Completely redoing my house this spring and Im wondering if there is any software out there for doing floor plans and possible render them in 3d etc ..

learn AutoCAD or a software called blender... blender is free and for making 3D renderings and models... don't waste your time with those $9.99 design your own home packages.... you can render your AutoCAD stuff in 3D as long as it is drawn in 3D

Ernie

Pantera, May I recomend a close friend for door needs.

His work is second to none.

Best of luck,

Neil

http://www.aloofdoors.com/

Wow very cool stuff ..but I think im doing 3 or four sets of double french doors

He has built some of the most gorgeous french doors I've seen. Give him a call and he'll send you some photos.

Thanks il shoot him an email .. Im probably 6-7 months from needing doors

Pantera - I used to do plans by hand then figured I better get with it and go digital. Did'nt want to invest in CAD at the time so tried out 3D Home Design Suite by Broderbund. You can buy it at Staples or Amazon - I have the old 3.0 version and I hear the new one is much improved. Easy to learn and inexpensive. Lets you print out 8.5x11 or tile out big and tape sheets together, then take and have big copies run. The 3D feature really helped me alot. Sure you have CAD and some others but I just wanted a starting point because I end up giving the plans to an Architect anyhow. Here is a pic of home I designed few years ago with this softare.

I have Autocad architectural desktop 3.3, well I have a bunch of diff versions of AUTOCAD but 3.3 has doors, windows roofs, rendering shading, and supports 3d
its not as easy to learn.

Don't waste your time on AutoCad. It'll take you years to learn how to use it. It'll cost you several thousand dollars to buy. There are numerous cheap residental programs out there. They are not too dificult to use but are limited in their capabilities. Trying to produce a realistic exterior rendering takes quite a bit of computer power, patience and skill. If you are only looking to get some massing, then they are great. That said, there are still good reasons to hire a professional. A design-build firm is great for a job like this. We always had a good laugh when the client walks in with drawings that they produced. I've seen some pretty wacky things.

Ya ive delved into autocad a bit ..not what im lookin for right now ..I just need a simple 3d program ..wall here wall there roof here ..ok render