Our residential remodeling company primarily designs and builds custom backyard environments consisting of decks, patios, pergolas, and enclosures. Over the course of a year, about 75% of our work fits that description, with most projects involving more than one component, such as a deck with a roof over part of it and a patio below. We have four designers on staff; among us, we use a variety of computer-aided design tools, augmented with old-fashioned pen and paper, first during the “concept capture” with prospective clients and then again while working through the plans, orders, and permitting stage prior to construction.
For example, in the past, we used VizTerra from Structure Studio for much of our design work, largely because of its unmatched rendering capability. However, this software is too intensive and detail orientated for the many simpler, straightforward decks we build. Now we occasionally use an older version of Visionscape but have largely transitioned to Realtime Landscaping Pro from Idea Spectrum for the bulk of our design work (see Clemens Jellema’s review of Realtime Landscaping Architect, October '21).
For structural drawings, we generally turn to Chief Architect, so we were eager to try out the latest version, Chief Architect X13, and compare it with our current programs and practices. While it promises a number of new features, what caught our eye was the company’s claim that it had dramatically improved the software’s 3D rendering.
Power User
Our production manager, Ryan LeBon, has grown up using Chief Architect and is familiar with all the menus, boxes, tools, and catalogs. Typically, he creates basement 3D renderings and technical structural drawings for decks, roofs, and remodeling projects and works with Chief Architect X12 in these capacities on a weekly basis. He runs a Windows Surface Pro 7 with an Intel i5 processor, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and the built-in graphics card.
Ryan enjoys the software’s ability to create a simplified building diagram quickly, while he has the option to dive into a robust library of videos and training if needed and infinitely refine the details. As he notes, this is a company that supports its products and their users. I asked him to look at the X13 version and identify any new features that might stand out for our uses.
He found that the smaller menu/interface refinements were a nice improvement and was also excited that the all-new graphics engine allowed his Surface Pro to again create 3D renderings—the X12 version had stopped working several months before on his machine. It moved a little slowly in the renderings, but he thought that may have been because of his limited RAM. Ryan’s impression was that the software is an excellent fit for us, but, because most of his work uses just the 2D and structural-drawing functions, the upgrade wasn’t mandatory for our company. Still, it would be a welcome improvement if we decided to pull the trigger.
Renderings
Zach Daller, our design consultant, designs both basements and backyards, typically working with Realtime Landscaping Architect loaded on a Dell Precision with an Intel i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. Zach focuses on client-facing interactions, so I asked him to see how quickly he could get around in this program intuitively, and in what scenarios it might be possible to rely more heavily on the rendering capabilities of the software.
Zach is often sitting in front of a client, working to turn their vision into a rendering that can be handed off to Ryan for technical drawings once the project is confirmed. With a client looking over his shoulder, speed and agility, as well as an attractive 3D rendering, are critical for him.
He commented that the program was less intuitive compared with a simpler design program solely focused on outdoor living spaces, but that the additional tools and sections would be invaluable to a design-build firm working on a whole house or on a more intensive remodeling project with multiple layers and connections to account for. He said that with a bit more time on the mouse, his speed and results with the program would certainly have improved.
Mock-ups
I do most of my design work on an Origin PC with an i7 processor, 32 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, typically using an old version of Visionscape or Structure Studios. I usually work either with repeat clients or on unusual projects, and often use design software to mock up concepts that the software was not intended for. I decided to try mocking up a quick concept—without a lot of preparation and training—using Chief Architect X13.
To better appreciate the basics of what the software can do and to learn a little bit about what has been improved upon, I started by watching the introduction video for a prior version (X12), and then the video for this new release. Then, as is my habit, I simply jumped in and attempted to design a rather basic deck, with a set of steps, railings, and a glass wall or rail along the front section. I’ve included a screenshot of my attempts so you can have a laugh at my expense (see image, left). It took me perhaps 30 minutes of working with the program, trying to figure out the tools and menus, to get to this point … which is about 10 times longer than it would have taken me to deliver a completed 3D design for a deck this size in Visionscape. That may be an unfair comparison, but my point is that this is not a fast, “jump right in” program; it’s a “spend weeks learning this before ever using it for client work” kind of program.
If I were planning on using this software full-time, I’d invest in watching the training on setting elevations, making sure stairways properly connect, and applying finishes to walls and deck floors before ever creating designs for clients. Chief Architect X13 has a ton of tools and power, but it is a bulky program, and it forces you to design in a 2D environment before rendering in 3D—whereas my background is mostly in designing in a dynamic 3D environment before generating static 2D drawings as needed.
Conclusions
Our shared consensus is that this software is unmatched in the industry for power, detail, and capabilities—but that it requires purchase of the “complete package.” You can’t simply purchase the “exterior tools” that would most benefit a deck building business. For a residential or commercial remodeling firm that builds more involved projects than a typical deck builder does, or for a ground-up custom home builder, this is probably the best design option on the market for delivering accurate plans, take-offs, and renderings. For deck builders and those with an eye toward expanding into additional areas of service, it’s also worth considering—especially for the detailed and accurate construction drawing capabilities.
Available now for both Mac and Windows, Chief Architect Premier (for full residential design) sells for about $3,000 and the Interiors version (for kitchen and bath designers) sells for $2,200. Both products can be rented monthly for $200 (chiefarchitect.com).
Renderings courtesy Breyer Construction and Landscape, LLC, except as noted.
