How to draw your own plans for planning permission: How to Draw Building Plans for a Building Permit

alexxlab

How to Draw Building Plans for a Building Permit

Posted on by Jason Somers

Constructing any kind of building requires a significant amount of preparation and planning with a trusted partner. While planning the job is important if you want to avoid making critical mistakes during the construction process, it’s also necessary in order for the building to be legal in the city of Los Angeles. Keep in mind that everything from constructing a new home to converting the use of a room will require a building plan.

A building plan is essentially a graphical representation of what the building you’re constructing will look like once construction has been completed. These plans can help you determine how much a project is going to cost, which is useful when creating an initial budget.

Before you get started on a project, you will need to apply for a building permit, which is an approval for construction that can be obtained from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. In order to receive approval for your project, building plans must be provided with your building permit application. When properly created, building plans will provide the construction team with everything they require to build the property without making too many mistakes.

While the primary building plan is a site plan, additional plans such as floor plans, landscape plans, and elevation plans may also need to be provided. For smaller homes and commercial buildings, it can take around 1-2 days to draw building plans, which can extend to 3-4 days for larger buildings. Once you have submitted these plans alongside any additional documents with your building permit application, the approval process can take upwards of 2-4 weeks to be completed.

A building permit expediter can assist in this process by making sure that your building plans are up to code and by speaking with the relevant professionals at LADBS who are in charge of approval.

If you require building plans for the building permit process, this article goes into detail about how these plans are drawn and what you will need to get started.

How Do I Get Started?

To get started with drawing building plans, consider looking at building magazines as well as different buildings on the internet. You could also drive by buildings in your neighborhood or general area. These resources can provide you with the inspiration you need to create building plans that match the appearance and design you want the building to have. Keep in mind that the site plan will need to include everything from the boundary and dimensions of the property to any stormwater drainage in the surrounding area.

Make sure that you fully understand the property lines so that you can place them correctly on the building plans that you create. Understanding these aspects of the land that you’re about to build on is essential to make sure that you don’t encroach on land that’s owned by someone else. All that’s left to do before you start drawing the building plans is to obtain the right supplies for the project.

What Supplies Will I Need?

There is an extensive amount of supplies that you will need to effectively create a building plan. For instance, it’s important that you actually have some desire to draw and have enough patience to create building plans without becoming frustrated with your progress. It should also be noted that the best building plans are typically made by people who know how to use their imagination.

While it’s important that your building plans adhere to local codes, it’s also recommended that you focus on making sure that the property is aesthetically appealing. The kinds of supplies that you will require for drawing building plans depend on whether you’re drawing by hand or with a computer.

If you are drawing these plans by hand, make sure that you have such supplies as:

  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Durable eraser
  • Calculator
  • Ruler, engineering, and architectural scales
  • A comfortable chair and a sturdy table

In the event that you would rather draw these plans on a computer, the supplies you should have on hand include:

  • All of the tools and instruments mentioned previously for some initial hand drawings
  • A computer with internet access
  • Monitor
  • Scanner
  • Printer

When you have these supplies, you should be ready to draw the plans for any building that you’re about to construct.

Steps to Draw a Building Plan

There are around seven separate steps that are required for drawing a building plan, which includes:

  1. Create a beginning point and proper scale for the project
  2. Practice altering the scale
  3. Create a plan of building and current property lines to scale, which should be done in an overhead view
  4. Add some information to the plan
  5. Sketch the details of the property
  6. Label everything
  7. Sketch extra pages depending on the exact type of project

1. Create a beginning point and proper scale for the project

When you begin creating these plans, make sure that you start with a beginning point before properly scaling for the project. For instance, the northwest corner of land should logically be placed in the upper left portion of the graph paper that you’re using. The structure should be outlined with an architect’s scale. The standard scale to use is 1/4-inch to 1-foot scale, which gives you the ability to place a 44×72-foot project onto 11×18-inch paper.

2. Practice altering the scale

The next step of this process involves altering the scale as needed. Practice changing the scale when you begin with your drawings. Once you reach the corner of a specific feature of the project, you can pivot the point of your pencil to change the scale.

