The quantity takeoff
Everything you count falls into one of four measurement types. Sort each material into its type, work systematically, and you won't miss a line.
In this series
The four measurement types
A takeoff means going through the plans and pulling out how much of everything the job needs. The trick to never missing an item is knowing that every quantity is a count, a length, an area, or a volume.
| Type | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Count | each (EA) | doors, windows, outlets, fixtures |
| Linear | linear feet (LF) | wall framing, trim, baseboard, pipe |
| Area | square feet (SF) | flooring, drywall, roofing, paint |
| Volume | cubic yards (CY) | concrete, gravel, excavation, fill |
Sort each material into its type before you measure it. The type tells you what you're looking for on the sheet, and it catches the items you'd otherwise skim past.
Two habits that make takeoffs reliable
Be systematic. Work room by room, or system by system, and mark up the plan as you go. Highlight and check off. Nothing gets counted twice, nothing gets skipped.
Add a waste factor. You never install exactly what you buy. Add a realistic waste allowance, commonly around 10% for many materials and more for tile or flooring with a lot of cuts. Buying exact quantities guarantees a second trip and a stalled crew.
- Chapter 5 of 13
The four cost buckets
Materials, labor, equipment and subcontractors. Price all four and you have your true job cost, before overhead and profit.
- Chapter 10 of 13
Mistakes that sink new contractors
Almost every estimating disaster is one of seven mistakes. Learn them now so you never learn them the expensive way.
