Garage Design Software?

[groupcracer]

Hi all,

This has probably been asked about previously but what software do you use to design the floor plan of your garage?

I don't necessarily want to spend a fortune but it doesn't have to be free either.

Let me have your views.

 

[jonascap]

Hands down Sketchup, Free (you can pay for a pro version) and super easy to use.

 

[groupcracer]

Thanks I'll look into it.

 

[ctgoodman]

http://www.grizzly.com/workshopplanner

I've used this in the past. Easy and free to use.

 

[lumpyidle]

I don't have time to learn any CAD software, or have the funds to buy one, and wasn't wanting to decorate my house, found Sketch-up to be the best soution. After watching about 2 or 3 hours of YouTube instructional videos (goes by fast) I was able to build my shop with every stud, header and plywood to build it exactly like I'm actually going to build it for real! There are tons of pre made models for compressors, lifts, benches, tool boxes, even my blast cabinet and press. Works great and pretty easy to use once you figure it out. If you have a question you can usually find a video to show you.

 

[bczygan]

A pencil, piece of paper and your brain.

Seriously!!!

Bill (Designer)

 

[tjdux]

Another +1 for sketchup. Plus once you learn it for this you can use it to design anything else you can imagine.

Plus its much cleaner than pencil and paper (faster too for me anyways). Also super cool to be able to just rotate to see any view from any possible angle on the sphere and zoom out to the size of the planet and in to microscopic view.

Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703

 

[garagelogician]

Sketchup is fine, another option would be Draftsight: https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/free-download/

Pretty easy to learn, even if you don't have CAD experience.

 

[ChaseDE]

Concur with others, sketchup

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

In the "out on Quaker Road" thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277462 O/P JBLnut talks the design software he uses. He has ton's of building designs in that thread - a recommended read.

Jim

If you haven't already discovered it this is the most amazing online design tool I've used to date.

http://fbi.icovia.com/icovia.aspx

I drew this with it. 2 48x48 heated areas and a 24x24 office/garage.

 

[groupcracer]

A pencil, piece of paper and your brain.

Seriously!!!

Bill (Designer)

Hey Bill, thats ok if you can draw....At 48 I know what I'm good at and drawing isnt one of them....but Im hoping the sketchup thingy will translate whats in my head to some format that can be understood by those outside my head....



But thanks for dropping by.

 

[LostBoy(IRL)]

Over 20 years using autocad in a professional office. So experienced. Tried sketch-up a year our so back visualising a project and it's a good program, quite intuitive, can be frustrating. But well worth a play around with. It's remarkable simple to pick up.

 

[bushmechanic]

Minecraft and The Sims 3 or 4.

 

[CNGsaves]

Other software I've heard a GJer use is IKEA room design . . . . only downfall I remember was him dealing with shapes for his benches, cabinets, etc.

 

[_Stang_]

Sketup 2017 (new version, runs faster, etc). Tons, tons, TONS of free models for cabinets, vehicles, etc. on the 3D warehouse. Also there is a youtube video for anything you need to know. Find the starter tutorials that they have in segments. You'll start out drawing a box and be drawing detailed structures in a few hours. Works best if you have 2 monitors so you can have the tutorial on one and sketchup on the other. Watch, pause, do, repeat.