Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Timberframe Design 2D computer design for beginners

I've played around with SketchUp, and can see how 3D can be fun. But when it comes to laying out floor plans, a grid based program would be MUCH easier. Heck, even a spreadsheet program like Excel can be 'forced' to draw floor plans remarkably quickly. (set column width to '1' and row height to '9' and use 1 square = 3 inches, or 4 sq per foot). Use a different work sheet for each floor or view and you quickly end up with an entire drawing package in one workbook.)

But using a spreadsheet to draw is lame, even if it does work. Can anyone suggest any *simple* CAD programs that work best in 2D and utilize a user-defined grid space?

You can do 2d floor plans in SketchUp pretty easily.
Just create some construction lines and copy them at whatever 'grid' you want... but why not just point the line in the direction you want and use the built in directional locks to make it draw square corners and straight lines?


You could try the free version of DoubleCAD. Not sure if there is a built in grid - but if it is similar to AutoCAD LT you should be able to set one up.




You could draw by hand - you don't even need to figure out how to do it in a spreadsheet... just graph paper, ruler, etc.



Why is a 'grid based' program easier?