Bond Beam for Aerated Concrete Blocks

[David J. Potter]

Dave,

I commonly use Chief Architect Premier on a daily basis. It is a lot more capable, relative to 3D modeling than Home Designer Pro. The main difference (other than price) between the Premier and Home Designer Pro are additional productivity tools and how finely you can emulate actual construction in a virtual 3D model.
These additional tools take time to learn in order to be useful to anyone. There are many, many tools that go unlearned and unused just in Home Designer Pro and even more so with Premier.
To a person with high standards, especially a learner, the learning curve seems steep because it is steep and the demands upon ones own methodical approach and operating basis are exacting.
I cannot respond to the question "is it too hard", that is something one answers for themselves, moment by moment as they work.
I love what I do and I have a lot of affinity for Chief Architect Inc software but at the same time acknowledging the fact that it is not in any way "perfect" but it is totally workable and useful to my creative needs.
There is little difference in the Materials List tool set in Home Designer Pro and Chief Architect Premier, I dare say the tools are functionally identical in both applications.

The first job I was given when I started using Chief Architect Premier in 1994 by my then boss was to find out how to use the Materials List tool for our business. When I had spent enough time to really investigate, experiment and use that tool I recommended to my boss that we not use it because the level of skill necessary to affect an accurate materials list was beyond the willingness and intelligence of most of our sales people to learn how to create a perfect 3D model. I have not changed my mind since then to now. I finally gained the skill and judgement to be able when required to do that exacting level of work. Is it too hard, only the individual can make that decision for themselves.

DJP