Planning Your House with BIM: How to Estimate Costs and Compare Options Early
October 26, 2024 at 4:54 pm,
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Imagine knowing, with reasonable accuracy, how much your house construction will cost at the very start of the design process—and, beyond that, being able to compare various design options. This is one of the main benefits of incorporating Building Information Modeling (BIM) into your project. In this article, I’ll explain how BIM can help you make more informed choices for your build.
2D vs. BIM: What's the Difference?
Building Information Models (BIMs) are created virtually, using objects that replicate those found in a real building—like walls, windows, and pipes. This approach is fundamentally different from traditional digital drafting. Although it may initially take moderately experienced designers a bit more time to build a model than to produce 2D drawings, BIM offers many benefits. Once the model is created, it can be used for various purposes, including 3D design reviews, drawing creation, and quantity extraction, to name a few.
Start Simple: Getting Value from Limited-Scope BIM
BIM models don’t always need to be highly sophisticated to deliver real value. By keeping models simple, you can reduce time and cost while still extracting crucial information. In my free tutorial, I demonstrate how to create basic 3D models in just 30 minutes for planning building layouts. With a bit more time, these same models can be used to extract quantities and generate drawings. I cover these additional features in my course as well. Alternatively, you can save time by hiring competent designers to create and manage the modelling for you.
How to Get BIM on Your Project in 3 Steps
Incorporating BIM to make key decisions early in the project takes just three steps:
- Find capable designers who can create building information models, or learn to do it yourself.
- Request design options using BIM software, and ask for early quantity takeoff (QTO) information.
- Use this information to calculate more accurate construction costs, or work with an estimator who can handle it for you.
By following these steps, you can make better-informed decisions about design options, budgets, and schedules—before breaking ground or even proceeding with more detailed design.