Cool Tool : SketchUp
I’ve played around with Google’s free 3D modeling application, SketchUp, since about version 4 or so. I would download the free version, play around a bit, get frustrated and forget about it until I noticed the next version was released and repeat.
I always felt it would be a useful tool if I could devote a little time to learning how to get around in it. Well, a couple of months ago, Google released version 7 of the tool and I figured I would give it better try this time. I went through their online tutorials which were short and sweet. There is still a ton to figure out and more than a few things that drive me up the wall about it, but I decided to give it a shot on a shed I’m thinking about for the back yard.
Below is the results of a few hours with a mouse and the software. (You can click on it and rotate it around)
This isn’t the final design, there is a bunch of tweaking that I want to do, in addition to figuring out the roof. But it does give me a good idea of how things can go together and if I made any glaring mistakes. For example, for the plywood sheathing on the outside of the frame to go on in full 4×8 pieces, with no small pieces needed I could cut 6 inches out of the height of the wall studs. Little things like that can make a big difference.
Also, since I would likely need to get permits for this structure, having plans done a bit more professionally than some ‘sketches on the back of a napkin’ can go a long way.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Oh no! Is this a Thanksgiving project?
[Reply]
ericmoon Reply:
November 17th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I think we can knock this out in about a day and a half, no?
[Reply]
August 23rd, 2010 at 3:23 pm
[...] that eventually, we knew we wanted to put something over there better than a large, dead tree. A shed, perhaps? The Tree, [...]