One of the conservatory surveyors at West Yorkshire Windows has been testing the new planning module from Roofwright Software, and was keen to share his experiences:
Having had the experience of using this bespoke conservatory design and planning program for the past few months, I am now in a position to report on the key benefits it offers.
If you are new to CAD systems, this program is extremely user friendly and logical in its approach. From the start you’ll see the ease of uploading your Ordnance Survey Map, setting out your boundaries, drawing your boundaries, and creating your conservatory and house.
1. Simply download your map in TIFF format, save it to your RPS file, select it then click on the boundary points and there it is.
2. Designing you conservatory is also very straight-forward, either select from a list of REGULAR styles or create a bespoke design which allows you massive flexibility. I get the impression that if this program wouldn’t allow you to draw it then it couldn’t be made anyway. That is a reassuring thing as some programs will draw anything then leave you with the problem of how it can be made.
3. Once you’ve designed the roof layout it’s on to arranging the frame layout. Simply click and select from standard designs or modify them to suit yourself. All of them with various glazing options, windows, doors, French doors and patio doors.
4. Creating your house is the next step and once again couldn’t be simpler. Already laid out will be your site boundaries from the Ordnance Survey Map, so position your external walls within it. Either snap-to-grid or freehand, outline your walls, all can be size corrected as you go. Something that is very useful is the ability to select Ground or First floor level for your walls. This is crucial when bay windows and single storey segments of the house are present. You then have the option to SHOW ON PLAN that detail in PROPERTIES of that item, thus allowing say a single storey kitchen wall to show on your plan view, but not the upstairs wall. Now you can select each elevation wall and insert you doors/windows etc. from standard designs, size them and modify any details as required.
5. Internal walls come next with the same simplicity as versatility as the external walls, but only allowing doors to be inserted. Labels, notes and symbols can be created, such as stairs, room names, boundary treatments etc.
6. The final main stage of the drawing is the roof. This is made easy by allowing you to click on the points of each “plane” of the roof then selecting eaves and ridge points and heights and the program understands the rest.
7. The print menu has so many variations within it to create a vast selection of presentations. For my purpose the planning options are the only ones necessary, orientation, scale and elevation names all with the ability to be customised.
During the time that I have been using this great program I haven’t come across any design of conservatory or house/roof that it couldn’t draw. When and if I ever had any issues or difficulties in any part of my various designs, the support team at RPS were only a phone call or email away, and their response was always first class. They are passionate about their program and are happy to have the opportunity to hear our comments and feedback, always striving to provide the best possible solution to our needs.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my little note, but it only briefly scratches the surface of this versatile tool, so if you are interested in it you should contact RPS and see if they can send you a sample copy to have a play with. Then you can see for yourself how good it really is.
Neil Philpott
West Yorkshire Windows
For more information about the Roofwright planning module visit:
This site drew our conservatory and were very good.
Margret
conservatoryplansonline.co.uk