tspear Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Hello, I currently have Home Designer Suite 2025. I purchased it, more to work out concepts/plans then actually produce construction documents. We are now at the point where we need professional help. I am therefore trying to determine if I make Chief Architect a requirement for working with an Architect or just a nice to have? e.g. If a requirement, it will make it easy to send files back and forth and for us to view and comment. However, I have found these limitations with Home Designer Suite; and I am wondering how well the professional architect version handle them? Flat roof with a deck over a garage. ICF Metal Joists Metal Studs Extending a roof 15-20 feet over a deck Thanks, Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricNCheri Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Hi Tim... I'm brand new to the software myself, so I can't answer much except that ICF is an option for wall type in Chief Architect Home Designer Pro edition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solver Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Few architects use Chief, so making that a requirement is probably not something I would do. I'd focus on the ability of an architect to develop your ideas into a plan/design you are happy with, and on your potential working relationship with that architect. I'll also suggest you not present your plan, and instead allow them to do what they are trained to do -- take your budget, wants/must haves, and building site, and create a design. All that is if you are looking for an architect and not just a draftsman. And if you do find someone using Chief, there is a viewer you can use to see their work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tspear Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 Eric, Thanks for the feedback. We actually previously engaged with an architectural firm, learned a lot, put the project on hold when life got in the way. A few years later, we realized we made a number of mistake in requirements and missed a lot of concepts even when discussing with the architects. The result is we are not going to keep anything except one observation they made. In our original concepts, we just assumed the house would face downhill, the best view is actually about fifteen degrees off from the straight down the hill, so the house will actually sit at an angle to the hill. After all that, we have a very good idea of what we want; and already have a bullet list of requirements. Depending on who we end up working with, if desired, we might give them the layout along with our analysis and why we made specific choices. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie65 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Depending on where you live, or are building, you may not need a licensed architect to design your project. If you have a good idea of what you want, then an architectural designer may fit the bill for you. You might want to try the Pro trial to see what things are included that could make things easier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y-g-m-n Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Talk to a home builder too so they can review and tell you what things cost and do not present other issues you or architect may not be aware of. builders will tell you what you need for plans etc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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