Two orders of work
In a drawings-first takeoff you open the plans, count what you see, and then check the spec for the product. In a spec-first takeoff you read your section, write the list, and then take the list to the sheets. The second order means you look for items. The first means you find only what is drawn.
What a drawings-first count misses
- An item the spec requires that no sheet shows.
- Parts that are rarely drawn: controls, key switches, safety straps, anchors.
- Spare parts and extra stock.
- Testing, training and warranty terms that add cost.
- The rules for substitutions, when the named manufacturer is not yours.
How to do it
- Read Part 1 for the scope, the related sections and the submittals.
- Read Part 2 and list each product, with its manufacturer, model and size.
- Read Part 3 for installation requirements that add cost.
- Take the list to the sheets. Find each item and count it.
- Mark each item: found, not found, or found but different.
- Look for drawn items that are not on your list.
The three results
- Spec'd and drawn. Count it and note the sheet.
- Spec'd but not drawn. Ask the architect, or state your assumption in the proposal.
- Drawn but not spec'd. It may belong to another trade. Ask before you carry it or exclude it.
Why it matters for a specialty contractor
A specialty contractor bids one section, for example Section 11 66 23 for gymnasium equipment. The counts are small, so one missed item is a large share of the bid. The contract decides which document governs when the two disagree. Read the general conditions, and ask in writing before the question deadline.
Takeoff Tool works spec-first. It lists what the section requires and finds those items on the plan sheets. It flags where the spec and the drawings disagree.
AI and takeoff software · Updated 11 Nov 2026