Simple CAD software for barns and sheds?

[N80]

I do not know anything about CAD or design software. But, I am planning a shop in the future, a large carport and possibly an addition on our cabin and it sure would be nice to have a very simple (and affordable) 2D CAD app for that sort of thing. Does such a thing exist? I use a Mac by the way. That will probably limit options. I could not make head nor tails of the apps in the App Store. Many of them got terrible reviews.

 

[Rowdy Redneck]

I love SketchUp. There is a free web version and tons of online tutorials.

 

[N80]

I love SketchUp. There is a free web version and tons of online tutorials.

Playing with it now. Can't figure it out. Will need to look at some videos.

 

[Skeans1]

I do not know anything about CAD or design software. But, I am planning a shop in the future, a large carport and possibly an addition on our cabin and it sure would be nice to have a very simple (and affordable) 2D CAD app for that sort of thing. Does such a thing exist? I use a Mac by the way. That will probably limit options. I could not make head nor tails of the apps in the App Store. Many of them got terrible reviews.

Check out Fusion 360 or if you’re looking for something super simple go Tinkercad.

 

[Rockbadchild]

i draw with Autocad all day long for work, i have the advantage to use it for my personal projects … i have the image of my property on there to scale so i can lay out future building, lay out my fences scenario calculate the amount of post needed, field area ect ect the program is pretty expensive to buy probably not worth it for a project once in a while but usually you can find free monthly demo online you just have to delete it and reinstall it every month

 

[JM7500]

LibreCad is another free, downloadable software. I've used it a little. Long ago, I used AutoCad extensively for my job and side projects. It doesn't have the features but is free. I use Microsoft Project to track tasks, but Project Libre is free and similar. I can't remember everything and I use it as much as the cad software to show stages like site work, foundation, walls, etc and track when it's completed.

 

[LittleBill21]

I would think sketchup would be the best for this

 

[dstig1]

When it comes to building construction CAD, there are a lot of programs out there that do an OK job and are fairly cheap. Or there used to be when you could walk into BestBuy and buy software off the shelf...

I got much more serious and ended up using Chief Architect to design and make prints for my house and shop build. Nowadays it costs close to $3k, so I doubt that is an option you want for this, but I know they sell a stripped down version called Home Designer for anywhere from $100 to $500 depending on version. They also allow you to download trial versions, so you can give it a whirl before you commit. I cannot honestly say if the Home Designer series compares well to their flagship Chief Architect platform, but the higher end stuff was clearly good and very powerful, so I would expect the simpler versions would do what you want for a simple shop and carport. They do make Windows and Mac versions too, so that may be a big deal as I don't know how many are available for Mac. No connection to them other than a user (well, mostly a former user as I haven't touched it in a few years at this point). Download the trial and see if it does what you want. They had a lot of training videos for the flagship product, but charged extra for them. You might find some on Youtube for the DIY series.

Home Designer | Home Design Software for DIY

DIY home design, interior design and remodeling software from the creators of Chief Architect. Create floorplans and visualize in 3D.

www.homedesignersoftware.com

 

[N80]

I messed with SketchUp and watched a few tutorials. The learning curve is probably not worth the effort at this point for the carport but when the time comes for my shop I may revisit one of these apps.

 

[newbury]

I messed with SketchUp and watched a few tutorials. The learning curve is probably not worth the effort at this point for the carport but when the time comes for my shop I may revisit one of these apps.

That could be a very good project. It's better to start with something simple.

 

[dstig1]

Sketchup is more general CAD than architectural. It works with basic shapes and forms that you extrude, rotate, cut etc to make what you want. That is not the easiest way to make house plans. The architectural CAD programs come preloaded with walls, doors, windows, etc and allow you to make code compliant stairs with simple tools in them. With these programs you start by picking a wall (2x4 exterior wall for example). Draw a line and it puts a wall there. Draw another wall from the end of that one and it connects to it. You want a window, you click window, pick the size you want and the height and click where you want it in a wall. Drag it around to get it exact. Much easier to do house plans that way.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I messed with SketchUp and watched a few tutorials. The learning curve is probably not worth the effort at this point for the carport but when the time comes for my shop I may revisit one of these apps.

a good old sheet of paper, a pencil with a engineering scale ruler works too and it’s super rewarding

 

[N80]

a good old sheet of paper, a pencil with a engineering scale ruler works too and it’s super rewarding

That’s what I’ve always done in the past.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

a good old sheet of paper, a pencil with a engineering scale ruler works too and it’s super rewarding

I used AutoCAD for construction drawings, it was easy to learn. Spent the better part of my career doing 2D drawings in plan view and elevation views.
I too worked with sketchup, I thought the learning curve was steep and not intuative for me.

