Cheap (free?) floor plan software?

 We want to do something with the basement, but the immovable fixtures
and existing framed-in spaces make it difficult to visualize
anything.

Any suggestions for simple software which allows placement of the
fixed walls and utilities and then for moving around all the other
stuff we want to try?

I've seen references to products that work on a paper grid with paper
or plastic cutouts, but haven't been able to lay my hands on such a
thing. Anybody know what they're called or where to find them?

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | bert@iphouse.com

 
[...]


Get some graph paper with 1/4 inch squares in the largest size sheet you
can locate and using 1 square = 1 foot (or if the basement is small
enough or the sheet is large enough 2 or 4 squares = 1 foot) lay out
first the walls and doors, then add the fixed fixtures.  This is your
base.  Then take more of the graph paper and cut out scale sized pieces
to represent the items that will be movable.  Color them in several
colors and start playing.  Take photos of the various combinations and
see what you like best.

--
Rich Greenberg  N Ft Myers, FL, USA richgr atsign panix.com  + 1 239 543 1353
Eastern time.  N6LRT  I speak for myself & my dogs only.    VM'er since CP-67
Canines:Val, Red, Shasta & Casey (RIP), Red & Zero, Siberians  Owner:Chinook-L
Retired at the beach                                     Asst Owner:Sibernet-L

 
There is tons of different software that does this kind of thing, too.
Some will even render a 3D image and let you "walk through" it
virtually.  I haven't used any of it for over a deacde but back then we
used 3D Home Design by Broderbund.  You can often see older versions of
this (and others) for sale for $10 or less at Best Buy and such.

 bert@iphouse.com says...

I use A9CAD.  It's a little difficult to use, but I liked the
price. ;-)  

I laid out my bathroom tile job with the room outline, floor
joists, subflooring, backer, and tile all on different levels.  I
could make sure things were lined up where I wanted them (e.g.
backer seams over joists) and not where I didn't (e.g. backer seams
over subfloor seams).  Then it was an easy matter to figure out the
best place to start the tile.  My first thought would have looked
really dumb.  ;-)



Make 'em out of graph paper.  I like CAD for this though.  I can
add a lot more detail then only show what I need to see.

--
  Keith