News 

Additions to the Heap library: 

Pergolas manufactured from small section steel box section  

Designed for simple on site erection 

see pergolas/ metal (a new category) 

They have also been added into the 3D component library 

 

Metal tread mesh, in two styles, as a way to cross a narrow water feature or rill. These are located in Simple structures/ crossings 

Metal gabions as a retaining wall, in a 0.5 and a 1.5m high version 

These are drawings and there is a 3D component version of each size 

Rectangular and circular planters have been added to the 3D Hortitecture category 

A large selection of edge/bank details for natural water features will be available shortly. 

 

Courses 

We have just started to rework our Getting started in SketchUp course. This will be in a new format and broken down into small modules to help navigation and allow us to update sections more efficiently. 

We hope to have the course ready in September. If sucessful and popular we will roll out the format to cover more advanced aspects of SketchUp, inc layout and terrain. 

 

August can be a dead month with clients on holiday and a general lethargy in in the air. Consider your own needs and the training you have been putting off. Instead of spending a ½ or even a day following a course, Pick s few shorts and tutorials from Youtube and aim to recreate the effect or result. Its free, short and bitesize learning can be so much better. Here are some suggestions to start you off: 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3IO9Hrca6BI making timber slats follow a curved path 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qOgLl1Ak-DA curved handrails, try the curved steps 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlvLNe5eAZ0 Making you model look better  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWFRnsW4Tu8 Different ways to create a sunshade  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boveh0YtoNE Making a curved trellis  

 

Plants 

I have been asked to give an opinion on the New Shoot planting extension for SketchUp. 

I am afraid that I ca’t as I simply dontwork in a way that requires me to subscribe. 

Firstly, all of my work is now construction related, and I do not produce planting plans.  

When I create views of a proposed garden, I always use rendering software (TwinMotion) to build up a planted area. These are never accurate and only need to be symbolic/ indicative. They are also a lot quicker than using plants in Sketchup 

 

If you want details, whether 3D component or construction detail, contact us via the web site and we’ll see how we can help.