re: home construction drawing software

I have the Chief Architect product for the exact reasons you mentioned. Tried others but nothing worked as well IMO. Sketchup and others can do much more in terms of creative, but it's harder to use.

I've drawn out a few plans using it, then given the rough design with dimensions to my architect. Most beneficial part is the total sqft the auto calculates so you know how big your house is or how my sqft you add by making that closet bigger or pushing that wall out 1ft.

Been extremely valuable tool for me.

Google sketchup is a great free tool

The download also comes with something called "layout" which I believe is geared towards exactly what you want, but it requires a license after the initial trial period ends.

thanks everyone for the help. Something else I have been studying and not really getting a clear read on is whether to go with post-tension slab or traditional. I know this is an engineering issue but on the type of soil I am building on the contractors are still going both ways.

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know this is an engineering issue but on the type of soil I am building on the contractors are still going both ways.

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what's the downside of the post tension other than cost?

If none, and there's even a question, I would go post tension. Having foundation problems is not something I would want to deal with

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Any recommendations on good software that is easy to use

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MS Paint

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Would you try and sell your house without using a realto

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Horrible analogy

so what is the story here on pt and drawbacks? More expensive but save on concrete versus pouring a thicker slab and paying the same price. I will be building on a black clay that shrinks and swells. But I just finished having a house pad built out of yellow clay 2 ft thick that does not have shrink swell issues. This was on advice from a builder. We did not talk about slab type, only a preferred soil foundation to support it.

I used to be pretty good with those. Wish I had one

I am a big fan of Revit just because of how easy it is to use. If you or anyone you know have access to myLSU you can download the student version for free. If not it's pretty damn pricey and I'd go with sketchup like everyone else is suggesting.

That's what architects do. They take your awesome plans and throw them away to make something they like and you don't, but looks "wow."

You are doing yourself a disservice not talking to design professional on the front end in some capacity. They know zoning, code, spatial relationships, building materials, construction methods, trends, styles, mech and elec systems, finishes and a ton of things you'd never think to consider. And you'll need to have stamped structural plans for a permit. The structural engineer will know the most appropriate foundation for the design.

Write down you room requirements, preferred sizes, what you want generally to be adjacent and sketch it out. Then find a competent professional. This would generally exclude a builder with a draftsman. Or, find an existing house, or plans, and tell your builder "Do that."

This is your future home. It's a big chunk of money and something that will affect your family's life every single day for many years. You can save a few bucks and trust yourself to have an aptitude to design without training or experience, but these are choices that will stick with you and your family for a long time.