CliffLloyd

Hello, Wondering if anyone knows of HVAC design software that integrates with Chief? I've found products that integrate with Autocad and Revit but not Chief. The software provides the technical aspects of duct, outlet and machine sizing. Without integration you have to recreate your layouts in the HVC software, would be so nice if it could use the floor plans we've already drawn. Thanks in advance!

Hello, I'm an amateur home designer. I have no ambition to go professional but I enjoy creating designs for my own edification and I actually find it relaxing (is that strange?). My goal is to one day come up with the perfect design for my wife and I as we contemplate retirement living. I'm currently fascinated by the resurgence of 70's Ranch style designs with modern twists - but that isn't relevant to my question :) I've been using Home Designer Pro since 2019 and for the most part this product meets my needs as an amateur. I find some aspects of it a little strange including some of the choices it makes for attic walls and I find building roofs hard but that is likely a lack of my architectural knowledge more so than a fault of the product. As I look at professional designs on sites like Cool House Plans and House Plans .COM I see a standard of photo realistic rendering of things like grass and surface textures that are infinitely superior to those that I can obtain with Home Designer Pro (even with the improvements in the 2022 version). So my question is this (finally!). Is professional grade photo realistic rendering a feature of the superior Chief Architect product or do professionals use another product / technique to achieve realistic renderings? Thanks in advance for any insight you are willing to share!