Matt Sugden Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Hi, it's been awhile since I've been on here. I'm currently designing a project, an affordable housing scheme, and I am wanting to scrutinise every nut, bolt, screw and washer. I'm looking for some CAD software which will generate quantities of building materials from the 3d model. I had thought about modeling everything in max and being super careful with naming conventions for all the items, and then using this to add up quants, but there must be a more intelligent way of performing this task. I just think it is going to take to long to do it this way and if I make a change it will not automatically update. I've seen some software called estimator express, but it seems a bit low tech and inflexible in terms of the modelling side of things, it seems to be aimed at joe bloggs builders inc. Can anyone suggest some alternatives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris MacDonald Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Sketchup has numerous third party BIM tools, and then there's fully fledged BIM software such as Archicad and Revit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil poppleton Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Hire a QS thats all they do all day long count bricks and nuts and bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Sugden Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 A QS is not what I want at this stage, I'm wanting to be able to make instant design decisions based on intelligent feedback generated from an automated bill of quantities. So if I draw a smaller window in an elevation, knowing the cost of the small window compared to the larger one, how that will effect the cost of the additional cladding/battens/felt needed instead etc. If I make a stud wall 1m longer or put a corner in it, what cost difference that makes in terms of extra bags of render, acoustic insulation, decoration, right down to the extra cost of the drywall screws. Revit looks like it might have this facility. Thanks Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryhirsch Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Sorry, for cost calculation you more then Revit or Archicad...this programms show you a lot on spreadsheads but you need to export Revit/Archicad files via IFC format to tendering software Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveG Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 At risk of stating the obvious: Remember that software won't tell you the whole story as far as "quantifying" costs are concerned. Obviously if you have 10 lineal metres of curved wall as opposed to 10 lineal metres of straight wall, or even just unusual angles of intersections, actual building costs can go up markedly. Neil's suggestion is probably the best one, if you worked at an early stage in collaboration with a good QS you could genuinely come up with affordable housing as opposed to simply attributing a value to every nut, bolt and washer, which may only fluke a result at best. You and your client would probably find it an investment that more than pays itself back. Sorry thought I should say it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Hunt Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 never mind the fact that you will also have to tell the software how much everything costs anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inpow watir Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 (edited) Hay Matt, have heard of Revit? Try to dig info of it for what you aim, this app provides that feature if i'm not mistaken.. Goodluck Edited July 8, 2015 by inpowwatir Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inpow watir Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Ah my mistake i overlooked, actually you have mentioned that yourself. So you already knew the most probable answer.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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