3. Create a plan of the building and current property lines to scale, which should be done in an overhead view

You should then create a plan of the building and property lines to scale, which should be completed in a basic overhead view. Along with the outline of the structure, make sure that you include bump-out additions for porches and any other recesses on the property. Additional details like driveways, trees, and patios should be included on the plan as well.

4. Add some information to the plan

It’s at this point that you should add some basic information to the plan, which can include the property address as well as the name of the nearest street. Make sure that you denote direction for the property by adding “N” for north in the right location of the building plan. The scale that you use should also be placed somewhere on the paper. Finally, it’s important that you write down your full name as well as the current date.

5. Sketch the details of the property

Now that you’ve completed the basic outline for the building and property, it’s time to sketch some of the pertinent details of the property in question. If you plan on adding a deck, fence, or shed to the property, these additions should be sketched on the building plan. Make note of the width, depth, and height of any addition.

6. Label everything

The sixth step involves labeling every room of the property after you draw a floor plan. Along with labeling each room of the home or building, it’s important that you label every door, window, closet, appliance, counter, and bathroom fixture. The locations of carbon dioxide and smoke detectors should also be written down.

7. Sketch extra pages depending on the exact type of project

The seventh and final step involves sketching additional pages if needed for your specific project. For instance, the construction of an entirely new building will require the creation of a foundation plan. On the other hand, a home addition will require the creation of a side view that shows how the addition will be constructed. With this step-by-step guide, you should have a clear understanding of how to draw building plans that you can then use to obtain a building permit.

Characteristics of a Good Building Plan

A good building plan is one that provides the construction crew with everything they need to build the property to your specification while also making sure that the LADBS has what they require to approve the project at hand.

The main characteristics of a good building plan include:

  • Everything is clearly labeled
  • Property boundaries are correct
  • Design adheres to the specifications of the landowner
  • The building is designed to be functional while also being well made
  • The plans are made to the correct scale

As long as the plans that you make don’t clash with local building codes, you should be able to have these plans approved by the LADBS once you have sent in your building permit application, which should be your ultimate goal when drawing building plans. You’ll also benefit from being able to use these plans when constructing the home after approval has been granted.

What Do I Need for Building Permit Applications?

When you’re getting ready to send in a building permit application with the LADBS, there are many documents and drawings that you’ll need to provide if you want the approval process to be straightforward.

In order to apply for a building permit, you will need such plans and drawings as:

  • Building plans
  • Floor plans at a minimum scale of 1:100
  • Structural information
  • Sectional drawings
  • Elevations

When you want to apply for a building permit, you can do so by going to the LADBS website. Make sure that you select the correct building permit. These applications can be downloaded and are typically only a couple pages long. Once you have filled out the application, all that’s left is to submit the application at one of the five LADBS locations. If you want to legally construct a property in Los Angeles, obtaining building permits is necessary.

What’s Next?

If you find that the approval process is taking longer than you would like, it’s highly recommended that you hire a building permit expediter. These individuals can help you expedite the approval process while taking care of any issues that occur along the way. Once you have finally received your permit, you can begin construction on the property at hand.

During construction, make sure that you stick to the plans that were approved by the LADBS. Throughout the project, you will need to obtain regular inspections that will determine if the project is progressing without issue. As long as you stick to the building plans that you drew up, you should be able to complete the construction project in a timely and efficient manner.

Jason Somers, President & Founder of Crest Real Estate

With over 15 years of professional experience in the Los Angeles luxury real estate market, Jason Somers has the background, judgement and track record to provide an unparalleled level of real estate services. His widespread knowledge helps clients identify and acquire income producing properties and value-ad development opportunities.

Learn more about Jason Somers or contact us.

How to Draw Your Own Plans

The world of design and construction can seem impossible to jump into when you are first starting. Picture this: you recently bought a house and decide that the beautiful, spacious backyard can fit a small guest house perfectly. To save money, you decide to forgo hiring an architect and instead draw your own plans yourself to gain city approval and finally begin construction. The only problem is you have never designed anything before, let alone an entire guest house.

