Replies

1. 
   MikeSmith | Mar 02, 2009 06:26am | #1

   ring...... you can have it scanned and then import it into a cad program...  or   you could   get it really flat  ( might have to iron the creases out )

    

   then stand on chair and take a digital photo   (  i do this with plot plans ).... then you have to scale it up

   problem is  it is only 2-D....  what program  are you going to be  working in ?

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
1. 
   ringtail | Mar 02, 2009 06:45am | #2

   I have been using Punch software

1. 
   MikeSmith | Mar 02, 2009 06:49am | #3

   is that 2-D  or 3-D ?Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   ringtail | Mar 02, 2009 07:42am | #4

   3D

1. 
   Piffin | Mar 02, 2009 02:19pm | #5

   Better off drawing it yourself with the software. Not that tedious and a good way to learn the software and the house details. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   ringtail | Mar 02, 2009 06:12pm | #9

   Thanks for the advice-you are right, the plans aren't that tedious and will be good practice for me.

2. 
   sunsen | Mar 02, 2009 03:25pm | #6

   Using an old plan as reference for doing cad drawings isn't tedious at all in my experience. Goes pretty quick.

1. 
   Piffin | Mar 02, 2009 03:35pm | #7

   Yeah - hour or two depending how complex the place is.In SP it is possible to do a trace over or convert lines to walls, but then you have more work to check dims and clean up things than what it takes just to draw fresh.
   Someone who sees the process as too tedious probably needs the practice drawing anyways to get familiarity with the software.but that's just my opinion. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

3. 
   FastEddie | Mar 02, 2009 05:46pm | #8

   A couple of years ago we (at the ofice) sent out a large number of floor plans to get scanned and converted to autocad.  The results are pretty good, as long as the viewer is only an asset manager od marketing type.  But if I want to use the plans for a remodel, then I almost always have to go out and take a couple of field diemnsions and see how far off the plans are.  Some are within an inch or two, some are off as much as 18".

   If you have a set of original plans, you can create your own cad file in an afternoon.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

4. 
   gdcarpenter | Mar 02, 2009 06:26pm | #10

   It's not the most accurate or efficient process, but you can scan the existing drawings you have and save them as a bitmap format. You can then import the scanned bitmat format into Punch. Page 190 in the PUNCH MASTER LANDSCAPE AND HOME DESIGN User's Guide that I have.

   If you have large format drawings you would have to go to a Kinkos or such to reduce the size of the drawings to something you can scan.

   Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

5. 
   Lon | Mar 02, 2009 09:00pm | #11

   I use the Platinum Punch program for just that reason! It has the ability to scan a plan, even if drawn onto a napkin, and can also be scaled. You then have to trace over the top of it, buy hey, sure beats trying to look at a piece of paper and then to your monitor, then looking to see what you missed!!!

6. 
   CapnMac | Mar 02, 2009 10:58pm | #12

   Well, from my experience with this sort of thing, it all depends upon the software used.

   Most of the quick or cheap scanner houses will not generate useful output, and you will redraft anyway.

   now, since you have an exisiting house, you need a copy of the plans upon which to place the actual measurements of the house. 

   Now, if you have a local copy place that does larg-format copies, they usually scan in the originals to print them.  Ask them to burn you a CD with a jpeg of the scan when you get a copy made.

   Now, you'll have an image which some of the software out there will let you use as a reference to lay out the plans from.

   But, invest a day, and a helper, to go and measure the actual house, first.  Measure outside and inside both.  Key some dimensions to notable features both inside and out.  While you are at it, it can be handy to go ahead and mark off all of the "things" you find while measuring.  Use different colors.  Electrical, plumbing, mechanical--not coax, telco and the like (thes things will affect later renovations).

   From that data, then lay out the house.  While you are at it, you can decide just how accurate you want to be with out-of-square, out-of-plumb, out-of-true you want the drawing to be.

   Now, from my experience, it's faster to make renovation/remodel drawings in 2d, and to the actual measurements.  That better accounts for trapezoidal rooms, and walls that really do taper (try and get CA to make a 30 wall that tapers from 5.5" to 5" wide; not that Acad is any better).  Ok, that's a pain overall, and it gets clunky to decide how to distribute 3,4,5: out of square on the foundation to all of the rooms along that axis--but, it is better than presuming a remodel on 5" or wall that is not there, too.

   BTDT, many of the t-shirts are moth eaten.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)