GokuSS
New Member
I’m looking to move beyond diagrams on paper. I’m planning to design a full house or two in the coming year. I’ve used AutoCAD in the past but it looks like the world has moved beyond that. I’d like something that can create 3D renders and I also want to be sure it is flexible enough to deal with the unique details required in green buildings (for example, a double stud wall, or a rain screen assembly.)
Three of the names that I see coming up again and again are Sketchup, Chief Architect and Revit.
I don’t think I want to use Sketchup. I like the idea of working with software that is a BIM (or a light BIM) and can create basic schedules, etc.
Revit is obviously more expensive but I could probably get by with the LT version for many months of the year (which is actually cheaper than Chief Architect) and then use Flex credits or monthly subscriptions for the full version when I need to do something more advanced.
From what I have read, Revit can take more time to work with and has a steeper learning curve but is ultimately more powerful and flexible and has plugins to extend the capability even further. Skills I develop with Revit are also likely to be easier to apply in the job market.
On the other hand, people who use Chief Architect seem very happy for residential design and it appears to handle basic things for residential construction (like wood stud framing and kitchen cabinets) more easily than Revit.
Three of the names that I see coming up again and again are Sketchup, Chief Architect and Revit.
I don’t think I want to use Sketchup. I like the idea of working with software that is a BIM (or a light BIM) and can create basic schedules, etc.
Revit is obviously more expensive but I could probably get by with the LT version for many months of the year (which is actually cheaper than Chief Architect) and then use Flex credits or monthly subscriptions for the full version when I need to do something more advanced.
From what I have read, Revit can take more time to work with and has a steeper learning curve but is ultimately more powerful and flexible and has plugins to extend the capability even further. Skills I develop with Revit are also likely to be easier to apply in the job market.
On the other hand, people who use Chief Architect seem very happy for residential design and it appears to handle basic things for residential construction (like wood stud framing and kitchen cabinets) more easily than Revit.
