Click the links to the right to create your dream deck. Loading the Deck Designer for the first time could take several minutes. Windows Operating System or Mac.
Free Design Apps For Mac
I have been looking for deck and patio design software for my mac for a bit and don't really see anything that really looks like quality. Really there is nothing more then google sketchup which I have already but I need a program to tell me where and how to support the deck. I could draw what I want in sketchup but it's unlikely structurally sound, or terribly overkill and I waste a ton of money. I like the looks of the PUNCH software for patio and deck design but it's all Windows only. I suppose I could go out and buy a windows license and boot my Imac 3.06 up into windows but I wanted to avoid that if I could. Any suggestions?
PUNCH does have the Home Design Studio for the Mac, and I have it, but I haven't been able to get it to do what you're looking for. I'm looking at switching to VectorWorks Landmark, but that's more for landscape design as far as I know, that still wouldn't help you engineer a deck. Lowes has a Java app that lets you create decks.
There are a few limitations to it (I'm trying to add trim around the edges of the deck, and it doesn't seem to care for that), but it will 'mostly' get the deck designed properly. I use the quotes because I'm not entirely convinced it gets the design up to code (the general building code, not local codes the latter varies far too much).
Fashion Design Apps For Mac
For my purposes, I'd prefer it if they allowed you to specify certain measurements that you know are required locally. Or, even, to get the design to support a live load of 60 psf, which is code (the decks it has come up with for me have been @ 52-54 psf, despite one of them using a product to spec that the manufacturer says is rated at 100 psf. ) Trying to figure out exactly how to get around this, and get a good solid plan out of the deal, is how I stumbled on your post.