At Permit Advisors, many of our employees are licensed architects. We deal with plans all day long. If we’re not going over them with the city, we’re talking with the architects who designed them one-on-one to point out any safety concerns. With our in-depth knowledge of building plans, we wanted to create a brief guide on how to draw your own plans for any project that you might have coming up.

To begin, it’s important to remember that cities require you to show a plan that goes into detail the scope of your project. Since city approval is mandatory before starting your project, you need to make sure your drawing is as close to perfect as possible. The better it is when you present it to the city, the sooner you’ll be on your way to your start date.

 

Tools You Need to Bring

  1. Paper (preferably grid)
  2. Pencil (B, H, and HB lead)
  3. Good Eraser
  4. Ruler, with Architectural and Engineering Scales
  5. Calculator
  6. Table and Comfortable Chair

Now that your workstation and tools are ready, you can start drawing your plan. Begin noting on your piece of paper what is the direction North and a small compass that points to the other directions. Then, add your property’s address and distinguish what is the name of the closest street sign. Next to this write down what the scale being used is. For example, “Scale: ¼:1” which means ¼ inch for every 1 square foot, or whatever measuring system you choose to use.  You should then write your name and the date next to these two items. These two things are incredibly important for the city to see as it will help them review your plan and determine if it is up to code enough to be approved for construction.

After that, you will begin sketching carefully the details of your planned building (including width and depth). Be sure to maintain your chosen scale throughout this process. You should be noting the height via a label. If there is any relevant information about construction you need to disclose, write it on the side for the city to be aware of. This could be a “steel fence, five feet high” or “pool built next to shed”.

Drawing your own plans can be difficult. It’s important to research City Requirements before starting.

Your sketch should start with the perimeter if you are drawing a floor plan for a new building. Label each room, as well as doors, windows, counters, bathroom fixtures, kitchen appliances, and closets, as well as their sizes. Markdown the locations of the smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. Following that, you will need to sketch additional pages depending on the prerequisites particular to your project. If you are sketching a new building or addition, you will have to provide a foundation plan with an overhead view that shows slabs, footings, and the strength of the concrete to be used. For an addition on a residential property, you will have to create a section drawing to show a side view that allows the city planner to see how the addition will be constructed. In this case, you will have to show the location of new wall studs, rafters, insulation, and roofing.

Don’t forget to add an elevation drawing for any permit that entails a change to the exterior of your home. Also be sure to show any new windows, chimneys, and other changes.

Finally, provide a table of contents in the calculation package. Here you will identify the pages of each topic: such as seismic mass, bass shear, shear transfer, drag strut, and foundation design.

Please remember that each jurisdiction demand requirements that are specific to their municipality. Do your research before drawing your plans to make sure you have a guideline for every item you need to include.

 

EXAMPLE: New Orleans Plan Requirements

  1. Plot plan reflecting all dimensions of the lot and all structures, setbacks to property lines and the location and dimensions of off-street parking spaces
  2. Complete Digital Plans, stamped with live seals from a Louisiana licensed Architect or Civil Engineer
  3. Foundation drawings detailing the foundation of the proposed structure with live, original seals, stamped by a Louisiana registered architect or civil engineer
  4. Proposed use of structure
  5. Number of floors or levels in the structure

Permit Advisors has multiple architects and ex-city planners on staff that has been reviewing plans for years. We know what the city looks out for and we can find the solutions to any problems that may occur. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at (310) 275-7774 and a Project Manager will be more than happy to speak with you.

 

Sources: 

http://www.totalconstructionhelp.com/plans.html

https://www.hunker.com/13400817/how-to-draw-plans-for-building-permits

https://www.nola.gov/onestop/building/construction/new-construction-(building)-permit/

Feb 13, 2020 By Bridget Foley





11 templates for planning and managing the next project [2022] • Asana

We all like it when everything goes smoothly in the project: there is a clear plan, everyone knows what needs to be done and when, and the project is completed on time and in within the budget. But what if you are the one who is tasked with preparing such a plan and managing this project?

