4 ms·

Slightly OOT: What software (can be paid) for designing a house? I'm a software engineer with no background in civil engineering / related fields. AutoCAD is to

Slightly OOT: What software (can be paid) for designing a house? I'm a software engineer with no background in civil engineering / related fields. AutoCAD is too complex, Photoshop too abstract. I'm thinking the Sims :) But I need "real" measurements. The resulting design is not for commercial use but to be passed to the professionals (architect/builder). Simple enough for my mom to understand yet detailed enough for the professionals to know what I want precisely.

lann 4y ago
I looked at a bunch a while back and found this to be a nice middle ground with a usable mobile interface: https://floorplancreator.net/ https://floorplancreator.net/ Paid version can export to DXF (AutoCAD)
nvrspyx 4y ago
SketchUp is probably a good option for your use case, although I've never used it (or any other CAD).
scoopr 4y ago
Sketchup is really in a nice spot for this kind of stuff. I’m still stuck at the last free version 2017 make. The new free web thing is kind of okay, but really suffers in even a slightly bigger models. Haven’t tried the newer paid versions. It’s a real shame most of these cad-like stuff are going subscription only. As a hobbyist, my needs are really sporadic :/
- sgtnoodle 4y ago
  There's a web version at my.sketchup.com. It lacks some of the features of the desktop software, but works well enough. I drew up the interior of my home to aid in renovations. I also use it for modeling 3D prints when I don't need the part to be parameterized.
doph 4y ago
SketchUp. Pretty easy for an amateur/hobbyist to learn, powerful enough that your architect might use it, too. You can try the web based version for free.
gerdesj 4y ago
Sweet Home 3D - http://www.sweethome3d.com/ http://www.sweethome3d.com/
- mrbbb 4y ago
  Second this. It’s free and simple
staindk 4y ago
My dad essentially "designed" 2 houses using nothing but Excel with square cells. He's an Excel fan and an engineer... seemed to work quite well. Of course then you' have to source measurements etc. yourself and there's no helper features, so some of these other suggestions look quite good.
- will_walker 4y ago
  Please post screenshots of this!
codetrotter 4y ago
> I'm thinking the Sims :) But I need "real" measurements. Perhaps one of these? https://floorplanner.com/ https://floorplanner.com/ https://planner5d.com/ https://planner5d.com/ https://www.smart3dplanner.de/ https://www.smart3dplanner.de/
ur-whale 4y ago
Sketchup Also: Blender.
will_walker 4y ago
Rhinoceros is $800 and used for product design, shipbuilding and architecture. We’re currently getting permits and structural done on our family home with drawings created with it. It also comes with a parametric solver system, grasshopper.
phkahler 4y ago
It's a stretch, but Solvespace has been used: https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/430#issuecomment-501961522 https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/430#issuecom...
madengr 4y ago
Blackthorn 4y ago
Autodesk inventor architectural looks very easy to use but might be way too expensive.
nbutyllithium 4y ago
I've had good experiences with Home Designer [1]. Used it to mock up how I wanted my basement finished [2] so I could solicit quotes and ended up running around the house measuring rooms so I could model the rest of the house (for fun... didn't really serve a purpose). Ended up liking it enough that my father decided to use it to design the home he wants to build. He even found a builder who uses the pro version of the software (Chief Architect) so my father could view / tweak the model. [1] https://homedesigner.chiefarchitect.com/ https://homedesigner.chiefarchitect.com/ [2] They let you upload a certain number of models to their online viewer here's the basement (note not great on mobile): https://3d-viewer.chiefarchitect.com/go?share=557210132736156 https://3d-viewer.chiefarchitect.com/go?share=55721013273615...

lann 4y ago

I looked at a bunch a while back and found this to be a nice middle ground with a usable mobile interface: https://floorplancreator.net/ https://floorplancreator.net/ Paid version can export to DXF (AutoCAD)

nvrspyx 4y ago

SketchUp is probably a good option for your use case, although I've never used it (or any other CAD).

scoopr 4y ago

Sketchup is really in a nice spot for this kind of stuff. I’m still stuck at the last free version 2017 make. The new free web thing is kind of okay, but really suffers in even a slightly bigger models. Haven’t tried the newer paid versions. It’s a real shame most of these cad-like stuff are going subscription only. As a hobbyist, my needs are really sporadic :/

sgtnoodle 4y ago
There's a web version at my.sketchup.com. It lacks some of the features of the desktop software, but works well enough. I drew up the interior of my home to aid in renovations. I also use it for modeling 3D prints when I don't need the part to be parameterized.

doph 4y ago

SketchUp. Pretty easy for an amateur/hobbyist to learn, powerful enough that your architect might use it, too. You can try the web based version for free.

gerdesj 4y ago

Sweet Home 3D - http://www.sweethome3d.com/ http://www.sweethome3d.com/

mrbbb 4y ago
Second this. It’s free and simple

staindk 4y ago

My dad essentially "designed" 2 houses using nothing but Excel with square cells. He's an Excel fan and an engineer... seemed to work quite well. Of course then you' have to source measurements etc. yourself and there's no helper features, so some of these other suggestions look quite good.

will_walker 4y ago
Please post screenshots of this!

codetrotter 4y ago

> I'm thinking the Sims :) But I need "real" measurements. Perhaps one of these? https://floorplanner.com/ https://floorplanner.com/ https://planner5d.com/ https://planner5d.com/ https://www.smart3dplanner.de/ https://www.smart3dplanner.de/

ur-whale 4y ago

Sketchup Also: Blender.

will_walker 4y ago

Rhinoceros is $800 and used for product design, shipbuilding and architecture. We’re currently getting permits and structural done on our family home with drawings created with it. It also comes with a parametric solver system, grasshopper.

phkahler 4y ago

It's a stretch, but Solvespace has been used: https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/430#issuecomment-501961522 https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/430#issuecom...

madengr 4y ago

Blackthorn 4y ago

Autodesk inventor architectural looks very easy to use but might be way too expensive.

nbutyllithium 4y ago

I've had good experiences with Home Designer [1]. Used it to mock up how I wanted my basement finished [2] so I could solicit quotes and ended up running around the house measuring rooms so I could model the rest of the house (for fun... didn't really serve a purpose). Ended up liking it enough that my father decided to use it to design the home he wants to build. He even found a builder who uses the pro version of the software (Chief Architect) so my father could view / tweak the model. [1] https://homedesigner.chiefarchitect.com/ https://homedesigner.chiefarchitect.com/ [2] They let you upload a certain number of models to their online viewer here's the basement (note not great on mobile): https://3d-viewer.chiefarchitect.com/go?share=557210132736156 https://3d-viewer.chiefarchitect.com/go?share=55721013273615...