Does anyone know of a free downloadable EASY TO UNDERSTAND/USE software program which would enable me to draw out plans?

Basically, all I want to do is draw out rough plans for builders' quotes ......... at the moment I am working with tables (yeah.....I know )

We do have a CAD program - but I just cannot get to grips with it, and I feel would make everything else run too slowly.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Margot

Check out Visio and see if it looks like it would do what you want. There's a trial version you can download that might last long enough to get the job done. I've used older versions and they were pretty easy; just drag pieces of furniture, walls, etc. onto the work area and enter how big it was. Much easier than AutoCAD.

I have Punch Professional Home Design if you want it. I found it uweildy and hard to use but I'll be cruel enough to mail it to you if you want. Just PM me.

Our architect uses tracing paper over squared paper :D :D :D One of the old school - no CAD for him :D :D

Daisy

Actually, I have managed it, using Word (tables) :D :D

Only a rough idea of what I want to achieve ........I'm actually going to see if I give it to Ad this evening, together with his drafting pens & graph paper that he might just say "oh for goodness sake - let me do it properly"...........    sometimes he still surprises me with "locked-away" abilities despite brain injury !

I wanted to do something roughly, so that I can give copies to builders, along with breakdown of work required, so that I can get quotes - this time I want the whole job done by 1 firm if possible - and I'm getting quotes from local builders recommended by 3 estate agents on the island - so will be interesting .......

Might also get a friend from outside the area to give us a ball park figure as well......

Margot

Good luck with it all, Margot - you deserve to have things work out this time :) :) We're still waiting to get building regulations through before we approach builders for quotes and we have no (real) idea what the cost is going to be :D :D :D We only want the bare shell doing, plus plumbing and heating etc. OH (and me as skivvy) will do the rest - over the next ten years :D :D :D

Daisy

I don't know if you're using an architect but when we built our garage we got a building engineer to run the whole job. We knew what we wanted so weren't after any design ideas. He got our planning permission sorted on the first try and within 6 weeks - he's worked in the area for decades and just showed them to a friend on the commitee before the meetign date. Then he arranged the quotes from the builders and met the inspectors during the job. Since he was well known and threw work their way the builders always showed up and did everything right. He was worth every penny of the £1200 we paid for the project management. He was also about a third of the price of the local architect we contacted.

Don't talk to me about plans or architects!  We've been having a nightmare with them.  I'm just about to sack our second architect when he gets back from his holdiays next week!  We've only been trying to get plans drawn and approved through our local council for the last year.  the first architect sat on old plans we got when we moved in for 4 months.  Once we got them back from him, went to a different bloke (recommended from a friend!!) who has been so incompetent its unbeleivable.  First set of plans were submitted in Novemeber and refused.  The architect didnt realise we were in a green belt and the restrictions the council placed on extensions.  What is even more laughable is that he lives in the next village to us!  So revised plans were being drawn these were submitted for advise to the council who made some suggestions, after redoing the plans he told us he had submitted them to the council the end of May.  Waited til last week as planning meetings are held monthly, checking the council website each day for the plans being submitted to no avail.  Eventually phoned architect to find he's on holiday (one man band) so contact council who state they havent received them!  So now going sending OH round to see him when he gets back from his lovely holiday, while we've been sat in our house since March last year, not wanting to decorate , needing double glazing, new kitchen, bathroom waiting for the git to get off his backside and do some work!!

sorry about the rant, but the mere mention off the word building plans or architect, makes me rather annoyed just now!

Jill

Don't know about this in particular, but for free downloads of all sorts I find download.com to be very useful and you can search the site.  You can find almost anything there. Some are free, some free trials, you can narrow the searches to what you want.