Construction Software

What is a good software program for building a building/remodeling brew house. Is it free?

I use Google Sketchup for most of my modeling/design projects.
Google SketchUp

I've got some software... and the name escapes me today... Punch Pro?
or maybe that was the publisher. Anyways, you can build a complete house mockup, and then it transferes to 3D so you can do a "walk-through".

You may enter in prices for things like 2x4's and it will calculate construction costs. I've only used it for mocking up remodles, but it looks complete on the costing side.

Punch Pro Platinum... Google that.

Yes, google that. It will find their website. They are on version 10, and it looks sweet. I've got version 6, and it's maybe 10 years old. $100 seems steep, but considering it will do electrical/plumbing/hvac layout and drawings, it may be worth it for ya.

Googles sketchup is really kewl but super difficult to use. Its so frustrating.

I didnt try the other one because i dont want to pay.

+1 for SketchUp.

If you haven't gone through the tutorial, it helps a bunch.

i use AutoCad ;-)

I use AutoCad as well... pretty soon it'll be Revit.

yeah but autocad cost money right?
I think I am going to have to go through the tutorial which I really dont want at all.
The download feature in google sketch is just awesome.

crystalcabot said:

yeah but autocad cost money right?
I think I am going to have to go through the tutorial which I really dont want at all.
The download feature in google sketch is just awesome.

Click to expand...

It really depends on how in depth you want to go with the plans. If you like renderings to help you visualize, SketchUp may be the way to go. However, the level of technical detail can sometimes be cumbersome with this program

If you're simply laying down linework than a trial version of AutoCAD would probably suffice. You've got a time constraint of 30 days or something though, so this may work against you if you're not familiar with the program. Renderings in AutoCAD are a little more difficult to optimize.

If money is an issue you could always find keygens on torrent websites to "help reduce the cost", however that requires some loose morals regarding software piracy.

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Final thoughts: SketchUp is free. While it's difficult to start using for some. It's one of the best free design software packages out there right now.

Just my $0.02 as a drafter.

I use CAD as well, but in all honesty sometimes its easier just to break out the ole scale and pencil and draw it.

I can't even fathom drafting a complete set of drawings by hand. I'm too young to remember professional life without CAD of some sort. I'd be completely lost without the computer... well, actually then we'd just have to hire actual drafters and start redlining more instead of doing design/drafting.

Very true, just look at what happens in an architect's office when power is lost for a few hours. All hell breaks loose and everyone looks around at each other like "I don't know what to do!"

Well it does depend on how big the project is and how many revisions you might need. However, you might be able to have it drawn before the software is downloaded and you learn how to use it.

Sketchup does have a learning curve. My advice to you is to build parts, then save them as components. Then paste all the components together to make your final layout. This is the only way to preserve the original parts because if you just draw it all freehand, the shared edges "bond" together.