Changed my mind on using 3D models for basic floor plans

For years I thought 3D models in drafting were only for fancy architecture firms, not for someone like me doing mostly residential layouts. Last month a customer brought me a photo of their kitchen and asked if I could show where their new island would sit. I spent an hour with a free SketchUp file and suddenly saw how easy it was to catch clearance problems I'd have missed on paper. Now I run a quick 3D check on every job before I send the final set. Has anyone else found a simple change like this that made a bigger difference than you expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

fisher.adam1mo ago

Last year I had a similar experience with a bathroom remodel. I always thought 3D was overkill for simple layouts but I tried a quick model and caught a shower door that would have hit the toilet. Now I do the same thing on every job too. It just saves so much headache.

grace_white1mo ago

Hold on though, SketchUp's free version is actually pretty limited nowadays, you might want to check the terms. A quick model really does catch stuff you'd miss otherwise, totally agree.