See my response below.
Oilymo wrote:
Firstly this is not a question about which product is better so please refrain from getting drawn into that argument.
We are very experienced AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) users and have been using this product for the past 10 years. Our core business is domestic extensions, loft conversions, structural alterations etc with the occasional new build house in the UK. Product support for ACA is now diminishing with all resources being focused on Revit. We have used Revit in the past and really like the concept/way it works especially as we demo and model with customers present but we have concerns before we potentially jump ship;
How does it handle domestic extensions and loft conversions, especially detailing?
Although, extensions have not been the primary focus, I've done my fair share.
I found the detailing in Revit actually faster than ACA. First, beacuse it's fairly easy to build up a good library of Detail Items which can be parametric, and also they can have keynotes, or description assigned to them, which makes annotation of details super fast and consistant throughot a project and/or practice.
Second, because of the associativity of all elements in the project.
Has anyone experience with both products in the UK? Not just for demo purposes but in a business role.
The office I was working for in the UK was using ACA for a few years and I was responible for the transition to Revit in 2009-10 and I've been working in Revit until now. Recently in Oz.
Is it worth the extra cost and downtime? At the moment we can produce a full set of plans from survey in 4-5 hours.
Well, that's almost imposible question to answer. I belive it is, Revit just gives you more for your money.
Yes, there are drawbacks, it's not AutoCAD anymore(or ACA for that matter), slightly different way of thinking is required and adjustments in your workflow and maybe some office standards will need to be made.
But if you spend some time and create a decent template (or templates for different type of project), library of objects and detail items, you can achieve a very efficient workflow.
Each house we visit is different (aren't they all) along with the windows and doors. ACA allows us to create unique windows and doors very easily. How does Revit handle unique windows and doors?
Mastering the doors and windows workflow is a bit tricky at first, but whenever you'll get users to understand that not every door or window has to be created using the door or window tool, but created as a curtain wall or modeled in place, they will be able to build anything you will throw at them very quickly.
Hope this helps,
Maciej
