How To Do A Takeoff In Construction – Step-by-Step
- Review your project plans
- List required materials
- Measure project components
- Calculate quantities of your materials
- Create a takeoff sheet
Step One – Review Your Project Plans
This is the most important step in the process, as it will give you a clear understanding of what materials are required for the project.
You should carefully review blueprints, specifications, and any other documentation that is relevant to the project. Pay attention to the details, such as the size, type, and quantity of materials required.
Step Two – List The Required Materials
Once you have a good understanding of the project plans, you can start counting the number of items required. This can be a tedious process which can be automated using takeoff software, but it is important to be as accurate as possible. You should also list the materials in a way that makes sense, such as by type, size, or quantity.
If using takeoff software, it is important to review and modify the counts before moving to the next step.
Step Three – Measure The Project Components
In addition to counting the number of items, you will also need to determine accurate measurements of your project. This is important for determining the quantities of materials required.
For example, if you are building a wall, you will need to measure the length, height, and thickness of the wall.
The process varies greatly between manual and digital takeoff, as manual process will require taking measurements on paper plans using a scale ruler, whereas digital takeoffs help automate this process.
Step Four – Calculate Quantities Of Materials
Once you have counted the number of items and measured the various components, you can determine the quantities of materials required. This is done by multiplying the number of items by their respective measurements. For example, if you are building a wall with 100 bricks, each of which is 12 inches long, you will need 1200 inches of brick.
Step Five – Determine Your Costs
The next step is to determine the costs of the materials. This can be done by researching the current market prices for each material. You can find this information online or by contacting suppliers.
Using construction software can make this step much easier with updated price libraries.
Step Six – Create A Takeoff Sheet
Once you have gathered all of the information, you can create a takeoff sheet. This is a document that summarises all of the information you have gathered in the previous steps. It should include the name of the project, the materials required, the quantities, the costs, and any other relevant information.
Once you have created the takeoff sheet, it's important to review it carefully to make sure that all of the information is accurate. You should also get someone else to review it to catch any errors that you may have missed.
