Software For Floor Plan Design

[Digby Fantona]

Could somebody please recommend a user friendly software for designing floor plans ? I am too old and dull to learn to use Chief Architect and other "professional" products and want something which is very, very easy to use.

I intend building a bungalow. I don't like stairs and stairs don't like me.

Thank you.

[Fondles]

roomsketcher.

[harrybarracuda]

https://www.osalt.com/

[juehoe]

I like and use SketchUp (3D modeling for everyone | SketchUp)

Many Thai architects and contractors use it too. So it would be an easy task to transfer the floor plan to technical drawings.

Sketchup is also very handy for shadowing analysis.

[Norton]

SketchUp

Yes. Recommend. Some learning curve but way less than other design programs.

[Humbert]

Sketchup is also very handy for shadowing analysis.

What's that? You mean rendering or something else?

[Norton]

Tool where you can set sun at different positions to see where shadows will be.
Shadow Analysis | SketchUp Extension Warehouse

[blue]

Regards shadows
You can build the 3d model and set: north, date, time etc
Perhaps Geo locate it using Google Earth
Them see how the shadows will fall, even make a rough animation, say a snapshot every hour, sun rise to sun set
Can do inside the building too, to see how the windows cast light.

Sketchup is free, user friendly easy and fun to learn, though you still have to put lots of hours in to become proficient, but if you have spare time it makes a nice hobby.

Maybe steal SketchUp Pro (buy it if you are rich or a professional, it's $700)
As it includes LayOut to make technical drawings look more professional and export in the right format.

[harrybarracuda]

Tool where you can set sun at different positions to see where shadows will be.
Shadow Analysis | SketchUp Extension Warehouse

You need software to tell you that?

[Norton]

Yea. It's an extension to google sketchup.

[Digby Fantona]

Many thanks but it should be known that I am not as clever as the members here, would struggle learn to complex software, and would die if I had to part with $ 695 to get a copy.

Thank you anyway.

[juehoe]

Sketchup is also very handy for shadowing analysis.

What's that? You mean rendering or something else?

You can place your future house at the exact location. SketchUp has a «shadow» tool. You can then play with different dates and times and analyse which part needs more (or less) shading.

This is very handy to design your roof overhangs etc. and avoid errors before start building.

You can buy rendering plug-ins for SketchUp. But I don't need them. SketchUp has its own store for plug-ins and you can download a lot of free 3D models for your project.

(Sorry, just saw that user members already answered the question.)

[juehoe]

Tool where you can set sun at different positions to see where shadows will be.
Shadow Analysis | SketchUp Extension Warehouse

You need software to tell you that?

I know the general shadow situation, of course. But the software will help you to determine the the sun positions and its effects at every time a day and at every date.

It is not always possible to orient the house in the ideal way. The software helps to design the correct overhangs or vertical shading in advance.

[boloa]

Buy some graph paper and draw your own plans, my builder was quite happy to work off of the ones I drew .
This site may help you How to Draw a Tiny House Floor Plan

If you need to get a Building permit then the Local Government Office will do you some plans from your sketches for about 3000 baht '

Or use some Free Thai Government House Plans

Living in Asia

[blue]

Digby Fantona

how is your design looking so far?

[Dillinger]

Why bother? those Thai builders aint gonna look at it

[Digby Fantona]

Digby Fantona

how is your design looking so far?

Much to the amusement of my family my first plan was peed on by my little dog. I liked it - four bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge, study for me to be alone, two kitchens ( one Thai ), and a small Buddha room. A large overhanging roof providing cover for a very wide entrance and a veranda to serve as places to sit al fresco.

Nothing grand but comfortable.