Free Drafting Programs

[HockeyPuck]

Hey folks,

I'm putting up a garage and I need to draw up some plans for the garage to get a building permit. I bought the package at Rona and they don't provide actual drawings for the structure. Does anybody know of any free drafting programs that are user friendly and intuitive? I'd really like to be able to dimension the drawings as well.

Thanks.

[octothorp]

Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for, but Google Sketchup is a great free CAD tool that's got a pretty easy and intuitive interface and can produce good architectural renderings. One of my favorite little-known google offerings.

http://sketchup.google.com/

[Rathji]

Sketchup is pretty sweet.

[Nufy]

In a city full of engineers and engineering companies Its a treat to find someone who doesn't know someone who doesn't have access to a cad station.

Good luck in your search.

Do you even need cad dwg's. If you sketch the location on your Real property report I would think it should suffice.

If you have your RPR......

[Kipru]

I use progecad SMART myself. It is like autocad LT, only free. You have to know some cad drawing to start though. Theres a block library with some household appliances and electrical symbols etc. , layers, and some hatch patterns which you would commonly use. Does google scetchup provide these, i don't know.

Doublecad should be similar or better (haven't tried) EDIT: tried it briefly, clearly more modern than progecad, but if you are an old autocad user, the operation may seem aa bit confusing. Not so many blocks.

I haven't used this myself, but Solidedge 2d drafting should be very intuative and you can guide your model with the dimensions. I would recommend this for mechanical drafting, but maybe not architectural.

Draft IT is interesting option also, should be easy to use, i guess, haven't tried.

[HockeyPuck]

Thanks all!