Why does nobody talk about the switch from 2D floor plans to 3D modeling for small remodels?

I used to sketch everything on graph paper for my kitchen job in Charlotte, but after a client got confused about the cabinet heights, I switched to a free 3D program called SketchUp last year and now they see the whole space before we even buy a single tile. Has anyone else made that jump for smaller projects, or is it still overkill for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_gray1mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, how many people even have the right software to open those fancy 3D files? My last guy sent me some special viewer link that just would not work on my phone. Tbh I had to dig out my old laptop just to see my own porch design, which felt backwards. The idea is solid but sometimes the tech just gets in the way for a simple deck addition. I spent more time trying to get it to load than it would have taken to just mark up a paper drawing with a red pen.

reese55127d ago

Jason nailed it with the change orders bit. I had a small bathroom job last year where the client swore up and down they wanted a pedestal sink from a magazine photo. 3D model showed the thing would block the toilet by a good 6 inches. We swapped to a wall mount and saved a whole weekend of rework. The tech can be a pain sometimes, sure, but it pays for itself in mistakes you never make. Once you get past the learning curve, it's hard to go back to paper.

jason_chen1mo ago

My contractor buddy swears by 3D for even tiny bathroom jobs now, says it cuts way down on change orders.