Software to make a basic floor plan

Aug 14th, 2019 9:02 pm

#1

logggr [OP]: Newbie; Jul 22, 2014; 22 posts; 3 upvotes; Huntsville

Aug 14th, 2019 9:02 pm

Hello:

I need to request a building permit and need to submit the floor layout. Any experiences with the online "free" software out there? or a paying application that can recommend for a one time project? don't need to buy a year subscription or a full license. I have all the measurements and all the information to do it myself.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

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Aug 14th, 2019 9:08 pm

#2

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 12325 posts; 6892 upvotes; Brampton

Aug 14th, 2019 9:08 pm

At the time I needed to get my floor plan done quick so I used Excel to do in less than 30 mins.
It's not as good as some other dedicated tools and I didn't want to learn something I was rarely going to use.

Here's a quick guide on how to use excel.

+2

Aug 14th, 2019 9:13 pm

#3

schade: Deal Addict; Dec 17, 2007; 2474 posts; 1445 upvotes; Alliston, ON

Aug 14th, 2019 9:13 pm

Sketchup and search YouTube for tutorials... It's fairly easy to do a simple layout

+1

Aug 14th, 2019 9:21 pm

#4

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 6649 posts; 2991 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Aug 14th, 2019 9:21 pm

I used Room Arranger.

I smile when I see container ships sailing past my house laden with stuff made in China

+1

Aug 14th, 2019 9:22 pm

#5

logggr [OP]: Newbie; Jul 22, 2014; 22 posts; 3 upvotes; Huntsville

Aug 14th, 2019 9:22 pm

Hello Schade, thanks for the reply. Is this a free software that can be used to save or print the file? I'm asking is because some of the free online software let you do the design and everything and then when you need to print or save won't allow it unless you pay the subscription.

Aug 14th, 2019 9:49 pm

#6

dirtmover: Deal Addict; Nov 2, 2005; 4284 posts; 1557 upvotes; WFH

Aug 14th, 2019 9:49 pm

sweethome 3d

Aug 14th, 2019 10:28 pm

#7

aznrsx1979: Sr. Member; May 11, 2008; 825 posts; 363 upvotes; Vancouver

Aug 14th, 2019 10:28 pm

I'll second SketchUp, since it's free and should have all the functionality that you'd need.

+1

Aug 14th, 2019 10:53 pm

#8

MTommy: Moderator; Dec 7, 2007; 5145 posts; 21528 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 14th, 2019 10:53 pm

Sweet Home 3D or Floorplanner

Both are good. Floorplanner is more user friendly.

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+1

Aug 15th, 2019 6:27 am

#9

Owbist: Deal Addict; Nov 9, 2003; 1439 posts; 249 upvotes; Grimsby

Aug 15th, 2019 6:27 am

logggr wrote: ↑ Hello Schade, thanks for the reply. Is this a free software that can be used to save or print the file? I'm asking is because some of the free online software let you do the design and everything and then when you need to print or save won't allow it unless you pay the subscription.

When you have done your drawing try clicking the 'Print screen' or 'PRN SCR' button next to the F12 button on desktop keyboards. Then open your photo editing program and click 'Paste' then save.

Aug 15th, 2019 10:52 am

#10

Scote64: Deal Addict; Jan 21, 2018; 4837 posts; 4898 upvotes; Vancouver

Aug 15th, 2019 10:52 am

I've used Sweet Home 3D for situations where I need 3D visualization, and it was fine for a free tool. Runs in a web browser so it's platform-agnostic. It does 2-D floorplans, but I was looking for the 3D feature to visualize a deck design and a storage room layout.

Aug 16th, 2019 4:27 pm

#11

dirtmover: Deal Addict; Nov 2, 2005; 4284 posts; 1557 upvotes; WFH

Aug 16th, 2019 4:27 pm

aznrsx1979 wrote: ↑ I'll second SketchUp, since it's free and should have all the functionality that you'd need.

Isn't SketchUp just a 30 day trial?

Aug 16th, 2019 8:12 pm

#12

aznrsx1979: Sr. Member; May 11, 2008; 825 posts; 363 upvotes; Vancouver

Aug 16th, 2019 8:12 pm

dirtmover wrote: ↑ Isn't SketchUp just a 30 day trial?

I think a past version was a 30 day trial.
It's been a while since I've downloaded it but it looks like SketchUp for Personal is free.
All the other versions you'll need to pay.

Aug 17th, 2019 7:57 am

#13

dirtmover: Deal Addict; Nov 2, 2005; 4284 posts; 1557 upvotes; WFH

Aug 17th, 2019 7:57 am

aznrsx1979 wrote: ↑ I think a past version was a 30 day trial.
It's been a while since I've downloaded it but it looks like SketchUp for Personal is free.
All the other versions you'll need to pay.

Ah yes, Personal is indeed free. I'm pretty sure it was only a 30 day trial last time I considered it.

Aug 17th, 2019 8:20 am

#14

Zamboni: Deal Fanatic; Oct 19, 2008; 6796 posts; 2348 upvotes; GTA

Aug 17th, 2019 8:20 am

dirtmover wrote: ↑ Isn't SketchUp just a 30 day trial?

Sketch Up Pro with LayOut has a 30 day free trial, I used it last month.

+1