Hi,
I’m planning to do some renovations in a cottage and I’d like to draw up some floor plans of the rooms.
I am looking for any possible suggestions for a layout/design software that can be used to layout house floor plans and map such things as electrical work. Preferably a free download software.
Thanks for any help.
Hal
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Replies
Dont know any free ones that are worth a damn, I use chief architect. Not inexpensive but worth every penny.
If you know how to push a pencil, you can draw it up on paper virtually for free. You can find what to use for typical electrical symbols for wiring plans online for free as well.
Years ago, before I bought VectorWorks, I used TurboCad. It is available for both windows and Mac machines. TurboCad isn't as powerful as a full fledged cad program but very good. Who knows... perhaps it's improved since I last used it. You can get a basic prackage for about $40.
Pencil and paper is still a nice way to work but for room layout I find the ability to rapidly modify an existing layout is really helpful. For simple design elements I often draw the basic parameters with the cad program, print out a thumbnail sheet with multiple copies, then pencil sketch in new ideas. The technique combines the accuracy offered by cad with the spontanaity of pencil work.
Seems like there's someone here about once a month looking for what you're after.
The noes that are good are also expensive and have a learning curve. The ones that are cheap or free aren't worth anything.
my experience
We worked with for our new home. It was a scary decision but since we wanted a home with all the bells and whistles to our liking, we decided to commit. We chose since they have a software program that we could log into to see all the info - costs, and timeslines, when we wanted. That was pretty reassuring to us. Although it's not the cheapest desision, we thought it was a good decision for what we wanted.
If you're interested in a software program, I would talk with someone and see if they can help you out!
I Feel Your Pain
....And let's drop the snarky "push a pencil" comments!
Case on point: I'm doing (ever so slowly) a complete gut remodel of my house. Detailed drawings are a real blessing. I need to know where theings are NOW, as well as where they're going to be. I need to know, and have a record of, EXACTLY where things are.
Why? First, because it really matters if there's a stud 13" OC, out of sequence, in a field of 16"OC studs. Such a difference can really affect adding that window- and often suggests a similar difference in the roof truss and floor joist placement. I want to be able to draw the EXACT dimensions of a room- and no pencil sketch is going to show that 94-3/8" measurement with precision. (Unless, of course, your drafting table is as big as your house).
Second, there's the matter of planning. I need to know, ahead of time, if my new toilet location will mean cutting one floor joist- or two. (How you brace things changes then). I THOUGHT I had completed my demolition .... then precise measurements revealed that I still have to move one wall a mere four inches. Four inches, in a run of about 25-feet, isn't going to jump out at you on paper.
Why would a few inches matter in planning? Because that will make a big difference if you want to have your kitchen counter line up with the window, as well as use "standard" countertop and cabinet depths.
With an electronic "print," you can zoom in to see the small details. When you change a measurement and click that mouse- Presto!- the line also moves. This is mighty handy if you're trying to decide whether to make that plumbing chase with 2x10's, rather than 2x6's. With appliances mapped out in that detail, you can also see if just maybe you'd be better off making that chase with two separate walls, with the studs placed offset from each other. (Can't have the toilet and dishwasher drains running into each other!)
So, there are two big reasons: detail, and ease of modification.
Another advantage can be being able to super-impose "layers," For example, you can see if that new wall location will already have a floor joist supporting it- or if bridging in needed. Or, conversely, you can see if that planned routing for the air conditioning line set will run you right smack into the main floor joist, the one that's holding up the entire house. (Some things you just don't want to drill or cut!) Likewise, you can see if the planned plumbing run interferes with the planned duct run.
Electronic prints also offer you the ease of selecting specific sections, scaling as convenient, and printing out in a form that is very handy to the guy doing the work.
Or, of course, you can do it all the 'old fashioned way,' where the framer just does HIS thing, then the plumber comes along and takes a Sawall to the floor joists .... with the end result that you're unhappy when the floor tile cracks and rot sets in to the subfloor only a few years later.
Now, I'm no computer guy .... and everyone needs to earn a living .... BUT.....
Why can I get "Office"-style software and photo-editing software for free, while (comparatively) simpler design software costs a minor fortune?
There IS "Google Sketch-up." I almost got it to work once.... maybe if I actually take a class, or (heaven forbid!) read the book I have on it, it might be a good program to use. Has anyone here used it enough to be comfortable with it?
YOu can push a pencil and achieve all the goals you wish to achieve with digital drafting. Both are simply different tools achieving the same end. Neither will design for you. Granted, digital software is more effecient, but you pay more for that effeiency. The OP was interested in saving money and they may not need all the advantage of a digital tool.
BTW, Sketch-up is nolonger "Google". They sold it. You won't be able to download anything free now except a trial basis.
AutoCad clone software may be what you need
There are a number of packages that work like ( or similar) to AutoCad. Links to a couple of popular ones:
DraftSight, from Dassault Systems, ( the company that makes CATIA, SolidWorks ...)
http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/free-download/
DoubleCAD XT from IMSI/Design ( TurboCad, TurboFloorPlan,DesignCad ...)
http://www.doublecad.com/DoubleCAD/DoubleCAD-XT-v5
Otherwise, look here:
http://www.craftsmanspace.com/free-software/free-2d-cad-software.html
http://cad.about.com/od/Personal_CAD/tp/Five-Top-Free-Cad-Packages.htm
There is only one company that has been amazingly successful in targeting housewife type users for home design and room
layout with an affordable CAD package that is easy to learn and use. These software packages
are specifically design oriented and cannot provide all the construction details that professional architects need though
they do sell a product for that and it is called Cheif Architect.
Go to this link and see that you can spend $99 dollars to allow you to do flexible layout and room design on the fly
and if you really want to spice it up a bit then spend $199 to get some deluxe details.
The software programs are in their HomeDesigner line and they have been selling these type products for
over 15 years.
https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/
There are no other progams on the maket that lets you slide walls and doors and windows and stairs around
to suit your needs as easily as these programs.
Notably, if you can find a professional home designer using the hi end Chief Architect product, you can give to
him your layout work and he can turn your work into production blueprints for the contractors.