Usage — Software, Tools, and File Formats¶
Design and CAD/BIM software¶
| Tool | Best for | License | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revit (Autodesk) | Full BIM, professional residential/commercial | Subscription, expensive | Industry standard for architects/MEP. Steep learning curve. |
| AutoCAD | 2D drafting | Subscription | Aging but widely accepted; everyone reads .dwg |
| Chief Architect | Residential design (purpose-built) | One-time + upgrades | Best balance of capability and learnability for homes |
| SketchUp Pro | Massing, schematic, conceptual | Subscription | Easy to start; weak for documentation |
| SketchUp Free (web) | Quick concepts | Free | Good for first studies |
| Sweet Home 3D | Floor plans + room layout | Free, open source | Limited but instant; good for kitchen/furniture studies |
| Home Designer (Suite/Pro) | Consumer Chief Architect | One-time | Same engine, fewer pro features |
| Blender | Visualization, photoreal renders | Free, open source | See the Blender topic in this wiki. Not a documentation tool |
| FreeCAD | Parametric 3D | Free, open source | Mechanical-engineer friendly; not a typical building tool |
| QCAD / LibreCAD | 2D drafting | Free | Reads/writes .dxf/.dwg |
For an owner-builder pursuing this seriously: Chief Architect (or Home Designer Pro) hits the sweet spot — purpose-built for houses, generates code-checkable drawings, manages a 3D model and 2D documents from one source. If you have engineering background and want full BIM, Revit + Revit MEP is the professional path.
Structural and engineering tools¶
- Forte WEB (Weyerhaeuser) — free, fast member sizing for joists/beams using engineered wood products. Industry-trusted.
- WoodWorks Sizer / Shearwalls / Connections — paid; comprehensive for wood-framed structures.
- RISA-3D — general structural; used in residential for unusual conditions.
- Hilti PROFIS — anchor design; free.
- Simpson Strong-Tie SDPWS / SDC tools — connector and shearwall sizing; free.
- Manual J / S / D / T — ACCA load-calculation methodology for HVAC. Tools: WrightSoft (industry standard), CoolCalc (free residential calculator). Required for permit in many jurisdictions.
Specifications and documentation¶
- MasterFormat / UniFormat (CSI) — standardized specification structure. Even residential benefits from organized specs ("here's the schedule of windows; here's the schedule of doors").
- Bluebeam Revu — PDF markup, takeoffs, plan review. Industry standard for the field.
- PlanGrid / Procore — construction management; overkill for one house but used widely.
Cost estimating¶
- RSMeans Online — building cost data by region. The professional reference.
- Buildertrend / CoConstruct (now CoBuildr) — owner-builder/GC management software with cost tracking.
- Excel — perfectly fine for one project. A good spreadsheet beats poor software every time.
Local government tools¶
- Online permit portals — your AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) likely has one. Find your jurisdiction's "building department" or "development services."
- Property record / GIS — public site for parcel info, zoning, utilities, easements.
- Code search — UpCodes (free tier + paid) for state-amended IRC/IBC online.
File formats you'll touch¶
| Format | What it is | Tools that read/write |
|---|---|---|
.dwg |
Native AutoCAD, the lingua franca | AutoCAD, BricsCAD, DraftSight, QCAD |
.dxf |
Open AutoCAD interchange | Almost all CAD tools |
.rvt |
Native Revit | Revit only (others import via IFC) |
.ifc |
Open BIM exchange | Revit, ArchiCAD, FreeCAD, BIMcollab |
.skp |
SketchUp | SketchUp; Revit imports limited |
.pdf |
Final published drawings | Everything |
.glb/.fbx |
3D model exchange | Blender, SketchUp, Unity, Unreal |
Always deliver final drawings as PDF. Working files (.dwg, .rvt) are versioned, but contractors price from PDFs.
Drawing types you'll produce or commission¶
For a building permit set:
- Cover sheet — project info, sheet index, code summary, applicable codes, climate data, design loads.
- Site plan — parcel, building footprint, setbacks, drives, utilities, drainage, grading.
- Foundation plan — footings, stem walls, slab, anchors.
- Floor plans — by level, with dimensions, room labels, door/window tags.
- Roof plan — pitches, framing direction, drains/scuppers/gutters.
- Elevations — N, S, E, W exterior views.
- Building sections — vertical cuts showing floor-to-floor, ceiling, roof assembly.
- Wall sections / details — typical exterior wall, foundation/wall transition, roof eave/rake, parapets.
- Schedules — windows, doors, finishes, fixtures.
- Structural plans — separate set; floor framing, roof framing, shearwall layouts, beam schedule, post schedule, hold-down schedule.
- MEP plans — electrical (load calc, panel schedule, layout), plumbing (DWV, supply, riser), HVAC (Manual J/S/D output, ductwork).
- Energy compliance — REScheck or RES (state energy code) compliance certificate.
For a small home, this is 30–60 sheets. A custom home: 80–150+.
Site evaluation tools you'll use¶
- Survey by a licensed surveyor — boundary, topography, easements, encroachments. ~\(1,500–\)5,000.
- Geotech / soils report if required — borings, soil bearing, drainage. ~\(2,000–\)10,000.
- Tree survey if treed lot.
- Title search — your real estate attorney; identifies recorded easements, restrictions.
- Zoning verification letter from the AHJ — what the lot allows.
- Utilities — verify availability/cost of water, sewer, gas, electric, internet at the property line.
Common gotchas (software/process)¶
- CAD/BIM file compatibility — Revit files don't open in older versions; SketchUp updates break old plugins; always archive a PDF and a current native file at each milestone.
- Drawing scale — printed at the wrong scale, dimensions don't match. Always title-block scale and graphic scale on every sheet.
- Round-tripping plans through email loses metadata, occasionally line weights. Use a transfer service (WeTransfer, Dropbox links) for working files.
- Survey datum mismatches — your surveyor's datum may differ from your engineer's; always coordinate elevations early.
- Energy code compliance done at the end — you discover you needed thicker walls or better windows after you've designed the envelope. Run REScheck during schematic design.