Planning a project is time consuming and typically involves a lot of repetitive manual work to get the project started, such as creating sections, creating task templates, and distributing information to stakeholders and collaborators. Project templates help you cut down on project prep work so you and your teammates can get going right off the bat. In addition, a good project template not only makes it easier to launch one single project, but also creates the conditions for the successful implementation of all future projects.

Read about how to successfully manage multiple projects

What is a project template?

Unlike planning a project from scratch, a project template provides pre-built elements that you can use to get started. Depending on the tool you use, a project template can have sections, task examples, task tags, and more. A project template allows you to quickly prepare a project and start working earlier.

How do templates help with project planning?

The project plan is a blueprint of the key components your team needs to successfully achieve project goals. A good project plan sets out the expected results of the project, the scope of the project, and its schedule. In particular, the quality plan should reflect seven key project elements:

  • Objectives

  • Success rates

  • Stakeholders and roles

  • 90 002 Budget

  • Milestones and Expected Results

  • Timeline and Schedule

  • Communications Plan

Not every project template necessarily has all of these elements. However, a good project template contains sample tasks that you and your team can use to meet project needs, plan for project deliverables, and get started in record time.

Read about how to create a project plan that keeps you on track

Finding the right tool for project templates

The quality of the tool you use to work with project templates is as (maybe more) important than the quality of the project template itself. There are many project management tools available to help teams plan projects, but not all are the same.

Of course, you need a tool that has free and easy-to-use project templates, but don’t limit yourself to just that. For a project template tool to meet your needs, it must be flexible enough to plan complex projects from the first expected results to the final global goal of the project.

We think it’s best to start with Asana. Asana is a work management tool that allows your team to coordinate workflows along with projects. Work management platforms help you complete individual projects, but also allow you to create reproducible processes and reliable systems that your team can use not only for one, but for all projects.

Read about the difference between work management and project management

Eleven easy and free project plan templates

If you don’t consider yourself a professional project manager and don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Below are eleven templates to get your next project up and running in no time.

1. Simple project template to get started

Free cross-functional project template

No projects are exactly alike. However, all project plans have common basic elements. The basis for drawing up a project plan is provided by clear goals, expected results and deadlines.

In addition, they allow you to break down a large project, which is even scary to approach, into smaller and quite feasible stages. Be sure to form a team that will work on the project, and clearly define the role of each participant.

If you still don’t know where to start, try our simple project plan template. It will help you categorize all of your project’s tasks into milestones as part of your planning work, and you’ll see the priority levels and status of the tasks.

Read about how to set, achieve, and celebrate project milestones

2. Product Marketing Project Template: Plan Your Next Product Launch

Free Marketing Campaign Launch Template

Product marketing managers have many responsibilities. They conduct marketing research to develop product strategy, formulate thesis, position and bring new products to market. Often, they also act as de facto product launch project managers, coordinating interactions between the development team, marketing department, and creative teams to ensure new products are ready for shipment and funds are provided for their launch in a timely manner.

Instead of reinventing the wheel every time you launch, use our product marketing launch project template to create your own plan. It includes activities such as setting launch goals and strategizing across channels so you don’t forget anything important when launching a new product.

3. Content Calendar Template: Keep Posting Deadlines

Free Editorial Calendar Template

Content Calendar Management is an ongoing project that requires constant control of a large number of moving elements. From setting goals for writers, to art design, review, and proofreading, each piece of content you create is like a self-contained mini-project with well-defined milestones.

Read about how to create and manage a project calendar for team success

To keep your content creation process on track, use our content calendar template. It allows you to manage all the materials (from idea to implementation) that you write, edit and publish in one place.

4. Marketing Campaign Project Template: Plan Your Plan

Planning and execution are critical to the success of a marketing campaign. However, if you’re managing a campaign for the first time, managing each individual task can seem like a tedious task. What materials need to be prepared? Who will create them? What to do if something goes wrong?

