What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

[Endicott]

I,m using a demo version of Chief Architect. Although I like the program, it is inaccurate in its framing ( unsupported wall corners, two framing members in the same physical space, etc.). Even their sample plans have those defects. That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but editing to correct the defects is difficult. I read jstoddard's post in the Chief Architect vs. Softplan thread, and would appreciate it if anyone who experienced/knowlegeable in the area of software framing detailing would sound off, expanding on that theme.

[sanfiner]

Check this one - https://www.planswift.com/estimating...ting-software/. GL!

[Jrue Thompson]

Hi guys, i was looking for the best software for accurate framing layout and found this forum. It is an old question, but maybe somebody knows what is the best software in 2020?

[Timbersmith]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

Opps. Attached

[Timbersmith]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

Couple wall shots

[Timbersmith]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

Couple shots.

[Timbersmith]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

When it comes to accurate 3d framing modeling, I can't resist. Sorry.

If you’ve got the resources, ADT+HSB is a remarkable package. It takes some serious commitment to 3d CAD though. A thorough understanding of AutoCAD is prerequisite. In addition to the spatial and drafting ability of working in 3d you also need AutoCAD administration and customization skills. And that’s just the base modeling environment. Then there’s HSB – another significant learning curve. After you learn how to use all its wall, roof, floor, timber and tooling tools, you’ll need to learn how to configure and administer and it to frame how you want. Then you’ll need to learn HSB’s programming language called TSL that is C+ based and really a necessary skill. After that you’ll want to know Access database to leverage the CAD database information.

Not for the CAD beginner or occasional user at all. However, if you’ve got the resources, it really is unbelievably powerful. The only real limitations we’ve found are that it doesn’t really do battered or radius walls well.

Even after all that, the automatically framed model needs extensive modification for our complex buildings. Plus, all the custom timber frame and steel components need to be modeled by “hand.” But we in the end we have the ability model just about anything we need and then use that accurate model for both geometric and material information.

[ChicagoSoftPlan]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

In a word... Yes. Although it is something that would have to be added manually - it would be quite easy and quick to do. This plan is an example I created for a Modular Builder that already owned the Software before I got directly involved (you can read into that - I never asked to, or got directly compensated for these drawings ) that never actually implemented SoftPlan. They had a few Acad guys producing the drawings, but couldn't seem to increase their production very much (the drafting was always holding them up). Since it was in my interest in getting them up to speed with SP, even though purchased from someone else, I took 2 trips, almost 150 miles one way, to help them on my dime. After the 2 trips and several months later, their head engineer and draftsman refused to really make a concerted effort at the implementation of SoftPlan - their produvtion was approximately the same. It was at that point, the owners hired me to come and work directly with them. It took about a day and a half for us to start from scratch and create all of the necessary drawings including a MTO and schedules they required to build a home in their factory - with me drafting in front of them and the production manager (one of the owners) letting me know what he needed. During this entire procedure, he (who has very cursory P.C. skills himself) kept repeating the same phase to me over and over - "it couldn't get much easier than that!". On the second day when the drawings were completed, we held a meeting with the estimaters and draftsmen. Two were extemely negative ( my personal opinion is because they saw less of a need for themselves and certainly less control), one was positive, and one was neutral. The owners made the decision to immediately implement SoftPlan. They did hit a few bumps in the road, however, the bottom line is that within 2.5 months, the head Engineer was gone, they increased their production considerably (with 3/4's of the employees - only one of them had a medium understanding of SP to begin with), increased their accuracy while reducing waste, controlled their cost by having a more accurate MTO, created 3d marketing materials with very little additional effort. While it wouldn't be usefull for drawing a very complex suspension bridge or high-rises, in this case, (compared to what they were using) the use of SP turned out to be very profitable for them, building modular homes.

[parkwest]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

I noticed the very top plates on wall #2 weren't notched to allow the interior partitions to tie in. Is that just because those walls were samples and not from an actual floor plan?

[ChicagoSoftPlan]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

No offense taken. I come from a construction background, My Father was a Contractor when I was groing up in Burlington/Lake Geneva area. I purchased SoftPlan for use in my own Remodeling Company in Chicago. The primary audience for the Software is Builders and Remodelers, although I've personally sold quite a few Architects, Designers, Lumber Yards, Schools, Etc. Becuase of the versatility of SoftPlan in regards to its use to solve several different problems for a builder such as a sales tool, floor plans, take offs, and ease of learning it to begin with, combined with my first hand experience with those situations is how I was able to "connect" with my clients.

To me, SoftPlan is somewhat of a cross-training tool in that a builder that might know very little about drafting, can pick up certain drafting procedures, and an Architect that might know very little about the actual components of a building, learns how they go together as well.

If you know about or study sales, you'll soon find out that some of the very best in most industries have actually very little product knowledge - which I don't believe should be the case personally. But, to reiterate, I essentially wasn't selling draftsmen.

Btw. I no longer sell SoftPlan ( I do still think it's the best product for the job) but am now using it with one of Remodelings "Big 50" Remodelers who never had a CAD package. The Owners, Lead Carpenters, Estimaters, as well as their clients have been blown away with its capabilities so far.

Glad you asked,

Jamie Moyer

[Bill Lacey]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

I was just giving you crap, CSP. And the original question wasn't about the length of time it took to generate an accurate framing detail, only which was better at doing it.

Answer me this: how are you supposed to sell a drafting/CAD program without much drafting/CAD experience? I would think that you would want to have an experienced user who's been around the block with a few programs in that position. Don't take that as a rip on you. I'm just being inquisitive.

[ChicagoSoftPlan]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

Bill:

The drawing you see in my post isn't an actual bulding. It was done as an example of the capabilites only. Of course it could be done in Acad as well, the difference being in the amount of time,effort, and money required to do so. The example you see was done by a person who's last training in drafting was in 7th. grade in Jr. High School (less than 20 miles from your location - I'm not origninally a flatlander, rather a cheesehead ) at a time when a simple computer occupied a sizable room (only the top 1% of math students used it - not me) and who has zero formal eduaction in the software that produced it. In addition, it required only a couple of clicks of the mouse to produce the framing plan and panel drawings from an already completed floor plan - a couple more clicks, and the M.T.O. is produced. However, I digress, seeing that you're a free thinker... you were probable already aware of that.

[Bill Lacey]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

Softplan doesn't allow you to have access to closets? What a waste of space. LOL

Doesn't look like anything that can't be done in AutoCAD...

[ChicagoSoftPlan]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

While Solidbuilder probably has a more complex framing layout - SoftPlans is pretty darn acurate a well. I know of at least a couple of Modular Builders who use SoftPlan for their panel layout diagrams. Here are a couple of examples.

[Allan Edwards]

Re: What's the best software for accurate framing layout?

OK. I’m going to grade myself:

Knowing what marketing is most effective/ least effective A-
Getting from lead to a signed agreement A-
Getting from a signed agreement to "all permits ready" B
Having "all selections made" D
Getting from the end of construction to closing B-
Getting from closing to "out of escrow" A
Getting through the warranty period undamaged A
Gathering and mining references B-