Whether you want to design a workbench, shed, living room or mansion, Google SketchUp can help you design the perfect project plans, complete with lumber measurements, room dimensions and static items. Touted as “3D modeling for everyone,” the software is innovative and intuitive, and it offers numerous uses.
From redecorating a room by entering room and furniture dimensions into the program to modeling a city to creating building plans for a woodworking project, Google SketchUp transcends the capabilities of many other free sketch softwares on the market. In this article, we will focus on SketchUp’s abilities for the budding contractor.
SketchUp as a Building Tool
Woodworkers who wish to design a shed, for example, can draw the idea into SketchUp. The initial 2D drawing of two walls, a floor, a ceiling and a roof can then be pulled to create a 3D drawing. From there, the user can enter dimensions of the finished project, and down to the studs. The budding contractor can enter in the dimensions of all of the materials. This will give the user exact dimensions of each board needed to build the final product, and the woodworker can use the plans to make exact cuts in studs and other materials. In fact, if marked well, the designer can cut all of the pieces to length before assembling finished project.
Taking all of the former guesswork out of the beginning woodworker’s designs, Google SketchUp helps produce a high-quality, well-designed product. Woodworkers everywhere can benefit from the intuitive tools available in Google SketchUp, no matter their skill level. Experts and beginners alike will appreciate the ease with which a project design can be laid out, the tools that offer innovative designing and the simple plan printouts. Additionally, woodworkers who enjoy sharing their designs can easily send the design to another woodworker or to a customer for collaboration or approval. All of these features and more make Google SketchUp an excellent tool.