Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - decking/landscape software
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : decking/landscape software
imthepcguy
11-02-03, 08:52 AM
I am going to build a deck on the front of our house next spring and I am looking for some software that will give me a visual feel of my idea's and also allow me to experiment on some different designs.
We would like to add those neat sunburst effects to our railing and I need the software to be able to generate this effect in the design.
Any idea's?
Thank You
Bob
:(
We would like to add those neat sunburst effects to our railing and I need the software to be able to generate this effect in the design.
Any idea's?
Thank You
Bob
:(
Doug Aleshire
11-02-03, 11:49 AM
Bob,
Do a web search by typing "deck design software" and you will have many choices. Prices and what they have to offer vary.
I can't recommend any one over the other as I use a high price software package for my business.
If you need help with this let me know via PM. You're not far away!
Do a web search by typing "deck design software" and you will have many choices. Prices and what they have to offer vary.
I can't recommend any one over the other as I use a high price software package for my business.
If you need help with this let me know via PM. You're not far away!
Binary Bob
11-02-03, 11:48 PM
Bob,
I just finished a 350 sf deck with three levels. I wasted a lot of time and money on DIY deck software in the planning stage. The problem with this software is:
1. Most cannot accomodate anything other than your simple rectangular shaped deck, and cannot do variations in style or terrain.
2. The rare program that CAN allow sophisticated inputs costs too much and takes too much time to learn.
If your deck design is rather plain and unimaginative, get the $20 software. If it is more involved, hire someone with a CAD program. It's cheaper in the long run.
No, Doug did not pay me to say this...:-)
I just finished a 350 sf deck with three levels. I wasted a lot of time and money on DIY deck software in the planning stage. The problem with this software is:
1. Most cannot accomodate anything other than your simple rectangular shaped deck, and cannot do variations in style or terrain.
2. The rare program that CAN allow sophisticated inputs costs too much and takes too much time to learn.
If your deck design is rather plain and unimaginative, get the $20 software. If it is more involved, hire someone with a CAD program. It's cheaper in the long run.
No, Doug did not pay me to say this...:-)
Doug Aleshire
11-03-03, 08:43 AM
Binary Bob,
Thanks Bob for clarifying that I did not solicit your input.
You bring up 2 points that many think a low cost program should be able to do since they "see" the picture on the package at the store and that is just called "marketing the product".
I totally agree with what you said as my software is $3,000.00. Truth is, the cost is high but you also need the experience to know how things are built. My software is programmable, down to fractions of an inch and has allot of bells and whistles that are essential to my business. Many programs out there for the DIY'er are not.
The truth is, you get what you pay but these programs don't provide all the other things needed. Problem is that many budget software programs are not accurate. According to the articles and reviews I have read, 3 programs I have used, almost all the home design software offered is either hard to use, slow and cumbersome, full of bugs and glitches, or all of the above. I have taken a clients design with dimensions and returned just to say that they are off from inches to feet. How can that be, you ask. It is simple, just because a box says it can do this or that, isn't the whole truth. Read the disclaimers in small print on the package. Most provide a guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied, you can get your money back. It may take time but you usually can get a refund.
Design software DOES NOT;
1. Automatically kick out a set of plans after you draw a 2D layout that are Building Permit Ready - In other words, you can't just draw the lines and it automatically generates all the necessary data, notes, cross sections, section details, etc. which make it acceptable for the City to submit for a building permit.
2. Guarantee that what is drawn is accurate to fractions of an inch - It will not. This is essential for those "built-ins" and custom orders.
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and pass your ideas on to a contractor, architect or designer, then these programs will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it, then forget trying to use these programs for this purpose. If you are having a project built by a Contractor, and you don't like change orders, the drawings better be right and accurate. Mistakes or errors that are not caught by the City will be known to the Contractor. It's too late to redraw as the work is already in progress, unless structural issues are in question. By the way, the City is not responsible for drawing errors. Unless you have knowledge of current construction methods, building codes, experience within the construction trade and know what is required on a set of working construction drawings, the purchasing of these programs will be far below your expectations. They do not provide this type of information in a box.
Hope this helps!
Thanks Bob for clarifying that I did not solicit your input.
You bring up 2 points that many think a low cost program should be able to do since they "see" the picture on the package at the store and that is just called "marketing the product".
I totally agree with what you said as my software is $3,000.00. Truth is, the cost is high but you also need the experience to know how things are built. My software is programmable, down to fractions of an inch and has allot of bells and whistles that are essential to my business. Many programs out there for the DIY'er are not.
The truth is, you get what you pay but these programs don't provide all the other things needed. Problem is that many budget software programs are not accurate. According to the articles and reviews I have read, 3 programs I have used, almost all the home design software offered is either hard to use, slow and cumbersome, full of bugs and glitches, or all of the above. I have taken a clients design with dimensions and returned just to say that they are off from inches to feet. How can that be, you ask. It is simple, just because a box says it can do this or that, isn't the whole truth. Read the disclaimers in small print on the package. Most provide a guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied, you can get your money back. It may take time but you usually can get a refund.
Design software DOES NOT;
1. Automatically kick out a set of plans after you draw a 2D layout that are Building Permit Ready - In other words, you can't just draw the lines and it automatically generates all the necessary data, notes, cross sections, section details, etc. which make it acceptable for the City to submit for a building permit.
2. Guarantee that what is drawn is accurate to fractions of an inch - It will not. This is essential for those "built-ins" and custom orders.
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and pass your ideas on to a contractor, architect or designer, then these programs will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it, then forget trying to use these programs for this purpose. If you are having a project built by a Contractor, and you don't like change orders, the drawings better be right and accurate. Mistakes or errors that are not caught by the City will be known to the Contractor. It's too late to redraw as the work is already in progress, unless structural issues are in question. By the way, the City is not responsible for drawing errors. Unless you have knowledge of current construction methods, building codes, experience within the construction trade and know what is required on a set of working construction drawings, the purchasing of these programs will be far below your expectations. They do not provide this type of information in a box.
Hope this helps!
imthepcguy
11-03-03, 09:07 AM
I appreciate your input greatly, I am not an expert in building decks but have done it with great satisfaction. I am going to build another deck off one end of my home and I was looking for some software tha may assist me with a visual sense of what I will be building other than just plotting lines on a graph.
I will endeavor the lines on a graph and be happy with that before I spend good money and buy something useless. I went to the software store today and case in point your right the software companies sure do hype their product into making you think that you can do anything simply by a stroke of a key or slide of the mouse.
Terribly misleading are they and how blindly we follow them!
Thank you again for all your input.
Bob
I will endeavor the lines on a graph and be happy with that before I spend good money and buy something useless. I went to the software store today and case in point your right the software companies sure do hype their product into making you think that you can do anything simply by a stroke of a key or slide of the mouse.
Terribly misleading are they and how blindly we follow them!
Thank you again for all your input.
Bob
Doug Aleshire
11-03-03, 09:16 AM
Bob,
You're very welcome!
I am not wanting to discourage anyone from buying what meets your eye but I do understand what you are wanting to acheive as it does help, to some degree. If you like, e-mail me with what you are wanting to do, maybe a I can do something for you. Click my profile or web site to contact me.
Hope all this helps!
You're very welcome!
I am not wanting to discourage anyone from buying what meets your eye but I do understand what you are wanting to acheive as it does help, to some degree. If you like, e-mail me with what you are wanting to do, maybe a I can do something for you. Click my profile or web site to contact me.
Hope all this helps!