[sdiy] SMT PCB layout question

[Justin Owen]

Hey all,

I'm laying out my first PCB for SMT parts. Please forgive the simple question and the (probably) very obvious answer.

On a PTH board I can run traces to a component's pad on the top or the bottom of a board - or I can use a via.

On a SMT board the pad is only on one surface (i.e. not through hole).

I can use a through hole via to get a trace from bottom of board to top of board - but is there any other way to connect a trace on the bottom of a board to an SMT component on the top of a board?

I've done a PTH version of this same board - but now I'm doing an SMT version I'm finding that much of the space I gained from going to smaller components is being taken up by through-hole vias. 

Using Eagle FWIW if there's some application-specific advice anyone has.

Thanks as always.

Justin