What You Should Know About Material Takeoffs?

While you’re involved in construction, you’re likely familiar with the terms like material takeoff (MTO), construction takeoff, or simply takeoff. Whether you’re a general contractor, vendor, subcontractor, and estimators; you require material takeoff regularly and the process can sometimes appear obscure. So, with this post, you’re going to know the things that would help you in approaching the task methodically and get accurate project estimates while on the go.

The Basics of Material Takeoffs

As an experienced builder, while you’re working on small scale projects, you can work yourself up a quote by compiling material estimates in your head. But for large complex projects, you have to ensure a proper estimate of cost and materials with thoroughness and accuracy.

Material takeoffs are a crucial part of the construction estimation process that can make or break your entire reckoning. If you’re a homeowner and are going to undertake a building or remodeling project for the first time, this term may be unfamiliar.

Material takeoff seeks two types of information: a material takeoff to provide a complete list of materials required constructing a project and cost estimates to determine the total material cost for the project. Material costs are a major share of the total construction costs and accuracy is a must.

A comprehensive material takeoff will list every type of material including concrete, framing lumber, roofing, siding, insulation, drywall, trim, windows, doors, and hardware. Because you’re going to procure materials based on this estimate so, you must hire a professional quantity estimation firms to avoid any discrepancy or ambiguity.

How Material Takeoffs are prepared?

At this stage, you might be wondering how quantity takeoff is generated and the best ways to ensure accuracy and thoroughness.

Quantity surveyors and material estimators have been using the blueprints and drawn the plan for calculating manually the length, area, and volume of various quantities for quite a long time. But since then, with the intervention of technology and computer-generated designs with CAD, the things have changed “a lot”.

Specialized takeoff companies are shifting to advanced processes like Building Information Modeling that have significantly increased the accuracy. Moreover, software involving computers like Planswift and Bluebeam, Aided Designs (CAD) and BIM has helped in solving the old-age problem of low-productivity.

Although modern and digital methods are more accurate and fast it is all your personal preference that depends on the scale of the project, the time you have, and the cost involved. It is worth noting that digital quantity takeoff is generated by humans using the computer as a tool; so its accuracy is still at the mercy of human knowledge and experience.

We are at your side!

Before jumping in any construction or building projects, it is advisable to have a material takeoff not just to assess the material required but also to ensure the accuracy of building plans and details. By hiring professional quantity takeoff services, you can save time and money. Good estimators are experts in handling complex project plans efficiently reducing the amount of rework and alteration.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to have a refurbishment project or you’re a contractor looking to convert inquiry calls to projects; Rock Takeoffs is here to serve you.

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