Then there are the dimensioning tools, which snap to the edges of models and allow you to quickly set format, scale, and precision level of displayed measurements.įrom architects and builders to engineers and urban planners, SketchUp can be used by everyone. You can add elements such as line work, textures, and shadows to 2D documents.

The program makes it easy to turn models into animated walkthroughs and flyovers that explain every detail. The tool is also great for making presentation documents, supporting everything from drafting to vector illustrations. In addition to 3D models, you can also create plans, elevations, details, title blocks.

Just choose from one of the many preloaded templates, select a view and you're ready to go.

SketchUp Pro lets you effortlessly design highly accurate 3D models of homes and other similar structures, all using simple click-and-release mouse actions. A light blue rectangle is where my stock tanks will go, etc.Īnyway that is how I use Excel to build things.With its expansive feature set, advanced 3D modeling tools, online forums, tutorials, and user discussions, SketchUp Pro is unquestionably the best home design software out there. A slashed line may not look fancy, but it does not need to be, I know it is a gate. Excel really helps me find the critical information I need to build something. In my case I use my own lumber so all these numbers crunch down into the yellow highlighted numbers: to build this barn I need 276 logs 12 feet long, and 12 logs 14 feet long. I like that! The third photo shows those drawings worked up into material lists. Then I can change spreadsheet pages and work up the numbers on what it would cost to build. The second photo is the same Excel spreadsheet zoomed in. I can scroll right down and look at the smallest 4 x 6 foot sheep pen, or way out like this and get a few acres into view. This is a quick overview of my proposed sheep barn, the different colors representing phases of build, manure storage etc. But a quick drawing to post on Permies or for my own quick reference.I use Excel. It is very limited, but I use paid for programs for drawing buildings, blueprints and houses. To this old duffer it looks like the old 1/4 inch graph paper that we used to have and so I can draw scale drawings with that. If you set the column widths to 3 and leave the rows at 18 it looks like 1/4 inch squares.

Free 3d house plan design software