| More and more carpenters, kitchen and bathroom | | | | be changed at some point to a greater or lesser |
| fitters, shop and interior designers, landscape | | | | degree. It may be the client changing their mind or |
| gardeners and builders of decking and wood barns | | | | the local authorities laying down restrictions. In the |
| and are realising the need and benefits of coming off | | | | past this may have meant starting again with a new |
| the drawing board and using a CAD system as their | | | | drawing but with a CAD drawing this is achieved |
| main design tool. The long term benefits are | | | | painlessly by simply updating your drawing. Because |
| substantial in terms of time and cost and learning | | | | it's easy to edit it is also easy to present the client |
| how to plan in some CAD packages is fairly easy for | | | | with variations on a basic design without having to |
| anyone in these businesses, especially those used to | | | | draw each one individually. Different colour |
| reading plans. | | | | combinations or wood finishes can be displayed with |
| Some CAD programmes are exclusively 2D, but more | | | | two clicks of the mouse and after a while being able |
| and more these days clients want the ability to be | | | | to 'walk through' your proposed design will impress |
| able to view designs in 3D to get a clear idea of the | | | | and win the contract. |
| finished look of the building and this is now possible | | | | It is important that the CAD system is able to read |
| with software costing about the same as a drawing | | | | all the main file formats, as many as possible. As long |
| board. It is also possible to photograph an existing | | | | as this is the case, swapping files with other |
| interior, building or plot of land, import the picture into | | | | companies and other designers is not a problem. It |
| your computer, (this operation takes two minutes), | | | | will also make reading Sketch Up files and building |
| and superimpose your revised design to present to | | | | upon them possible. Being able to save as PDF will |
| the client. This level of technology, while easily learnt, | | | | allow you to send designs to those without their own |
| gives any designer / builder an edge over | | | | CAD package for approval or comment. |
| competitors, especially if the opposition are still relying | | | | Once the fundamental skills are learnt designs will |
| on 2D drawings. | | | | take a fraction of the time they used to, or if you |
| The first steps in putting the design together are no | | | | have been paying an architect or CAD professional, |
| different on a computer than it is at the drawing | | | | will save you thousands of pounds in costs. |
| board. There are a few lessons to be learnt, but for | | | | The more you use CAD the more you learn and the |
| many packages this can take only a day and there is | | | | more possibilities start to open up. Large material |
| often on line or telephone help when stuck. The | | | | libraries are available to be imposed on a surface with |
| three big advantages to coming off the drawing | | | | a click of the mouse. Bricks can be laid as Stretcher, |
| board are firstly that mistakes and changes are easily | | | | Common, Flemish, English, Stack and Rowlock. Wood |
| corrected. Secondly, components used on a regular | | | | grains can be opened up, changed direction or colour |
| basis can be stored and simply dropped in, no need | | | | and there are metals marbles, stones, textiles, wood |
| to re-draw each time. Thirdly, drawings can be | | | | flooring etc, etc. Both indoor and garden furniture can |
| electronically sent to clients, manufactures or possibly | | | | be downloaded free and inserted into your design to |
| local authorities via the planning portal, for planning | | | | give a more realistic look. Lighting can be changed to |
| permission and comment. | | | | create shadows to add a bit of drama to the finished |
| Most designs, in all areas of construction, will need to | | | | visualisation and - it becomes fun. |