Software for floor plan creation - What can you recommend?

Hello house builders!

I am in the early planning phase of converting a commercial building into a multi-family house. The living area is a total of 420 m². Since I have been living in this house for many years, over time unverified remodeling ideas have accumulated that have not been checked for structural stability.

Before I turn to the professionals (architect, civil engineer, structural engineer), I would like to prepare the ideas in the form of floor plans to subsequently use them as a basis for discussion with an expert.

I have already been looking for software for floor plans:
* ArchiCAD (professional)
* Avanquest Architect 3D (semi-professional)
* Concadus 3D CAD Architect
* ...

Has anyone already had experience with architectural software for amateurs or the semi-professional area and can make a recommendation?

Best regards,
Flasher

When are your specific requirements? Simple 3D visualization or elaborate renderings with (sun)light and object textures? A simpler drawing program or millimeter-precise dimensioning with area and measurement determinations? Do you also want to do the construction planning with it, i.e., model wall chases, ceiling and wall openings? On which OS? MacOS, Windows, Linux? How much time and money are you willing to invest?

I started back then with SweetHome3D and got quite far with it. At some point, this "better painting program" was no longer enough for me and I ended up with cadvilla – and am very satisfied with it, although the software is sometimes a bit clunky, rarely also slightly buggy, but above all (because CAD) requires intensive familiarization – costs up to 200€ depending on the version. They have very good, extensive, but strangely voiced tutorials.

Otherwise, I can warmly recommend Sketchup. It is a 3D modeler that you also have to get used to at first, appears very minimalist, but is extremely powerful. Training time is overall shorter than with Cadvilla, but you see results only somewhat later. It is free, many YouTube tutorials, and in the 3D Warehouse many objects for later furnishing. The possibility to produce photorealistic renderings is given, since it is a modeler and renderers can be added later – or even integrated (e.g., Twilight plugin). That’s a brief overview. Happy Easter

When are your specific requirements?
Simple 3D visualization or elaborate renderings with (sun)light and object textures?

3D visualization and elaborate renderings would not be so important in the first step. It is indeed about 2D drawings for floor plans in interior and exterior areas. However, I would like not only a top view but also the possibility to draw windows into walls and electrical wiring.
I also want to represent ceiling and wall openings.
Furthermore, I would subsequently hand over the drawings to the architect as a basis in digital form. A compatible format with professional software would be great.

Simpler drawing program or millimeter-accurate dimensioning with area and measurement calculations?

In the first step, I would like to convert the manually drawn - existing - house plans into a computer model. That means I want accurate area and measurement calculations because I want to play around with the room sizes afterwards.

Do you also want to do the construction planning with it, i.e. model wall chases, ceiling and wall openings?

Yes!

On which OS? MacOS, Windows, Linux?

Windows only!

How much time and money are you willing to invest?

I could imagine a low three-digit amount if the software meets my entire project beyond my requirements.
Regarding time investment: I had two years of technical drawing (mechanical engineering) back in school, so I am basically familiar with CAD software. I consider training time for the software as a matter of course.

When exporting DXF or DWG, you naturally quickly enter a range where professional software is found. That’s where the price expectations get tight accordingly.
Take a look at Cadvilla, there are different versions and price ranges. It’s also worth checking out the tutorials; they also have a 30-day trial.

SweetHome3D doesn’t seem to be the right choice here for me, SketchUp (3D modeller) would also be an option, but a CAD program actually seems to be the better choice.

By wall openings etc., I didn’t mean doors, openings for walking through or for stairs, but for installation shafts, water supply, empty electrical conduits, etc.

Measurement determination also meant rather wall surfaces, room perimeters, areas, in order to estimate materials like flooring, plaster surfaces, and masonry.

Living area etc. is possible too, but moving rooms around doesn’t initially seem to be the right thing for that. I would first start with SweetHome3D, and when the floor plan is sufficiently stable, switch to the CAD program.

I agree with Sketchup's recommendation. Basically, anything you can imagine is possible, and you seem to have prior knowledge. And it's free, after all.

I would also hand over the drawings to the architect afterwards as a basis in digital form. A compatible format with professional software would be great.

However, I find that hard to imagine, no matter what software (in the sense that the future architect imports your plans into their software and continues working on them).

I have a CAD background and find all BauCAD software a moderate disaster. I have now tried REVIT2018. It's a bit buggy and BauCAD has a different mindset than MechCAD, which drives me crazy. There are tutorials for Revit on YouTube. The big advantage of Revit is BIM and export functions. However, the training is correspondingly elaborate, at least if you want to use the BIM functions. For just floor plans and 3D, it is not bad and quick to learn. MeinHausplaner, CADVilla is probably also too small for your requirements.