Rating: 
Summary: I recommend a pencil instead
Review: Home design software should have both flash and substance. Unfortunately, Punch! is only flash. You can put together a nice cartoon of your vision but you can forget about getting any useful blueprints or material lists or even getting the precise design you want. I was looking for a product that could produce the drawings I need to get the go-ahead for my deck from the building commission. Instead I was able only to get a rough layout of my deck. I say rough because Punch restricts you to a handful of basic designs and shapes. The most unfortunate fact is that all of PUNCH's competitors seem to have fallen away so it's either PUNCH or a pencil. I recommend the pencil.
Rating:
Summary: I recommend a pencil instead
Review: Home design software should have both flash and substance. Unfortunately, Punch! is only flash. You can put together a nice cartoon of your vision but you can forget about getting any useful blueprints or material lists or even getting the precise design you want. I was looking for a product that could produce the drawings I need to get the go-ahead for my deck from the building commission. Instead I was able only to get a rough layout of my deck. I say rough because Punch restricts you to a handful of basic designs and shapes. The most unfortunate fact is that all of PUNCH's competitors seem to have fallen away so it's either PUNCH or a pencil. I recommend the pencil.
Rating: 
Summary: Easy to use, however, inadequate for practical use
Review: I am planning to convert my attic into a 1,100 sqft living area. Attached to the outside of the "attic" will be a deck. Also, I need to remodel the first floor. First, I found the library of objects to be VERY small. Positive side, I could create what wasn't supplied. Second, I couldn't attach a sliding glass window to the vertical part of the attic's roof object. It is here that access to the deck will be gained. Furthermore, I couldn't add multilevel stairs to the deck.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I bought this product with the expectations of being able to design & build my deck. The package certainly leads you to believe you can do this. The manual and tutorial are also weak. After spending about 6 hours trying to design my deck using the 2D plan format, I found the software doesn't even give you an estimate of materials or building details. It does open up to a spreadsheet telling you how many posts you'll need, but that's it. This product was a waste of money.I sure miss the "Books that Work" series on "How to Design & Build Your Deck." It was limited in designs you could build, but it was focused on deck building and included how-to pictures and would provide a detailed plan with a complete bill of materials.
Rating:
Summary: Far better ways to spend your money and your time
Review: I had low expectations to begin with but they were still too high. This program is just not up to the task - plain and simple. I spent several nights trying to get a two-tierred deck designed and have wasted my time struggling with this terrible product. If I hadn't borrowed this CD from a friend who also couldn't do any constructive work with it, I'd have demanded my money back. I beg someone to write a review who's HAS designed and built a deck with this toy; add a link so we can see what you actually accomplished. Its time to use something useful like AutoCad...
Rating:
Summary: Far better ways to spend your money and your time
Review: I had low expectations to begin with but they were still too high. This program is just not up to the task - plain and simple. I spent several nights trying to get a two-tierred deck designed and have wasted my time struggling with this terrible product. If I hadn't borrowed this CD from a friend who also couldn't do any constructive work with it, I'd have demanded my money back. I beg someone to write a review who's HAS designed and built a deck with this toy; add a link so we can see what you actually accomplished. Its time to use something useful like AutoCad...
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: I just bought Punch deck design. You would expect that it would be taylored to designing decks. Guess again. It is nothing more than a simple cad program with a few deck related overlays. You must build multiple decks to create a single mult-tiered deck. It does nothing with deck supports or even patterns of wook on the deck. Stairs beyond a simple straight stair case forget it. DO NOT BUY this product. Get a piece of paper and ruler and you will be better off.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: I just bought Punch deck design. You would expect that it would be taylored to designing decks. Guess again. It is nothing more than a simple cad program with a few deck related overlays. You must build multiple decks to create a single mult-tiered deck. It does nothing with deck supports or even patterns of wook on the deck. Stairs beyond a simple straight stair case forget it. DO NOT BUY this product. Get a piece of paper and ruler and you will be better off.
Rating:
Summary: junk
Review: i purchaed this program to design my deck.All it does is create a picture.I used to have a program that designed a deck and also gave me a break down of materials to build it and accurate dimensions in which to cut my lumber and also a walk through the construction.This program [punch]does nothing like that at all.If anyone wants to build a deck using this program they are wating there money.
Rating: 
Summary: Punch Deck and Landscape
Review: I was very disappointed with the product and am going to send it back for refund. The first project I tried to do involved a shed with flat roof, and a large garden with 2 foot concrete wall around it. I was not allowed the option of flat roof or short concrete walls. So I tried fencing around it and only had 4 choices, none of which was concrete. This is no way to visualize your project. I am searching for a better landscaper.
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