Home design software?

The Grassroots home thread has had me thinkin'. I'm probably going to be making things happen with a new house over the next couple of years and have some ideas I'd like to try out in cyberspace first. I'd also like to be able to look into things like the best truss designs for a given style of house, so the cheapo programs which show only the rooms, exterior and landscaping aren't really suitable. I have some basic architectural training and hands on building experience so am not a complete novice.

Anyone out there knowledgeable on this? Of course I'd like to avoid the $500-$1500 programs.

There is lots of freebie stuff out there that can handle floorplans- some of it can do basic 3D model generating.

The meat and potatoes of the industry are the CAD programs- AutoCad, ArchiCad, etc. These programs are not cheap, and bring with them a pretty steep learning curve.

I've used a builder's version for years called SoftPlan- out of your price range.

There are hundreds of them out there.

Truss engineering is a very specific sub-category. It's detailed engineering software- don't go there. Once you have a basic sense of what you want, truss manufacturers will run the truss drawings for you for free as part of their sales effort.

After the basics with shrubs etc, the price is gonna jump well into your "avoid" range or beyond.

I would suggest working with one of the freebie versions, then when you are close pay someone a fee to draft it into a more industry wide standard.

ECM has done some long distance AutoCad work for me. We figured out a system that worked pretty well. I recommend her for a stage 2 approach after you have knocked out the basics in a freebie version.

Google Sketchup?

A while ago I started "building" my dream house in... Unreal Tournament.
I'm sure I'd get laughed out of architect school, but it was fun to do anyway!

I should finish that...

My job title says architect (though I'm really an urban planner) and I vote SketchUp. It's trivial to import sketchup files into AutoCAD later when it comes time to get more anal about dimensions and plotting of drawings. It's by far the fastest way to experiment with different designs and is easy as hell to use. It lets you import terrain from google earth so that you can place models, lets you easily share different models online, etc. I love it. If you're not going to be actually building off the drawing, SketchUp beats real CAD almost every time.

Plus, free or cheap(ish).

Echoing what SVreX said, though, designing/making trusses is for pros. I've got a BS in manufacturing engineering and lots of mechanical engineering training (more than enough to analyze basic trusses), and there's still no way I'd touch that. Way too much liability.

I have Pro E, but if you don't want to spend $500, then you won't want to pay for this either. Although I don't agree with the others about truss design. It's basic Statics calcs. I did it as a freshman in college without any design software. Get a good book and you can do it just fine, IMO.

Autodesk gives you simple stuff to play with (online only)...

http://www.homestyler.com/designer

Yeah, I also vote for the SketchUp > AutoCAD LT route. But, frankly, with SketchUp Pro (the still-inexpensive pay version, which comes with LayOut) and some patience you can likely do the drafting you need to do at scale.

Don't worry about dinking around with truss designs unless you actually seriously want to. The trusses will be required to be engineered by the manufacturer, anyway, and they are going to do it the cheapest way they can to fit the profile you want.

I designed this house in SketchUp and then imported it into a free rendering program to do these, and also into AutoCAD to generate the construction documents.

bravenrace wrote: I have Pro E, but if you don't want to spend $500, then you won't want to pay for this either. Although I don't agree with the others about truss design. It's basic Statics calcs. I did it as a freshman in college without any design software. Get a good book and you can do it just fine, IMO.

Perhaps for a king post common truss, or a basic common scissor.

Try a hip, or multi-pitch. The math's not hard, but it's awfully time consuming to do manually.

I can do the calcs too. So what? Ultimately the building department will require an engineering seal, and someone who has one is willing to do the truss designs for free. Why bother?

Forgot SketchUp- I'll put in a vote on that one too.

Nice job, Duke.

Was that conceived as a remodel to a basic ranch, or new construction?

In Order: SketchUp

AutoCad LT

Drafting board/t-square

Piece of paper notebook paper/ruler

napkin and pen

Etcha-Sketch

Rock and Sand

then Pro-E

then Catia

ProE is over kill and has some "quirks" that can exacerbate easily. Catia is just a pain.

FYI I use ProE and Catia. Great when you know them steep learning curve if you don't.

Have fun!!! Post results, I love looking at drawings

J-man, Give me a call before you get too deep into design. I can kick some things over with you to think about, to include use, efficiency, building details, energy use, etc. I'd echo Sketch-up for when you get there to do the drawing process.

I'm guessing you don't want to start engineering trusses, you want to know what your options are w/ regard to appearance for exposed trusses, or attic type trusses, etc. Somewhere I have a paper drawing (I know, how quaint) showing different truss styles I can copy for you.

Ping me if you can't find the number. I'm using a different cell number from my old one. I'm also in the book.

SVreX wrote: Nice job, Duke. Was that conceived as a remodel to a basic ranch, or new construction?

Thanks! That was designed from scratch for an older couple who wanted a nice place to retire to. I reviewed a bunch of sites they wree looking to buy and helped them picked one, then we designed the house for it.

