Some provide them. Some don't.

Hi,

If the design was done on CAD CAM, and the software is up to it. This should be easy to do. My local town at the building permission stage wanted a 3d rendering of what the house might look like. Most people turned up with an architects sketch which was acceptable.

Some professional stuff can do other things like fly throughs, i.e. yo can walk through the house, and also time track. I.E. see how the time of days changes the shadows and lighting in a room. Mind you you are talking $US 10 - 20k here in software.

Best, Mike.

Being able take a virtual walk through our design, evaluate sun light patterns through windows, etc. was important to me so I found a designer/engineer team that would provide Sketuch up models of the early designs then AutoCad files for the working drawings. This worked very well for us. I edited the files to reflect our changes. The files were exchanged via email. I believe that this approach improved our communication. It eliminated the "I thought I told you to make that change problem". There was no extra charge.

Most architects use a 3D computer program to help them design even if it is just Sketch Up which is not an expensive program. Developing the drawing into something a homeowner would see as complete or revising it repeatedly might be considered an "additional service".

Some professional stuff can do other things like fly throughs, i.e. yo can walk through the house, and also time track. I.E. see how the time of days changes the shadows and lighting in a room. Mind you you are talking $US 10 - 20k here in software.

My US$500 Home Designer Pro does both. It is upper level consumer software, despite its name.

One thing to keep in mind when depending on a program to show you the sunlight variances, is that your finished house may have trees or buildings which would considerably affect the actual light in a real house. This was brought to my attention after a friend constructed a house, LR windows north and west. After the build, it was realized that dense shade blocked about 80% of the available light -- resulting in a room that is 'dark' even at noon. The reverse effect occurred on the east side, where reflected light from a nearby building makes a daylong glare that requires the use of shades to make the room comfortable. The e-programs are good for determining the sunlight angles into a room (providing you run it through all the seasons), but if your build is anything other than barelot, don't expect it to determine reflections or shade.

Petchia ~ after your plans are finalized (or almost so), make or have made a model, to scale, with removable roof and floors so that you can actually see the proportions. When something doesn't look right, it's a lot easier to change cardboard and drawn lines in advance, than it is to change wood at the build. If you also make to-scale models of your furniture, that's a reassurance that everything will fit as you want. I make mine using foamboard and cardboard, on 1:12 scale; and use a to-scale size me-doll [with crutches sticking out] to be sure everything is reasonably navigatible.

Don't worry about requiring a touchable version of the house -- visual folks [that's most designers, artists, and CAD users] simply can't see that other folks "see" differently and require a tactile version for clarity.

"One thing to keep in mind when depending on a program to show you the sunlight variances, is that your finished house may have trees or buildings which would considerably affect the actual light in a real house."

With SketchUp you load your topo data and and any special features of the site. It provides as good a simulation as the data you load into it.

With SketchUp you load your topo data and and any special features of the site. It provides as good a simulation as the data you load into it.

Same thing with Home Designer Pro.

I've used HDP and found it adequate but not exemplary. And a PIA to load the topo -- which could be why I don't give it high marks, lol. IMHO, these programs are best for those with above-average e-comprehension, who also remembers that the results are only as good as the info put in. I suspect the *average* computer user will find it frustrating to do more than the most basic line drawing [altho the little I've used SketchUp appears to be very user-friendly]. However, most people over the age of ten can manage a ruler, use an X-acto, and glue or tape foamboard into the sizes needed ~ and those who have tactile rather than visual comprehension are going to find a real-life 3-D model considerably more understandable than the best flat screen visualization. When the future day comes that permits manipulation of atoms into true dimensional models, I'll be the first to welcome them; until that time, I'll accept that what is great for one person may not be satisfactory for everybody.

meldy_nva:

How hard is it to make a model? Let's say I'm not the most arts and craftsy-capable. If I can't do it, is it expensive to pay to have it done?

My plans were done on a cad cam system, but not one that provides three-D renderings. The architect just provides plans and elevations. The architect's assistant did however build a model (which is still sitting in the reception area of the architect's office...you can see pictures on my website www.ronnatalie.com). The assistant's sister did however feed the design into some other rendering program so I have that as well but it's not something my architect normally does.

I did physical models for some projects in the past. It is very easy, but, I found it to be a real pain to keep the model current with the changing design. Also, it was impossible for me to get the feeling of being in the space from a scale model.

If you are over 20 and not a geek I would not suggest attempting to learn to develop a model in an application like SketchUp for just one project. However, if you work with a designer or architect (who is using current technology) they can build the software model. Once that is done you can say show me what I would see standing in this location, looking in this direction, at date and time of day, etc.. They can show you the result in real time or just print out renderings from the requested points of view.

petchia

I tried to make a 3D model of our house using Punch software, but stopped when I realized how much time it was going to take. The software had bugs too which made it difficult. I was able to generate a 3D model of the first floor and that was nice to be able to walk through your house plan. It's been overt 2 years since I was in that stage, perhaps the software has improved. This software also provided a funtion to print out the wall and roof sections so you could make a model - but I never tried that feature. I am computer savy and it took a lot of my time (and 3 software upgrades) to get as far as it did - so beware. The otjer thing to note is that the objects in these software packages are generic (like exterior stone or siding, couches, windows & doors) so even if you make a 3D model, it won't look exaclty like your new home.