Our Campaign Project Template allows you to plan your entire campaign and oversee the day-to-day work your team is doing to implement it. Use the template to track content and deliverables, plan and execute strategy by channel, and more.

Download the Marketer’s Guide

5. Agency Management Template for Successful Collaboration

Free Agency Collaboration Template

For most projects, you will most likely assemble a team of company employees. However, in some cases, you can use a marketing or creative agency to implement a project. Whether you’re running an ad campaign, doing a brand refresh, or doing research, a successful partnership starts with a clear plan and constant coordination, which can be problematic if you only communicate by email or call once a week.

Fortunately, there is a template for managing your next project with an external agency. Use it to create creative assignments, deliverables, progress, priority levels, and budgets in one place so you can focus on doing meaningful collaboration.

6. User research project template for organizing projects related to the development of user interfaces

Free User Research Template

User behavior research is an important part of the product development process. It is at this stage that product managers and usability analysts learn about the needs and goals of their customers, gaining data that opens up completely new possibilities for creating products.

Running a research project is not easy. From finding participants and collecting data to analyzing the information received and making recommendations, it all needs to be planned and managed. Our User Behavior Research Project Template will help your team define research objectives and questions, and help them organize their observations. When using a template, the fruits of your labor will not be lost in documents or spreadsheets.

7. Agile Team Management Sprint Planning Template

Free Sprint Planning Template

Sprint planning helps Agile project and technical teams to prioritize work and decide who can take over which tasks. projects. Sprint planning with daily stand-ups and retrospectives is part of a larger scrum framework.

Your team is busy and you need a sprint planning template that is easy to use. However, you also need access to a variety of project data, including detailed information about the product, who is doing what, what the status of the work is, the priority level, and when a task should be completed. Our sprint planning template makes all this work easier and frees up enough time for your team to act quickly, get results quickly and deliver them to the right place.

Read about Asana for Agile and Scrum

8. Board Meeting Agenda Template for Taking Minutes

Free Board Meeting Agenda Template

Keeping board meetings productive is essential, but it does require some preparation. The Board needs an easy way to schedule, store and share important information for upcoming meetings without wasting time coordinating emails or digging through spreadsheets.

Our template makes planning and organizing these meetings efficient and effortless. The board meeting agenda template is a single tool that allows you to share the agenda of the meeting, record instructions during the meeting, and store all important documentation, such as minutes of previous meetings and background materials.

9. Work Request Template to simplify the application process

Free Work Request Template

Work requests can quickly get out of hand if they are submitted randomly and in different formats. To avoid problems with them, centralized tracking and management should be established. And to simplify the work of your group, you also need a process for collecting applications, which would ensure the unity of the information received with their help.

So you need a job application template. Whether you’re getting creative assignments, work requests, or requests to the IT department, having a single source of trusted information is critical. Our job application template can also be combined with forms to make sure you get all the information you need right when you apply.

Read how to quickly get from quote to result

10. Sales Plan Template: Set Clear Goals

Free Sales Plan Template

side. In order for sales professionals to build and maintain a solid foundation, they need a carefully crafted, structured sales plan.

With an effective sales plan template, you can centrally capture your sales team’s goals, target audience, profitability targets, strategies, and obstacles that may come your way. Take advantage of our sales plan template, which has the structure you need to prepare every single part of your sales plan.

11. New Employee Checklist: Creating a Unified Onboarding Process

Free New Employee Training Template

Managers put so much time and effort into finding the perfect candidate that preparing for onboarding can be a rush. In order for every new employee to feel comfortable, it is necessary to standardize the onboarding process and provide all recruiting managers with everything they need to succeed.

The New Employee Onboarding Checklist is a standardized process that every manager must follow. In such a list, it is necessary to identify the key elements that managers should work on, including welcome letters, a personal meeting and accompaniment of a new team member, requirements for IT specialists in terms of workplace preparation, and much more. And while each department may have its own traditions and training requirements, standardizing the overall onboarding scheme with our New Hire Checklist template will give managers and new hires the best opportunity to successfully navigate the process.