That master bedroom wing is cranked so that the axis of the bed and the bay window it looks out of are oriented directly at a h-u-g-e old oak tree that is the main feature of their property, about 75 yards away. It's designed so they can wake up every morning and see the passage of the seasons by looking at the tree changing from day to day.

J-man, you can always check this site for some possible alternatives:

http://www.archwaypress.com/catalog/cart.php?target=category&category_id=61

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Duke, you have pretty much answered my question, that's what I was looking for. In your renderings, I can see how the trusses would be shaped (of course I'd leave the real design to the pros) and how it can compare colors, etc. and that's what I was looking to do. This will probably be a one shot deal so I didn't want to spend $$$ on a fancy program just to have to turn around and have an architect do it all over for even more $$$. I already have the free Sketch Up, I think I will spring for the pay version and start scratchin'.

S2, didn't know you were still lurking here. We gotta have a beer sometime!

J-man, I've got a TON of experience with SketchUp, so I can give you some pointers that will make your designing a LOT easier. I'll try to put something together for you.

Also, depending on where you live, check into the building department requirements first. Some are very stringent and will require an architect's stamp on everything, and some are less stringent and will let anybody submit drawings for private residential projects up to a certain size. All commercial projects SHOULD require an architect's stamp. If you're going to need an architect for legal/code reasons, you might as well not duplicate effort as you say.

J-man- agree on the beer I need to brew some more.

After the switch to the new board, I've been mostly lurking, but am usually here. Perhaps I should go spam the old ignore thread to regain my vaunted status of "reader" and get back in the game. I get under the project car so little, I don't have lots to contribute. Did get the exhaust attached- maybe I'll make more progress over Christmas.

I found that drawing if you want an illustration of truss types- let me know and I'll make a copy. It is large format, so it doesn't fold up nicely, but it gives you a good idea of what they look like. You should be exempt on the architect's stamp for a residence, unless you decide you need a mega-mansion. Duke's mad skillz far surpass mine on Sketch-up. Definitely take him up on the advice re: the program. Give me a call when you get a chance or if you come downtown. We can shoot the E36 M3 and/or peruse your plans at any time.

Duke wrote: All commercial projects SHOULD require an architect's stamp. If you're going to need an architect for legal/code reasons, you might as well not duplicate effort as you say.

Not all. Some states do not require it.

GA only requires an architect for commercial spaces over 5000 SF- none for residential.

Duke wrote:

SVreX wrote: Nice job, Duke. Was that conceived as a remodel to a basic ranch, or new construction?

Thanks! That was designed from scratch for an older couple who wanted a nice place to retire to. I reviewed a bunch of sites they wree looking to buy and helped them picked one, then we designed the house for it. That master bedroom wing is cranked so that the axis of the bed and the bay window it looks out of are oriented directly at a h-u-g-e old oak tree that is the main feature of their property, about 75 yards away. It's designed so they can wake up every morning and see the passage of the seasons by looking at the tree changing from day to day.

I'm digging it as a solution to the stock boring 70's vintage ranch house (like mine).

My wife will kill you if she comes home and finds me cutting through the roof to add a clerestory.

In reply to SVreX:

Just do it while she's away for the weekend visiting her sister! It's like a car project- it will only take a weekend- right?!?!

SVreX wrote:

bravenrace wrote: I have Pro E, but if you don't want to spend $500, then you won't want to pay for this either. Although I don't agree with the others about truss design. It's basic Statics calcs. I did it as a freshman in college without any design software. Get a good book and you can do it just fine, IMO.

Perhaps for a king post common truss, or a basic common scissor. Try a hip, or multi-pitch. The math's not hard, but it's awfully time consuming to do manually. I can do the calcs too. So what? Ultimately the building department will require an engineering seal, and someone who has one is willing to do the truss designs for free. Why bother?

He asked about doing it himself. Some said he couldn't. I said he could. Everything you just said may or may not be true, but in any case my answer was still valid. But I've always found that nothing is as daunting as it seems if you do the proper research. Nothing I've ever done was as hard as I thought it would be. So I choose to encourage those who want to take up a challenge.

bravenrace wrote: He asked about doing it himself. Some said he couldn't. I said he could. Everything you just said may or may not be true, but in any case my answer was still valid. But I've always found that nothing is as daunting as it seems if you do the proper research. Nothing I've ever done was as hard as I thought it would be. So I choose to encourage those who want to take up a challenge.

He physically CAN do the calculations himself, given time, patience, and a good book.

However, every truss manufacturer is going to re-engineer it themselves anyway, and no building department is going to accept structural calculations for a truss that do not have an engineer's stamp on them, so what is the point of making that effort? Effectively, even though he CAN do the calculations, it won't do him any good at all.

It's mooted, of course, because he wants to just play with truss profiles anyway.

J-man, if you're looking at scissors trusses, a good rule of thumb is that the bottom chord can slope at about half the pitch of the top chord.