Toyed a bit with Sketchup before Google got their claws on it. Abandoned it after it happened.

I think it became a browser based solution at some point?

I respect the spirit but no. You made me smile, nonetheless. But why resort to windows plus a pirated software?

It may very well be a very good solution, perhaps even the best, but it's not what I want to support, even if indirectly.

you don't need windows, but that is how I have my install set up, as WINE can be kind of buggy with the program. it doesn't need networking, so no risk of m$ taking info, and SW2024 can run on 8GB and some CPU passthrough.

speaking as someone who's tried just about ever 3dCAD program under the sun, SW is the best on the market for ease of use, documentation, and available plugins.

openSCAD is absolute hell for ease-of-use, onshape sells your data, freecad has the same issues as openscad, and AutoCAD, while good, still is worse than SW due to poorer documentation, and more annoying interface.

of course, there is always the option of doing the drawings by hand on paper, with a ruler, a compass, and a protractor. this may be your best option for sharability, as your local municipality may want to have it for their records as well, assuming that a) they don't already have it, and b) if they do, you were unable to procure the original blueprints.

damn, that thing must be like, a Scottish castle or something LOL.

super cool that you live there!

now I'm confused about onshape though, as anything digital that's "free" has long since enshittefied, and sold you as the product......... could the seriously be one of the last bastions of good free software? it may not be OSS, but if its really that good........ hmmm, food for thought. I'll have to do more research on it.

1947

So, old but not that old.

Learning and using it don't are barriers.

I could draw the blueprints by hand, on paper, but doing it in a digital format will make it easier to edit, review, etc.

I'll check FreeCAD.

If you want 2D drafting like solution, look at Librecad. It seems quite good. It is 2D only.

Freecad is 3D solid modeling but there is a 2D component.

Unusual solution but I can see it working! Most definetely.

But I do require some degree of accuracy on what I intend to do, so FreeCAD is lining up be the best solution, taking from the answer I'm getting.

The house is old and drawing an as much as humanly possible accurate blueprint would be a plus. And I do have some very weird angles in it.

I understand your concern and advice.

My house was built using a logic that only the outter walls, which are stone on the ground floor and cement block on the top floor, are load bearing.

These will not be touched, besides removing and replacing old mortars.

On the inside, all the walls are for show, made of wood I want to reclaim and a couple that were built in clay bricks but that have no load bearing capability nor structural role.

Drawing the blueprints as the house exists today will serve to have a birds eye view of the house to work on, even with professionals, if the need arises in the future.

This sort of house is not considered interesting for professionals in my area; the structure is too simple and can not accomodate that many changes. And because I'm not rebuilding but just renewing, no projects, licenses or consultancy is required. This makes this kind of job not very appealing.

And thank you for reminding me that electrical and water plants are a thing, aswell.