Read about how to use Asana to onboard new employees

Custom project templates

There are times when you want to combine certain workflows for your team into a single template. In this case, it is necessary to convert previously completed projects into templates with the ability to save some elements, such as tasks, milestones, and project milestones. With a clear project plan in hand, turn it into a template that can be used in the future.

Using a work management tool such as Asana, any previously completed project can be converted into a template. After that, it remains only to choose the start and end dates of the project – and you can begin to implement it according to a clear, individually developed plan.

The better your project templates, the more effective your planning.

Launching a new project can be a stressful event, especially if you are responsible for planning and managing the project.

Whether you’re working on a new product launch, a marketing campaign, or whatever, templates give you a foundation so you don’t have to create a plan from scratch. And if you use a project management tool like Asana, your project is simply doomed to success.

Ready to plan your next project? Try using the project template from Asana .

Plan projects with Asana

13 free simple software to design your yard and house in 2023

Design work only gets more expensive every year. More and more people
prefer to independently plan the construction of a cottage or garden design. But for a beginner, this process can
appear complex and confusing. To make your work easier, use a simple program for
site and home design. With its help, you will be able to properly plan the territory. In this article
we will tell you about the best solutions for PC, online and mobile devices.

Simple programs for site and house design

a plot of 10 acres, you do not need complex professional software. In this section, we have collected convenient
management applications for beginners that allow you to create detailed layouts and do not require much
efforts.

3D Landscape Design

This Russian-language development is ideal for beginners who are looking for
programs for designing a site and a house for free or inexpensively. In the editor, in a couple of clicks
draw a plot, and then place everything you need on it. An extensive collection is built into the application
realistic models: fences and paths, plants and flower beds, greenhouses and beds, swimming pools, various
buildings (from a well and a bathhouse to a full-fledged house), garden furniture and a playground. You can
adjust the size and appearance of all elements to achieve maximum accuracy in the result.

Try to create a parcel project now >

Download for free

Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

The designer allows you to quickly switch between 2D and 3D modes. Thereby
one can easily imagine what the project will be like in real life. And the graphics – on a very decent
level. The result can be saved to disk as a photo or printed immediately.

Pros:

  • a huge selection of models in the catalog;
  • the possibility of self-selection of colors and materials for all objects;
  • intuitive interface;
  • displaying the site at different times of the day;
  • convenient layer-by-layer control;
  • realistic 3D graphics;
  • completely Russian software;
  • the presence of instructions for beginners.

Cons:

  • only works on Windows.

Download Landscape Design 3D from the official website

Garden Planner

Garden Planner
navigation bar. The software is available for PC, it also works as free
site design program with a house online. To create a project, you need to drag and drop objects onto
canvas, while free transformation of each element is supported.

In the built-in collection you can find models of trees, bushes and other plants;
coatings for pavement, lawn, wood flooring; different types of fences and garden furniture, as well as
gazebos, swimming pool, etc. The software allows you to draw new elements by hand. The finished project can
export as a photo.

Pros:

  • you can create your own landscape elements;
  • compiling a list of used items;
  • handy grid for precise positioning of objects.

Cons:

  • not translated into Russian;
  • only creates 2D drawings;
  • unrealistic graphics;
  • The virtual visit option is missing.

Download Garden Planner from the official website

X-designer

X-designer is a basic solution for land design. Soft easy
master, so it is suitable for inexperienced users. Small system requirements make this
The software is a good choice for weak computers. The application allows you to create drawings in 2D and 3D and
run realistic rendering.

There is a large selection of items: buildings, furniture, flowers, various
plants, etc. X-designer allows you to change the appearance of buildings and customize the finishes. Application
is a domestic development and works entirely in Russian.

Pluses:

  • visualization of the project in different seasons;
  • detailed relief adjustment;
  • built-in lessons for beginners.

Cons:

  • you cannot create your own objects;
  • requires additional drivers to be installed;
  • Product support has ended.

Download X-designer from the official site

Our Garden Crystal

Domestic development for garden planning. The composition includes
reference materials that can be useful to any gardener. They will help you quickly find out information about
plants and choose plantings for the type of soil in the summer cottage.

