Free software for designing residential buildings

Recommendation points

• SketchUp Make
• Envisioneer Express
• nanoCAD
• Home Plan Pro
• FloorPlan 3D
• CyberMotion 3D-Designer 13

Anyone who plans to build their own home thinks about drawing up a project. It’s nice to feel like an architect and try your hand at creating a visual plan for the future home. Well, there are programs for designing houses, and you can choose free versions.

SketchUp Make

This program is designed to create relatively simple three-dimensional objects, allows you not only to draw up a project of the house itself, but also to work with interior decoration, furniture arrangement. Belonged to SketchUp Make by Google, there is also a paid version of SketchUp Pro, but we will talk specifically about programs that can be used for free.

Users note that SketchUp is a simple program, there is a built-in crack, designed for beginners in the field of 3D modeling.

In addition to creating and editing 3D projects, the program allows you to work with landscape design, interiors, engage in virtual archeology, that is, to model disappeared buildings, to master engineering design. There is a lot of background information, SketchUp has simple graphic tools such as an “eraser”, “brush” and others, it can convert the created projects into various graphic formats.

Another plus of SketchUp is the ability to create statistics on the consumption of building materials. Structures are designed with millimeter precision. The program does not work with 2D drawings.

Envisioneer Express

Another 3D building modeling program that is free to use. A detailed 2D plan can be made, which is then converted into a 3D model. The program allows you to work with interiors, it is quite simple, you can change the viewing modes of the finished project from a transparent frame to the location of the building among the landscape. The finished project is easy to print and save in various formats. Envisioneer Express is less popular than SketchUp, but in general it has quite wide functionality..

nanoCAD

This is a Russian development, there is a free version for non-commercial use. NanoCAD has a fairly wide potential – the program allows you to work with various drawings and even allows you to form a complete package of documents that are included in a construction project. The files saved in nanoCAD are compatible with other applications from the AutoCAD category.

Home Plan Pro

Free program for creating a plan of the house, supports BMP, GIF, JPG formats. Has a fairly simple interface, can work with color palettes, different levels and layers, is distinguished by a large number of ready-made designs, such as windows, doorways, furniture items. The finished home plan Home Plan Pro can be printed in several projections. Designed specifically for beginners, not professionals in the field of architecture.

FloorPlan 3D

A program with many functions that allow you to experiment with three-dimensional images of buildings, landscapes and interiors. It is noteworthy that professional designers often work with FloorPlan 3D, which speaks of its high functionality and advantages. Information is automatically generated not only about the quantity, but also the cost of materials, levels and floors are designed, texts, roofs, windows and stairs are added, the library is very extensive. There are several versions. Works with effects such as snow and rain, the sketch can be viewed from any angle, and the design can be engineered down to the smallest detail.

CyberMotion 3D-Designer 13

This program can be called shareware – you can use it only for 30 days from the moment of installation, after that, if you wish, you should buy a license. CyberMotion 3D-Designer 13 allows you to create three-dimensional models, animations, and render. The program is used far from only to create projects and design houses, you can just do animation, making your characters.

Among the more specialized programs, one can mention Sweet Home 3D, created specifically for modeling interior design, as well as LIRA-SAPR 2013, designed to calculate the load on building structures.

Most positive reviews on the web about SketchUp as the software product best suited for use by beginners.