Article appeared in Master Builder, May 2008

Computer aided design (CAD) has often been seen as the domain of architects and bigger building companies, but with the introduction of builder friendly CAD packages, even smaller companies can afford both the time and investment in such software. Beware however of ‘Mickey Mouse’ software which is both limited in tools and produces poor quality drawings without construction standard detailing.

Good CAD software puts you in control and gives you the ability to draw architect quality plans suitable for planning applications and building reg submissions without the need for training. This means no more costly outsourcing to architects.

Secondly CAD software will allow you to produce professional plans and 3D visuals for clients to help win the building work.

Thirdly great CAD software will be linked to estimating software which reads your plans and turns them into an instant quote saving huge amounts of time and effort!

Better still, you should be able to transform your plans into stunning handdrawn illustrations to add style and flair to impress clients even further!

Our best tip is to make sure you opt for a package that integrates with other software and is tailored for construction.

PLANSXPRESS

HBXL’s award-winning software product called PlansXpress is a unique package that has made the drawing of building plans seriously simple.

The first of its kind, PlansXpress is a CAD based software that will allow builders to quickly and easily draw professional building plans and elevations without the need for any training or employing the services of an architect!

Developed specifically for builders, there has never been a CAD package so uniquely tailored for the small to medium sized builder market.

Perfect for designing houses and extensions it has revolutionised the way professional builders approach a job allowing them to offer a design and build service to their clients.

In addition, by importing plans from PlansXpress into HBXL’s award winning estimating software EstimatorXpress (through X-connex™ data sharing technology), will allow users to automatically price up the building drawings directly from the original plans. This means the entire plan and design will be automatically priced and scheduled at the click of a button! You can even scan in a customers existing drawing from plans and price it in an instant too!

EASY TO USE

All builders have to do is lay out the plans on-screen using intuitive drag and drop tools, selecting as they go using the software’s comprehensive library of construction and architectural symbols.

At a click of a mouse, they can accurately place walls and roofs, staircases, doors, windows, electrics and plumbing, drainage, kitchens and bathrooms, landscaping and more. The final part is to add auto-dimension lines and insert sections and notes from the software’s library.

PERFECT FOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Ideal for planning applications and building regulations, builders will be able to print actual, architect quality, planning application drawings in plan format as well as producing automatically generated elevations.

Joanna Mulgrew, marketing director at HBXL says: “PlansXpress also automatically produces 3D visualizations from your plans at no extra effort to impress clients even further and help you win the work! It also produces DWG 3D files ready for importing into other 3D software tools including Google Sketchup.”

“PlansXpress is a fantastically simple piece of kit. It will open up a whole new area for builders up and down the country allowing them to add another dimension to their business.”

“Some builders are put off the design and plans aspect of a project because there has never been any software that specifically caters forthe industry. But now we have produced a piece of software that will give builders the ability to offer customers the complete build package from professionally presented drawings and visuals to totally accurate estimates and build programmes.”

ALREADY GOT PLANS?

An additional ground-breaking feature of PlansXpress is if a customer already has a set of plans. PlansXpress allows the builder to import the drawings and trace over them onscreen to fully cost the project using EstimatorXpress, giving 3D visuals, professional quotes and schedules.

Joanna added: “The link between PlansXpress and EstimatorXpress is one of the most exciting features of the software as it merges the design and costing processes into one.”

“During our research we found that a lot of CAD systems were incredibly complicated to use. As a result PlansXpress has been made as user friendly as possible and has already helped many building businesses grow.”

Click here for more information about PlansXpress.