CAD or Google sketchup for buildings

[plasticpigeon]

As an engineer I am embarrassed that I have never used CAD in anger, in fact it is more than 15 years since I used it last and only ever designed very basic things as part of a training year. I have decided to learn google sketchup, and it seems that it is used for extensively for 3d drawings of buildings. i am going to design a fancy shed once I have the design sketched up on paper, as a way of learning the program. Has anyone here used this or a similar program to draw their house and try out designs for extensions, sheds or even interior design? I think ity could be a very effective tool, and would take the visualisation out of the head and onto the screen.

 

[kreyszig]

I've had a play with it a few times - the interface is pretty intuitive, with the exception of the rotate tool which is extremely annoying. I wouldn't try to draw detailed plans with it but for getting a sense of how things will look it's worth using. The speed at which you can get going has got to be better than anything else I've tried (and I've used a few)

 

[JBean]

Yes, I've used Sketchup too, for trying out furniture arrangements and designing a garden layout. There are tutorials which are very helpful. Like most things, it pays to keep practising regularly, or you forget how to achieve some of the effects. It's certainly better than other free software I tried.

 

[Flyfisher]

Mrs FF has used sketchup to create a very detailed model of our house, which proved invaluable when designing our kitchen extension by using the 3D rotate and zoom functions to really visualise the whole thing. We then used the same model to visualise the oak-framed lean-to on one of the gable walls. Fortuitously, the oak framer we used also uses sketchup for his designs and so we were able to swap models back and forth until we had a design that perfectly integrated with the house. Accurate measurements are, of course, important but not too difficult to get right with a bit of care. The result was that the pre-cut timbers fitted perfectly when assembled on site. We've also used the model to plan some exterior landscaping so the initial effort involved has proved really valuable over the years.

 

[plasticpigeon]

That's great to hear Flyfisher. I think I will do the same. Did Mrs FF create a FF towers shaped box with all the external features, or was it more complex with internal walls and structural components. I am trying to get to decide whether to just make a reasonable representation of things I want to draw or whether I should make lots of components and assemble them like in a proper CAD model.

 

[Flyfisher]

It's not a simple 'box', more a collection of boxes. So far there is little internal detail as we've been concentrating on the outside works, but I believe such details can be added later. The main internal detail is for the kitchen extension. Things like the roof have been implemented as separate components, which can be useful as the various 'layers' can be switched on and off. We've (there I go, stealing Mrs FF's limelight ) also used superimposed photos as a guide for some of the house features such as the wonky timbers and jetty, thus making the final model a bit more realistic and less 'clinical' than if it were built from purely geometric elements - the house has very few truly straight lines!

The level of detail possible is very impressive but can easily burn lots of midnight oil. In our case, we felt it was justified as it's a long term project and our 'forever house' but I appreciate that may not always be the case and a simpler model may well suffice. What ever you finally decide, I think you're very wise to be giving it some careful thought rather than just diving in. Good luck with it!

 

[livias]

I have used sketchup too and agree with the others that the learning curve is not nearly as bad as traditional cad and it has done pretty much everything I want it to do

I aso want to mention another program which has proved to be remarkably useful and powerful and can be used on a phone or a small tablet and that is an Android app called Qubism. The model is built up of blocks, a bit like non interlocking lego. The blocks can be different sizes and shapes and colours. I used it to design my ensuite while sitting on the beach

Another program which I like is an Android app called Floor Plan Creator. It is only 2D but pretty adaptable in what you can do with it. It comes with a library of doors, fitted furniture etc and is simple to use so is good for batting around ideas

 

[MrPete]

I have used sketchup too and agree with the others that the learning curve is not nearly as bad as traditional cad and it has done pretty much everything I want it to do

I aso want to mention another program which has proved to be remarkably useful and powerful and can be used on a phone or a small tablet and that is an Android app called Qubism. The model is built up of blocks, a bit like non interlocking lego. The blocks can be different sizes and shapes and colours. I used it to design my ensuite while sitting on the beach g


Another program which I like is an Android app called Floor Plan Creator. It is only 2D but pretty adaptable in what you can do with it. It comes with a library of doors, fitted furniture etc and is simple to use so is good for batting around ideas

I fast becoming a fan of Google Sketchup. It's easier to lear nthan CAD too.

 

[a twig]

As my old CAD workstation died, I used SketchUp on my Mac to design our outbuilding - did the job but as the complexity of the drawing increased it rapidly became frustrating and imprecise. So IMO its good for basic work, but once things start getting complicated you're better off with a decent package.