Simple, Easy to Use CAD Freeware

[Divergent Species]

I am buying a new house and need a relatively simple freeware CAD package that I can layout the lot and the house placement on the lot.

The house floor plan will come from a set of different plans the builder has used in the development, but I can optionally make structural changes to them. I would like to also be able draw the standard floor plan and then try differnt changes to see how they flow.

A grid background and user intuitive interface would also be nice. Does anyone know of a good freeware package for doing this? I bought a cheap CAD package for this previosuly, but threw it away as it was worthless and I don't want to waste money again on something I can't use.

[jdc2000]

If you have a Barnes and Noble bookstore near you, you can get the current issue of PC Pro, one of the UK PC magazines, that has a copy of TurboCAD 15 in it. $12 for the magazine.

[NickC]

I don't know if Google Sketchup ( http://sketchup.google.com ) will work, but might want to give that a try since it's free. It's meant more for simple 3D rendering but may have a 2D option. I don't remember how well dimensioning would work - i.e., I don't know how easy it is to scale one entity based on another but I'd guess it's possible.

Another option that might already exist for you is to use Powerpoint. You can turn on a grid, and create a scale mentally to equate Powerpoint object size to your floorplan (e.g., 1 in = 2 ft). Or you can try one of the free Open Office / LibreOffice applications like Impress or Draw.

[jdc2000]

Reviews of software:

http://home-design-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://home-design-software-review.t...terior-design/



TurboCAD:
(Less expensive floor plan software is also available.)

http://www.turbocad.com/

[SuperSparks]

It's not freeware, but MS Visio is superb for what you want to do. You can download a trial and see what you think anyway:

http://visio.microsoft.com/en-us/Try..._for_Free.aspx

[Divergent Species]

Thanks for the good suggestions. I am going to try the free ones first, starting with the Google product and PowerPoint. My needs are very simple.

If these don't work out, then I will look into the software reviews to determine which of those products best meet my needs.

Thanks again.

[Divergent Species]

I tried PowerPoint and it was not as intuituve as I thought. Did not try the Google product.

I am familiar with EXCEL and have done some limited layouts before. After I found a web site that described how to make a grid with perfectly square cells, I decided to just do it with EXCEL and it has worked out fairly well.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

[Train]

Nice! Now if you have a link, that would be appreciated I am sure.

[Divergent Species]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Here is the link:

Mr. Excel Tip 071

[Divergent Species]

Here is the Link:

DOUBLE POST - SORRY

[burgert]

You might try this:

http://www.sweethome3d.com/index.jsp

Seems to work for me!

[Train]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Here is the link:

Mr. Excel Tip 071

Thank YOU!!