DIY home design software

[KennyG]

I used the software for remodels. A gut remodel of a condo, a full basement buildout and bedroom/master bath/laundry renovation. It works well for the interiors and the tools are all there for full building design, but I didn't use them.

 

[gocards1177]

I used the software for remodels. A gut remodel of a condo, a full basement buildout and bedroom/master bath/laundry renovation. It works well for the interiors and the tools are all there for full building design, but I didn't use them.

Looks like a good program. I'm pretty much sold. I can't tell from the demo or the website if the $100 version can generate builder's sets and elevations. Do you know?

 

[dstig1]

dstig1 and KennyG did you use this to build your own home? I'm waiting on a confirmation email from the chief architect website to download a free trial version.

Yes I did. One bonus is that there is an excellent forum with very helpful people (mostly...) that can get you up the learning curve faster.

I have the full version of Chief. I know it's pricey but when compared to what an Architect would have cost, it was well worth it to me. I actually did work with an Architect for part of the plans too. He was a Chief user from the forum and helped out a lot for not too much money.

 

[GPintheMitten]

There is more to designing a house than software. Software is just a nice pencil and paper. My advice is to get some ideas down on paper about what you want and then talk to an architect.

 

[sriddle1ny]

Nathan,

Like dstig1 suggested, I purchased Chief Architect's Home Designer Software about 18 months ago after looking at several products. For the money, it's pretty powerful when you can create a floor plan, flip to the 2-D Mode and physically walk thru the plan you've created and the graphics are top notch. That function for instance allows you to see how the window sizes you've selected fit into the room, what the finished walls look like after you've chosen molding profiles, etc. I'm currently working on a home design I intend to build in the next year or two. I already created the basic Foundation Plan using ICFs saved it as a PDF which the Septic Designer used when submitting the design application to the State for approval. I've acted as the General Contractor during the last 3 builds of my homes. You'll still need to take the output to a Floor/Roof Truss Designer to generate engineering layouts based on loads/codes in your area. As you move forward be sure to understand what your local Planning and Zoning Board requires (if any) for permitting with regards to House Plan contents to ensure the Application you use has that ability to show those details. No use in spending money or the time to learn an application that comes-up short then you have to hand it over to a person with another drafting program @ additional cost. I'd recommend you use the link dstig1 provided and look over the specs, it does allow you to produce elevations, typical floor plans, site plans showing ground elevations, etc. but the 2-D is the best, I can literally go under the house foundation and look upward inspecting my frost footings, etc. :thumbsup:

 

[rtimgray]

There is more to designing a house than software. Software is just a nice pencil and paper. My advice is to get some ideas down on paper about what you want and then talk to an architect.

I agree with this comment to at least a large degree. A software package may help you do some drawings, but it's not a substitute for actually knowing what you're doing!

Now don't get me wrong - I'm the biggest believer in "Do It Yourself". I don't know you, but if you have the cognitive skills to get online or operate a tractor, you have the skills to at least learn good design parameters.

I have not had any good experiences with Architects in regards to residential construction - usually too expensive for what is delivered particularly for "normal" residential contruction. I would say their services are good for anything beyond a normal (say 3,000 sq. ft. and under).

Depending upon your local codes and regulations, you may or may not have an actually architect or engineer stamp your drawings, so you might be able to get a "designer" to do the work. If there are any local universities or technical colleges, you might be able to get a student to do the work for you on AutoCAD or something similar. I did this quite a bit in college and have continued to do it since. Most of what I have done has been single-family dwellings of about 2,500 sq. ft. or less and I usually provide a foundation plan, floor plan, elevation and section view of the house (these are usually what our lenders have required).

Good luck and take care.

 

[flusher]

I have a non-tractor question: Can anyone recommend DIY home design software? My wife and and I have a homesite on our land and would like to build this year. We weren't able to find the right home online or in the plan books. We tried going through an architect but werent satisfied and that ran into BIG $$$. We've been trying to sketch out what we have in mind with pencil on grid paper, but I'm worried about fixture sizes and rooflines. I've seen software available that should do what I want, but was hoping to get some firsthand advice from someone with experience.

Also, thanks for all the advice last fall on tractors to everyone that replied. I ultimately decided to wait until this year or when we move out to our land, whichever comes first.

Thank,
Nathan

I've used various versions of the Punch Professional Home Design Suite. With any design software, there's a learning curve to get you to the point where you can become productive--took me a week or so before I could do decent layouts.

Home Design Software for PC and Mac | Interior Design and Landscape Design | Punch! Software

Good luck.

BTW: know Rolla MO well--UMR graduate school 1963-65.

 

[dmccarty]

I designed our house. I had three years of drafting in High School because at the time I wanted to be an architect. I tried a few of the simple home design software packages and they were a PITA and would not let me do what I wanted.

I had bought an excellent package back in the late 80s or early 90s that was cheap but full featured. But Autocadd bought the company and shut it down.

I found another company called General Cadd that carried over the command line interface of the old program. The program is not cheap and it requires some effort to learn. It likely would help to have a drafting background. They do have a free trial version. I still use the program for other projects.

I was so frustrated with the design packages I tried I ended up starting our house design with my old drawing board and my old drafting equipment. Then I found General Cadd. It was easier and faster for me to do the design with paper and pencil than use the other packages I tried.

Skip the Architects. They charge a fortune and for a simple house they are overkill. Find an design/build engineer or a draftsman. If you are going to design the house you do have to know about allowable spans and loads. To span a large distance can require certain materials that can effect other areas of the design. You have to be aware of these things.

Speaking of spans and loads. The group(SPIB) that sets the design values of SYP is proposing to DECREASE these values up to 35%. Their testing has shown a decrease in strength of pine. There is more testing happening so who really knows what will happen.

The point to the last paragraph is you need to understand certain issues or hire somebody that does. You can find books or web sites that can help you learn these things. The Journal of Light Construction(JLC) is excellent and has a website holding their previous editions that goes back decades as well as a very active online forum.

For design details of the walls, roof, foundation, etc I HIGHLY recommend the book for your climate written by Joseph Lstiburek, Builder's Guides. I used his design details on our house. He is a PE PHd. I was reading the JLC forums and Lstiburek was having a "debate" with a guy selling building materials. Lstiburek impressed me with his knowledge and common sense. Then I found his books and found out why he impressed me. His books might be available on Amazon and other places cheaper. I just put in the Building Science link.

The Building Science site also has great information if you are going to be designing your house. Even if you have someone else do the design they have some very good ideas to do and things to avoid.

Later,
Dan

 

[WayneB]

When I was designing our camp I used Punch design software. Not sure what I paid for it way back then, but it was helpful with room layout, electrical, stairways, etc.

Home Design Software for PC and Mac | Interior Design and Landscape Design | Punch! Software

 

[beppington]

... Speaking of spans and loads. The group(SPIB) that sets the design values of SYP is proposing to DECREASE these values up to 35%. Their testing has shown a decrease in strength of pine. There is more testing happening so who really knows what will happen.

...

Hmm, I wondered about that: While building my fence recently, most of the treated, rough sawn 1x6 pine fence boards from Home Depot seemed very, very light weight ... just did not seem like they could be as strong as ones I've gotten in the past that are dense & heavy. I wonder if they're being harvested too early now. Or maybe they're being grown in inferior soil. Or no fertilizer (if pine trees are even fertilized).