Mayline and tracing paper to work it out. Not because it is better but because it is easier for me to use. I agree with others that it would be a good idea to look for plans that will work rather than reinventing the wheel.

 

[Raised on a Deere]

I have been using TurboCad Pro versions since about 1998. I use to update the versions each year or so but have not done this in the last 4 years. I don't use it enough to be proficient and frankly find it overwhelming most of the time. I use it for implement design more than building construction.

For a 500 sq. ft. project I would find it easier to use a Mayline and tracing paper to work it out. Not because it is better but because it is easier for me to use. I agree with others that it would be a good idea to look for plans that will work rather than reinventing the wheel.

Agree completely. Could do the tiny house with my eyes closed, but it is only part of a building project where there is site work for it that includes integrating into back yard of future house, barn build and add on shed with driveways, plumbing, electrical stuff that has to be communicated to permit guys. And there are so many things that come up during a build that cad work can aid in sorting out design decisions and getting precise results.

My first job was as a draftsman, then in engineering design, then in manufacturing engineering so I lived through the transition from paper to computers. I was of the school for a long time that no way could you do on a computer screen what you could do on paper. Of course I was blind to the calculating power in a cad program and that is the reason one bothers to put it on the screen. If all I get is a drawing I would not bother with cad. It is a real pain in the butt as far as I am concerned unless you use it daily.

 

[EddieWalker]

Back in the early 90's, I used graph paper for everything and even drew out furniture to scale on graph paper, then cut it out with sissors. I saw this on one of the PBS home shows back then and it made a lot of sense to me. From cars in a garage, to sofa and TV's, to beds and dressers. Even the toilet and bathtub. With Chief Architect, you just click and drag all those things into a room, but back before I had a computer, that worked pretty good. Getting wall thickness right on graph paper is always a challenge.

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

No one has mention Visio, which is part of the Microsoft Office package add on. There are Templates available that have walls, doors, window that just drop in, also has templates for appliances, beds, tables, etc all scaled. I also use Auto-CAD lite at work for 2-d drawings.

Dave

 

[npalen]

If you want straight up cad try draftsight. Very good for free.

Thanks for the link! I'm an old Autocad user and have been looking for something to access my old .dwg drawings which Draftsight does quite well!

 

[Raised on a Deere]

No one has mention Visio, which is part of the Microsoft Office package add on. There are Templates available that have walls, doors, window that just drop in, also has templates for appliances, beds, tables, etc all scaled. I also use Auto-CAD lite at work for 2-d drawings.

Dave

For a minute I saw a flash of light but then found that Visio is pricy and I am not familiar with it. Don't know anyone using it and so don't know whether to go down that rabbit trail or not. Is there a freeware stripped down version of it. First I have to upgrade from Office 365 home to business for another 8.25/month then add another $15 to get visio. There is a free trial but no need trying it unless I would be willing to buy it. see some talk of it having a steep learning curve.

 

[dickfoster]

It is looking like I will be launching out on a project to build a 500 square foot live in cottage/shop (tiny house if you will) that I will live in while subcontracting a home build over the next two or three years on a 15 acre piece of property in central KY. The cottage might turn into a guest house, storage building, shop, play house for the grandkids, who knows as life continues. I am a DIY with an engineering background with some experience with AutoCAD over 20 years ago. I find it hard to work through design problems with out some kind of tool like AutoCAD because am to lazy to work out problems the old fashion way with Trig and all the math when I know what AutoCAD can do. I have long since forgotten all the formulas and conversion factors and even have to think hard about calculate the length of an arc etc.

AutoCAD to me has a stiff learning curve and unless you use it often, the awkwardness (to me) menu structure just stumps me after I have been away from it for a few years. I am sure it has been made more user friendly in the past 20 years, I used the beginning windows versions which were still tied to the old menu hierarchy. I am saying all that to say this. I am wondering if there is not some basic novice level cad program that will let me work out things like how for to set a post out from a wall to allow a certain roof pitch, or how far I can go at a certain pitch, with a given length rafter, or draw up a truss type structure with all the angles for the cuts generated by the program, or calculate the square footage with in a delineated area etc.

And not cost so much as AutoCAD lite around $400 I think. I have been saying just go ahead and get the tools you need and enjoy but just wondering if there is some sort of engineering Cad program out there that is slated to home design, project layout such as the grid pattern for a floor tiling, floor plan quick design tools that you guys have fallen in love with.

I use a program called Visio. It has a simple drag and drop interface. I used to be called Visio Technical but since Microsoft bought it it's now Visio Professional and part of the Microsoft Office suite. Easy to use but can do much more than most folks think for simple 2D stuff. Very little learning curve involved. I've used it for lots of stuff, mechanical drawings, architectural, even flow charts n stuff. BTW it converts back and forth between dwg, dxf and other cad standard file formats.

 

[Raised on a Deere]

I use a program called Visio. It has a simple drag and drop interface. I used to be called Visio Technical but since Microsoft bought it it's now Visio Professional and part of the Microsoft Office suite. Easy to use but can do much more than most folks think for simple 2D stuff. Very little learning curve involved. I've used it for lots of stuff, mechanical drawings, architectural, even flow charts n stuff. BTW it converts back and forth between dwg, dxf and other cad standard file formats.

Is visio available in form prior to Microsoft? They only have the pro version now, I think.

 

[prichard]

Is visio available in form prior to Microsoft? They only have the pro version now, I think.

Microsoft Visio - Microsoft Store