I found the best 3D model we had was when the house was framed. Nothing on paper compares to the real thing. You have to decide just how much money you want to spend on a model.

I did find that using the 2D floor plan and making paper cutouts of our furniture (and sometimes room sizes from our existing house) to scale and laying them on the new plan was very benefitial. We then had real world references that we could use to judge if the plans we were modifying would work for us.

I recommemd that when you do this, make cutouts of your cars or other vehciles and put them in the garage. Draw hangers widths in planned closets. We found that typical room sizes for garages, pantries, and closets weren't big enough for what we wanted and that is where me made many of our changes.

I don't know what home designers are using for client presentations but the move in architectural firms is to Google SketchUp because it is far easier and faster to use than the 3D versions of their main CAD systems and all of these CAD systems now have SketchUp translation features so the design can be transfered when it is time to produce the contract documents. An additional benefit is that the early phase results look more preliminary and sketch-like so clients are less likely to misunderstand them or take them too literally.

SketchUp files can be emailed to clients and they can view them, rotate the building, and even view predetermined walk-thru's in the free Viewer available on the web. The building can also be inserted into GoogleEarth so the client can see the project on the site and study the sun shadows for any given time.

If you are concerned about cost get a free version of SketchUp and make your own 3D drawing of your project.

Here is a link that might be useful: video demo of SketchUp

I've used HDP and found it adequate but not exemplary. And a PIA to load the topo -- which could be why I don't give it high marks, lol.

The topo is probably the hardest feature to learn. I don't think there is any question about that.

Petchi ~ model-making isn't hard if you can read the plans and use a ruler accurately, keep the Xacto straight, and don't get the tape stuck in the wrong place (it's not a good idea to hang spare strips on the back of your hand, lol). And I keep a list that translates all the odd figures such as 2'4" = 30" [from the plan] into 2.5" [for the model] (or 1¼" if I use 1:24 scale). I use tape to stand the walls until I'm sure that what's there will stay there; and then craft glue once the measurements and cutouts are sure. I don't remember the first one, but it did take a LONG time both because the whole idea was experimental to me (as in, foamboard? whassat?!), and because the plans kept changing. Sigh, then: to move a window meant make a new wall; now I just rough it all until I'm really sure about finality. BTW, stairs aren't difficult if you do the stringer first. I *don't* do mouldings or other trim. If you do furniture, use box shapes rather than cutting out table legs or curving the sofa arms -- you're looking at volume and space used, layout and lighting; not decorating.

Friends had local high school art students make a model for them; I think the going price was about $250 for a fairly plain single-level; several years ago. A fair price would depend on the complexity of the plan... a two-story plan with arches, nooks, bays, dormers, and odd sizes is far more difficult than a simple one-story ranch. It was lovely; and that's when I learned about foamboard.

I think it depends who you go through to buy your plan. Different companes will provide different elements with the plan package. I know Mascord show 3D renderings on their website, of the front of the house. If you want more than the front elevation, I think you'd have to call them. Don't think there is any advantage to going through an architect - you'll be paying for them anyway - architects don't do anything for free! Residential Designers, however, are able to reduce the costs because of being able to market the plan to several clients - thus sharing the costs between them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mascord Website

I made models for many years and have some nasty scars as reminders but I would rather be whipped with a stick than to do one again. A 3D computer model allows you design as you are drawing, to change it, and to be able to see inside it easily.

Here is a link that might be useful: SketchUp section demo

oh, (sympathetic chortle), MA. ~ I was taught to use several layers of cloth adhesive tape to protect my fingers, which was a pia to put on every time. However, in this case time has brought an improvement...see link.

People who can't think in 3-D are similar to people who are tone-deaf... the first group finds lines on a flat page to be nothing more than lines on a flat page (and a flat-screen IS a flat page, just electronic instead of ink); and the second group hears nothing but noise no matter how great the symphony. Thus it doesn't matter how wonderful the CAD or other e-program is, the best image those can produce is still... just lines on flat page.

Here is a link that might be useful: guard tape

Whatever method of visualization you prefer to use, the cost of a hand-built model will be many times greater than that of an interactive computer model; they just take more time even if you manage to do it safely.

And if someone can't understand a 3D model that can be easily turned, walked-through and cut-away, they are not likely to understand a hand-built model either.

Judging by the frequently expressed concerns on this forum about a designer's fee exceeding $1/s.f., neither method is likely to be part of a typical house designer's services, which I believe is what the original question was about.

For projects with much higher design fees, architectural firms typically hire outside model builders rather than bill the time of their design staff, but the fees for such models are still quite high.

So, if a client wants to know how the house would look with a foot greater ceiling height, do you make another model or cut up the original? How do you make all of the windows larger or taller? How do you change the slope of the roof? A hand-built model is a good final design phase presentation tool (to sell the design to a committee or contributors, or investors, etc.); it is not a good design phase tool.