A construction takeoff enables you to determine the exact materials required to build a project. Whether it’s counting the number of standard wall studs or calculating square footage for flooring, drywall and paint.
This first step in the estimating process opens the door to a precise project bid. But getting it wrong will cost you money.
What is a takeoff?
Construction projects require precision, from building skyscrapers to refurbishing a kitchen. To ensure that everything is done correctly, contractors must review the blueprints and enumerate all materials needed to complete a project. This process is called a material takeoff. The takeoff is a critical step in the estimation and bidding process.
Typically, contractors will conduct a manual takeoff by examining physical blueprints and conducting material counts and measurements by hand. However, many builders now opt to use digital tools to streamline the takeoff process and maximize accuracy. Whether you are counting fixtures, calculating flooring, or accessing quantifies from BIM models, taking off with takeoff software will help you perform your takeoff more quickly and efficiently.
When completing a manual takeoff, it is important to pay close attention to the scale of the blueprints and make sure that they are set to the correct size. Using the incorrect scale could result in inaccurate measurements and inaccurate estimates. It is also crucial to double-check that the information on the blueprints has not changed since the original design. For example, changing from vinyl windows to fiberglass windows could throw off the entire estimate.
Finally, if a contractor is unsure about an item on the blueprints, they should contact the architect or designer to verify the information. A mistake in the original blueprints can have serious consequences for a project, including cost overruns and delays.
Takeoff process
Performing a construction takeoff is one of the most critical steps in preparing an accurate estimate. Without it, you’ll end up overspending or stalling the project through delays.
Estimators start the process with a review of blueprints and plans. They enumerate all of the necessary materials for the project’s scope and determine their quantities. They then assign prices to the materials based on unit pricing from suppliers. During this step, they also anticipate any changes in material prices and costs to avoid overspending on raw materials or wasting materials.
The resulting list of materials is called a “material takeoff”. It’s important to note that this process can be complex, especially for larger projects. For instance, contractors must count items such as standard wall studs, light fixtures, outlets, and air handlers in order to determine their material requirements. They must also calculate areas of flooring, drywall, and sheathing to accurately estimate their materials requirements.
These calculations can be time-consuming and require a lot of math to do manually. This is why digital construction takeoff software is essential for estimating firms. With it, estimators can perform takeoffs in a fraction of the time and create more accurate estimates. This leads to better bid-to-hit ratios and increased profit margins. It’s a win-win for everyone! Having a comprehensive materials takeoff also ensures that the job will be completed on time and within budget.
Takeoff tools
Contractors use takeoff tools to accurately measure and quantify construction blueprints. These tools are a critical part of the process because they determine material requirements and prices. For example, a standard takeoff might include raw materials like lumber and steel, while manufactured fixtures, like lighting, outlets and doors are counted or calculated based on the dimensions they’re measured by.
When estimating a project, it’s important to review and understand the full scope of what’s required to complete a build or renovation on time and on budget. The final list of materials is used by purchasing specialists to order the right amount of each item needed to complete a construction job. Incorrect or incomplete takeoff calculations can result in costly mistakes.
Whether performing a manual or digital takeoff, contractors can use a variety of takeoff software to help streamline and improve the accuracy of their estimates. Using the technology, estimators can mark and measure dimensions directly on digital blueprints using scaled tools to eliminate errors and save time.
A quality digital takeoff tool allows estimating teams to produce accurate material and cost estimates. In addition, a comprehensive takeoff database helps estimaters compare historical project data and make smarter decisions when bidding for future projects. In turn, this helps reduce research time and brings greater value and confidence to each bid.
Takeoff software
Construction takeoff software is a suite of digital solutions that optimize every facet of the takeoff workflow. Whether you’re tallying fixtures, calculating floor areas for flooring materials, or extracting quantities from a Building Information Model (BIM), these tools can expedite your tasks. They also help you reduce the instances of errors in a takeoff.
The use of takeoff software can help contractors save time and money on their projects. It can reduce the time spent measuring by hand and using a calculator, allowing you to complete your takeoffs faster and with more accuracy. It can also save on costs related to printing large-scale blueprints and ordering unnecessary building materials. And it can eliminate the need to store large amounts of paper plans and drawings, providing valuable space for more important tasks.
Takeoff software typically allows users to upload PDF versions of the project plans and then uses built-in measurement tools to quickly determine linear dimensions and count items like windows, doors, and more. It can also calculate area measurements, such as square footages for flooring and sheathing materials. This information can then be used to create a material list for the project and prepare estimates and bids.
Contractors who use takeoff software can also increase their deal flow by being more competitive on bid-win rates thanks to the speed and accuracy of these powerful tools. Although some of these products are on the pricey side, the investment is often more than made up for in the time savings and revenue gains that construction professionals realize by investing in these technologies.