Retired now and when I do Projects I buy graph paper and do the layouts, then do the takeoff for materials to get an estimate.
Librecad has good reviews for a free package, you might want to give it a try? If you do let us know how it worked for you.

I am with rockmalenfant, Graph paper, pencil and my scale ruler.

 

[CADplans]

That’s what I’ve always done in the past.

That is how I felt about CAD,, until I learned 3D CAD,,
once you use 3D CAD,, the paper and ruler are delegated to collecting dust in a drawer.

The best thing about the 3D stuff that I have used was it did not allow two items to be put in the same space.
It is amazing how often that happens when you design in 2D,,,

 

[N80]

That is how I felt about CAD,, until I learned 3D CAD,,
once you use 3D CAD,, the paper and ruler are delegated to collecting dust in a drawer.

I get that. I do fairly serious amateur photography. At one point I was fairly proficient in Photoshop. Now I use Capture One Pro. Once you have it down the capabilities are amazing. But that is something I do often and will keep doing. I’m just not sure my next few projects warrant the kind of commitment required of some of this software.

But, I’ve only fiddled with one and I would agree that SketchUp isn’t exactly intuitive. I may look into some of these others.

 

[Torvy]

When it comes to building construction CAD, there are a lot of programs out there that do an OK job and are fairly cheap. Or there used to be when you could walk into BestBuy and buy software off the shelf...

I got much more serious and ended up using Chief Architect to design and make prints for my house and shop build. Nowadays it costs close to $3k, so I doubt that is an option you want for this, but I know they sell a stripped down version called Home Designer for anywhere from $100 to $500 depending on version. They also allow you to download trial versions, so you can give it a whirl before you commit. I cannot honestly say if the Home Designer series compares well to their flagship Chief Architect platform, but the higher end stuff was clearly good and very powerful, so I would expect the simpler versions would do what you want for a simple shop and carport. They do make Windows and Mac versions too, so that may be a big deal as I don't know how many are available for Mac. No connection to them other than a user (well, mostly a former user as I haven't touched it in a few years at this point). Download the trial and see if it does what you want. They had a lot of training videos for the flagship product, but charged extra for them. You might find some on Youtube for the DIY series.

Home Designer | Home Design Software for DIY

DIY home design, interior design and remodeling software from the creators of Chief Architect. Create floorplans and visualize in 3D.

www.homedesignersoftware.com

I use the same thing. Easy to use and does a great job. If you have money to burn, they have a professional version that does everything you could imagine.

 

[mikester]

Get one of the pre-canned home design software packages, there's some demo versions you can get for the mac. The benefits of these packages over a traditional CAD package is a library of standard sizes for windows, doors, utilities, home/garage items etc. and you can layout and view 3D models with fly throughs and rendered elevations easily. It will be very easy to tweak models and play with space, much better than traditional CAD. Your spouse will thank you.

A traditional 3D CAD package is good for CAD jockies who want to do detail work. I don't get the impression you will be doing beam and load calcs. This is where the traditional CAD can excel.

When you get a design you like give the drawings to a designer that can do the detail work for you for permits i.e. foundation, wind, seismic and snow loads and give you drawings for permits and builders.

 

[jaydee325]

An alternative to CAD software is to use the on line tool provided by Menards for example. With this tool, you can design a garage or post and frame building. The tool will generate a bill of material and a limited set of prints.

Also, most big lumber yards provide services to design your project. For example, for the last pole barn I built, I contacted a local yard that specialized in pole barn buildings. I provided them my specifications (L x W x H, number of doors and location, etc), and they provided me a delivered package of materials and assembly drawings that were very complete.

 

[Jims1025R]

I was a two decade user of AutoCad LT, which I owned legitimately. When it required updating for Windows 10, the company was dishonourable, and tried to extort $89 a month from me to keep using what I had already paid for. I would have paid something for an upgrade, but not that! They lost my loyalty, and business.

I am now a very satisfied user of Dassault DraftSight, and am happy to recommend it. It's $149 per year. It works extremely similarly to AutoCad LT, an in some cases better. I started using it with no tutorial needed, based upon my AutoCad LT experience. I have designed several buildings on it, and am entirely happy with it. It has capability far beyond my needs and skills. AutoCad certainly missed a business opportunity with me!