There are many new and enhanced design packages to choose from. Some generic programs produce all types of designs, while others are tailored to residential construction. At the high end are those that require AutoCAD, a complex program used to design everything from cars to mechanical fasteners. More affordable but more limited packages work independently. The biggest change in recent years is the mushrooming availability of three-dimensional design programs.
Users can add details such as roof lines, siding and entry doors for a picture-perfect view.
The 3-D modeling in design software is an effective marketing tool, industry officials say, because it helps clients picture their houses or additions. Besides winning over potential clients, three-dimensional designs help contractors find mistakes. The ability to show a finished project also improves communication with subcontractors, he says. Keeping in step with computer equipment upgrades, design software makers have moved from DOS to Windows-based platforms. During the past five years, most also switched to simpler model-based drawing.