Need FloorPlan Software

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j Paul

j Paul

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Feb 23, 2004
Posts
7,299
Loc
Toledo,Ohio
With my contemplating a move to new space I am in need of a simple FREE software program to help me see if everything will fit into new space. I have an old version of 3D Home Atchitect but will not run on newer computer.

What are you using that is simple and FREE?

Thanks John
 
I was going to suggest graph paper and cutouts, but maybe that's too old fashioned and you'd have to spring for the graph paper. :p
 
I used a scaled floor plan printed out on the Epson and made footprint cut outs of all the furniture when moving my in-laws into their latest digs. I did the cut outs on the Wizard.
 
http://www.sketchup.com/

although designed for 3d, this is also good for a quick 2d geometric layout but I have always found layout easier to do with a scale drawing and bits of paper/matboard cut to the size of equipment.
 
Pat Murphey said:
I was going to suggest graph paper and cutouts, but maybe that's too old fashioned and you'd have to spring for the graph paper. :p
Click to expand...

Ylva said:
I did paper and cut outs too....guess I am old....never even thought about a computer program for that. sigh.

How is the search going John???? Any promising new premises? :smiley:
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Technology isn't always the answer. As a retired programmer that has built my own computers for many years and used just about every piece of software out there, sometimes software isn't the best answer.

Over the years I have tried quite a few pieces of software that were either dedicated to floor plans or were a more generic cad/drafting type program but every time I have needed to layout a floor plan, I have gone back to the drafting table (2 years of drafting in HS still serves me well), not the computer.

Here is the stuff I use :

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It comes in 8 1/2x11 and 11x17" sizes (I use the larger).

Clearprints 1000H drafting vellum is the industrys standard for durability and performance and is noted for its supreme archival qualities. Clearprint vellums are available in a variety of weights, printed fade-out grid sheets and rolls, and engineering and architectural design and sketch pads.

It's great drafting paper with a decent grid. I cut out the various pieces of furniture from a piece of the vellum and move them around on a drawn out floorplan. The vellum paper allows you to use tape on the pieces (and move them without tearing the vellum) and there is a cover page so that you can put the plan aside with all the pieces in place.

I prefer this to any of the software programs I have tried for layout.
 
I use a cad program that is called ViaCad, problem is they are out of business. There is a new company with that uses this name, but they are not the same.
 
Graph paper and pencil - sure I can do that. I've drawn hundreds of plans for remodeling kitchens before the computer. Why now when there are easy programs to use. Back in the day of Apple 2E I had one of the first kitchen design progams on the market and for over 2K, it couldn't do what my $10. 3D Home Architect could do. The only trouble is the old version I have doesn't work on Win7.
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I figure there is FREE stuff out their now that does even more and I really don't want to buy one for a one time use. I need a software program because I am comparing several new spaces and I want fast and easy. Really guys, once you use a program and draw in your space it is so easy to copy floor plan and drop in and move all your items at will. I guess I can work with what I got if need be at home on my old computer.
 
I also used Sketchup to plan the layout when I moved 2 months ago.
I started with a 2D version and transformed it to 3D afterwards.
The nice thing about Sketchup is after you make it into 3D, you could do a virtual "walk-around" the design and you could visualize height and space.

Reards,
Troy
 
Ten years ago I tried using one of the Punch Software Home Design products (Home & Landscape Platinum I believe) (http://www.punchsoftware.com/) to plan furniture placement in our house when we were building it, but found it to be way too tedious, and ended up sketching out what I wanted on paper instead on top of a copy of the blueprints we got from the builder. Back then the thing was sluggish, overly complex and buggy, so none of that helped. Maybe they've improved things since then, but I tend to agree that pencil and paper work just as well, if not better.
 
j Paul said:
I have an old version of 3D Home Atchitect but will not run on newer computer.
Click to expand...

Do you have, or have you tried installing it in, XP Mode?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

BTW, I too use a CAD program to make a floor plan and separate equipment/furniture. Print both out, cut out equip/furn and move around on floor plan. When done, put equip/furn on floor plan in CAD and print combined. BTW, if you use a CAD program that has layers you can turn on and off or print only the layers you want...
 
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