Can you tell me a good software for wood deck design?

Question

preferably free or low cost. Thanks

Answer 1

You'll get it here:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Build/BldDck.html&rn=RightNavFiles/rightNavHowTo

You have to register in the site first.

Marcelo

Answer 2

I think what you want from deck design software is the ability to visualize your deck, and then generate post and joist layout and a bill of material. The problem with the "free" design options (like Lowes) is that you are pretty limited to what they offer for design (pick a basic design) and you can't play with the post layout (geeze, I can't put a post there!). Stuff like autocad is way to complicated!

I haven't found the one that I'm looking for, and willing to spend the money for, yet. I've done my design on a piece of graph paper, then did the post and joist layout by looking up some load tables. The only thing I haven't been able to do is visualize the deck (except in my own head).

You can find a review of some packages here:
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/home-design-software/index.html

Answer 3

Google Sketch Up is the best product of its kind. It's free, but it will take a little while to learn it. However, the results are amazing. You can design 3-D images down to the last millimetre of your deck. It's definitely worth the learning curve and will help you eliminate errors.

Answer 4

there are many available, from many sources stay away from auto-cad, it's too big and too much to learn for your needs, I have one called home-styles, and it was pretty cheap. I lets you do decks floor plans and 3d modeling.

Answer 5

AUTOCADD, (used) on ebay!! Works great for any architecture and design plans, inside and out!