Creation of projects is supported in 3D and 2D modes. If desired
you can start viewing the result at different times of the day and different seasons. The directory provides access to
standard models – houses and additional buildings, landscaping, plants, relief coverings,
reservoirs, etc. The result is saved as a drawing or sent immediately to print.

Pros:

  • calculation of the cost of materials and total consumption;
  • you can embed photos from your computer into the project;
  • light load on the computer;
  • easy to learn controls.

Cons:

  • no virtual tour;
  • focuses on plants;
  • not very good quality of 3D plans.

Download Our Garden Crystal from the official website

3D Landscaping

Simple
Ranking Winner Site Planning Software

Download for free

Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

Professional site and home planning software
advanced users and with great functionality.

SketchUp

This software is designed for 3D modeling and is therefore suitable for
professional rendering of models for landscape design, interior renovation, etc. There is
a large database of objects, which is updated daily by the community. The software can also be used for
planning a personal plot, while the project can be filled independently or used
blanks.

The software allows you to create 3D plans or standard “flat” drawings. In both modes
the project can be viewed from any point. This makes it possible to work out even the smallest details.
SketchUp is free to use, but the paid version unlocks more templates and models.
Work is also available in the browser, so this option is suitable for those who need a program for
site and house design online.

Pros:

  • grouping of created elements;
  • synchronization between accounts on all devices;
  • high fidelity 3D rendering.

Cons:

  • very complicated program;
  • high consumption of PC system resources;
  • You cannot create documentation.

Download SketchUp from
official site

FloorPlan 3D

FloorPlan 3D – a software package for designing garden plots and private
Houses. Despite the large arsenal of functions, the editor is quite easy to manage, so it’s easy to master
it shouldn’t take long. The layout is made up of the parts presented in the library: among them you
you will find shrubs, cars, fences, gates, etc.

FloorPlan 3D allows you to customize all the elements added to the canvas. Can
launch several types of virtual tour, including a walk around the courtyard, viewing buildings from the inside.
It is allowed to create layouts in three-dimensional and two-dimensional views while maintaining photorealistic
Images.

Pluses:

  • it is possible to create an estimate and calculate expenses;
  • there are ready-made templates for a quick start;
  • flexible customization of all layout elements;
  • has a built-in interactive tutorial for beginners.

Cons:

  • is not suitable for weak computers;
  • high license cost;
  • heavy load on the video card.

Download FloorPlan 3D from the official website

Realtime Landscaping
2D tools. Comes with over 10,000 ready-made objects, allows you to run a visual
visiting the created layout and recording a video tour. Suitable for professional designers
who present their work to clients.

In addition to the basic features – the location of finished items on the layout, changes
elements, launch visualization – Realtime Landscaping also offers options such as manual
rendering, adding a personal logo to the project, detailed surface sculpting, tracking
plant growth. The software allows you to import projects created in the SketchUp design program.

Pluses:

  • among the models there are replicas of products of famous brands;
  • you can plan the location of the garden irrigation system;
  • high realism of created projects;
  • export of a project compatible with other CAD systems.

Cons:

  • difficult control;
  • only English interface.

Download Realtime Landscaping from the official website

Sierra LandDesigner 3D

Sierra LandDesigner 3D site and home planning software allows
start with an empty layout or use the templates collection. In any case, you can
customize it to your needs by replacing elements and adding new items. Required models can be
search by category or run a word search.

You can view the properties of each item and change them. The software also allows
create your own items. The result can be viewed from several points, including from above.
It is allowed to launch a standard flat or three-dimensional view.

Pluses:

  • loading of own graphics from the hard disk is supported;
  • interface can be mastered in a short time;
  • you can adjust the lighting depending on the time of day;
  • all tools come with brief instructions.

Cons:

  • Russian language is not supported;
  • not very realistic photos;
  • Development and technical support has been discontinued.

Download Sierra LandDesigner 3D from the official website

Home Designer

landscape designers. Like other alternatives, the software allows you to work with a library of objects and
change them. A distinctive feature is the transfer of the settings of the selected element to a group of others.
items. Thus, you can quickly bring all the objects you use to a single view.

