5 reasons you should use Revit for construction documents!
You are working on an important architecture project. After sketching out the initial ideas, you divide the work between two software products. You work on the drawings in AutoCAD®, while you translate the three-dimensional ideas using SketchUp® or 3ds Max®.
Throughout the project, you’re coordinating constantly to handle all the modifications, twice! You almost miss the submission. You finish late and groggy. What do you do? Easy—you decide that next time you’ll use Revit®! Here are 5 reasons why:
1. Perfect coordination with all the engineering trades
With all of its inconvenience and slow pace, using two different programs may work for the architecture design phase. However, the real challenge arises when you move on to the most advanced phases. That’s when you have to call all the other engineering trades, and the work becomes even more complex.
However, if you’re using Revit, you would have all your architectural information already centralized in your Revit model. If each of the other disciplines does the same with their own Revit model, you’re up for a great project.
So how does everything magically come together? All of these separate Revit models—architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.—can link to each other in the same Revit file! What could possibly be better for coordination and clash detection? The ability to link models is sure to avoid a lot of conflict in the construction process.
2. Custom parametric families
In Revit, we can prepare all the needed custom families outside of the project environment, and then we get them on board. Once inside the project, the parametric power allows us to control the family and generate different custom types—with different dimensions, properties, information, and more.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t make in-place components directly inside the project. But you should use this feature in moderation. The more centralized the information is, the more flexibility and ease we have for the modifications later on.
The real benefit of this process is revealed in the schedules. However, the key to a successful model is in the methods adopted more than the tools. That’s because any element can be modeled using several tools. But which one would be better for the health of the model? Which one permits the generation of schedules? Which one leaves the most room for quick modifications when needed? That’s where experience and correct learning comes in. If you’re interested to take a fast track and learn all of these tricks on a professional level, check out our Revit courses.
3. ‘Two-dimensional’ detail components
Let’s say it loud and clear. When we first start working in Revit, it inspires some fear in us. At first glance, it seems like a whole new world! And it sort of is. But that doesn’t mean we should stress about what’s different in it—instead, let’s focus on the similarities. Speaking of which, let’s first destroy a common myth concerning Revit:
You know those exquisite details you draft delicately for the construction documents? To achieve them in Revit, you can—and you must sometimes—draw in 2D! Among new users, “over modeling” is a common mistake. In reality, there’s a thin line between needing the main components in three dimensions and simply drafting a detail that is not required in 3D.
4. Time estimation
When you use a BIM tool like Revit, you can mold not just space, but time! That’s because the fourth dimension of BIM is time planning, which offers a whole new possibility for project management.
You can start adding time-related information to a project from the design stage. Each component of the model is assigned a phase: demolition, new construction, or a custom phase as needed.
But that is only the start. In the world of BIM, 4D simulation helps enormously in real construction sequencing and planning, resolving problems early, and even identifying time-based clashes. This ensures that demolition, temporary and permanent construction activities can occur without any conflicts.
5. Cost estimation
It is a well-known fact that the budget of any project varies depending on a lot of parameters and constraints. But at least you know how much the project is going to cost you in real-time. How? Because the fifth dimension of BIM is cost estimation!
By using the 3D model for quantity takeoff, we have an important key for both 4D scheduling and 5D estimating. Unlike AutoCAD, Revit quickly shows you what happens to the schedule when you make any change to the project.
All of that certainly takes time to master. However, once you’re introduced properly to Revit, everything becomes MUCH easier. So if you’re an architect, or an interior designer, looking to learn Revit the easy way, we have some great news! The beginner extensive course that we usually give LIVE to our students will be launched ONLINE soon! This way you can access it anywhere in the world at your own pace! If you’re interested, check all the details here.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, Revit, 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. This article is independent of Autodesk, Inc., and is not authorized by, endorsed by, sponsored by, affiliated with, or otherwise approved by Autodesk, Inc.
