MTF,
I am using a German designed Program that lets me "build" stickframe houses as well as Timberframes. I bought it last year as a year end sale and got a bargain on it. Pricetag was insicnificanlty higher than Chief Architect with all bells and whistles.
It has three components: Roof and stickframe designer, Timberframe designer mostly for walls but also for roofs, and the house planer that does what you find in Chief Architect. Only drawback is the German User Surface. They are working on an Englisch version available by the end of this year. Name: Weto. There are two other companies that offer an equal product: Dietrich and Sema. Any off those programs are designed specifically for Timberframing. Be warned though off the streetprice for any them. If you will end up using it every day though it is money well spend and less frustation.