The program is used, among other things, to demonstrate projects to clients, as it
allows you to create realistic visualization and conduct virtual tours. For novice users
There are over 80 video tutorials.

Pros:

  • highly detailed visual representations;
  • automatically generates a list of used materials;
  • allows you to convert 2D CAD designs to 3D.

Cons:

  • updates are purchased separately from the general license;
  • the cost of a full license reaches $595;
  • takes a long time to master the functionality.

Download
Home Designer from the official website

Punch Home Design

Punch Home Design – a set of programs, each of which is aimed at a specific
task. Developers offer solutions for the interior of a country house, kitchens
and bedrooms, office space, landscape design. Users can equip the patio,
using ready-made libraries. The presented elements can be changed, it is possible to create your own
objects.

The software also allows you to upload and edit projects and individual 3D elements from
other CAD programs. When the layout is completed, the overview options become available in several
modes, including a virtual tour of the garden. The functionality of the program can be extended with
official plugins that are sold on the product website. You can also buy additional packages there.
objects and templates.

Pros:

  • helps to select suitable conditions for planting plants;
  • you can start viewing in different lighting conditions, including morning and night;
  • convenient color marking of land zones;
  • allows you to see how the garden will look in a few years.

Cons:

  • complicated interface;
  • is distributed in English only;
  • No terrain modeling option.

Download Punch Home Design from the official website

ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD is a powerful professional software aimed at sculpting
3D models, building design, site design. The software contains a large set of functions, which is negative
affects usability: it will take more than one day (and maybe more than one week) to master. The software allows
create realistic 3D virtual projects using preinstalled libraries, or
collect objects on your own.

Another great feature is that when making changes, you can
apply edits to all models of this type in the layout. Thus, in case of an error, you do not have to redo
All over again. If you need a program for planning a site and a house online 3D in Russian, you can
use the internal BIMCloud service. It allows you to work online on any
devices.

Pros:

  • creation of documentation with a list of items for real repairs;
  • Collaboration supported;
  • you can send the entire album of drawings for printing at once;
  • import of layouts from other similar software is allowed.

Cons:

  • stable operation requires a powerful computer;
  • high consumption of system memory;
  • slow rendering.

Download ArchiCAD from the official site

Site and home planning software for mobile phones

Mobile software can also help with the design of a garden plot.
The advantage of this method is that you do not need to install software on a PC and make changes
even during renovations. But it should be borne in mind that such applications are not designed for complex projects.

Home Design 3D Outdoor/Garden

This Android site planning program offers a quick start to
ready-made plans or completely independent creation of a drawing. The project is drawn up in two-dimensional
visualization, but you can run a 3D view if you want. You can also visit virtually
any corner of the created courtyard and see aerial photography.

The application offers a fairly large selection of interior details, furniture, buildings
and other items to fill the layout. Editing options are not very flexible – actions are reduced
to mirroring, rescaling and copying. The finished project can be sent to the Internet, saved
as a photo on a PC or print.

Pros:

  • high rendering quality;
  • import of own drawings is allowed;
  • displaying the dimensions of all items on the layout.

Cons:

  • auto-save is disabled in the free version;
  • you need to buy a license to export a project;
  • You cannot create your own objects.

Download Home Design 3D Outdoor/Garden

PRO Landscape Companion

Android and iOS devices. This designer has complete freedom of action. He allows
upload graphics and create new objects and even entire plans based on it. Supported work in
several modes – simple drawings, 2D plans and 3D views.

Functionality includes a collection of more than 1800 objects, allows you to change
relief, save the work as a CAD file. Suitable also for professional landscape designers,
since you can specify prices for individual services or specify the rate for a complete job. After that
documents can be printed on a printer or saved as images to send to a client.

Pros:

  • synchronization between multiple devices;
  • save documentation in PDF format;
  • quick generation of sales presentations.

Cons:

  • requires registration on the official website;
  • no Russian localization;
  • does not support all smartphone models.