



However, Russ assures us it cuts the you-know-what out of budget assumptions. It will be held (in person!) this year from September 26-30 in Vancouver, BC.Īt first glance, SketchUp seems an unlikely tool for cost estimating. Side note: The best place for immersive SketchUp training is 3D Basecamp. Learning is a continual process, and Russ is always looking for new tricks in SketchUp to refine his cost estimating workflow. The dots (or should we say 3D lines?) of learning SketchUp fully connected for him when he attended 3D Basecamp for the first time in 2018.
HOW MUC HIS SKETCHUP MAKE 2018 SOFTWARE
A go-getter who taught himself 3D modeling, Russ started learning the modeling software from YouTube experts like Mike Brightman, Matt Donley, and, of course, SketchUp’s tutorial host, Aaron Dietzen. Many in his craft pre-build projects in 3D before they tackled them in real life, but he didn’t use SketchUp much until becoming a project estimator. Russ first heard of SketchUp back when he was a carpenter. (Architect: Mark Rudolf, vellum architecture + design) Using 3D modeling software helps me create as comprehensive a budget as possible.” If the estimate for their home comes back higher than anticipated, it’s much easier to correct the budget at an early stage than if they had paid to have their plans fully developed. “SketchUp has transformed the way I work! Our clients usually come to us anxious to know the cost of their house. SketchUp is an essential asset for his company, Jade Mountain Builders, and its clients. Russ uses SketchUp in conjunction with traditional cost estimating programs for accurate results. SketchUp has enriched the detail and scope I can provide clients. I can show clients the depths Jade Mountain Builders goes to envision their project and provide realistic estimates. “SketchUp is beneficial in that it allows me to answer questions or see around corners that aren’t shown well on 2D plans - just by building it in 3D space. Another aspect to consider when looking for a cost estimator - do they know SketchUp? They should, says Russ Thames, a (project) estimator at a high-end residential construction company. When looking for a reasonable cost estimator, you should look for one that knows the local market’s ins and outs to calculate precise labor, material, and equipment costs. (Architect: Michael McDonough.)Ĭost estimates provide critical data for clients, designers, and builders to determine the scope of a project. If I can be of any help at all, don’t hesitate to let me know.Private residence, Asheville. I wish you well as you dive into this area. There are a lot of opportunities out there for modelers and drafters. Having taught both SketchUp and Layout at the college level, these are my go-to texts. Another great book is “SketchUp for Site Design” by Tal. If you want to do architectural and building related work I suggest 2 books to get you started: “SketchUp and Layout for Architecture” by Sonders & Donely, and “SketcUp to Layout” by Donley. You will need this base of knowledge to be successful using your skills in SketchUp to work in the building field. It also helped me to learn how buildings go together. Working on these types of drawings helped me to learn what a set of working drawings (blueprints) really consisted of and how they should look. When I first started doing drafting work my fist couple of jobs were working for established builders for which I was either making changes to existing plans or re-drawing sets of plans that they wanted changed. I think everyone should get paid for their efforts even if it is only minimum wage getting started During the time I have been teaching Architecture and Interior Design I have had many people wanting students to do “free” work. No, I don’t mean you should work for free.
HOW MUC HIS SKETCHUP MAKE 2018 PRO
What are some ways to make money with SketchUp without a degree? I’m thinking about buying the Pro version for commercial use since I’ve invested so much time and effort into learning the program.
