Takeoff software, one trade at a time
Every trade bids the same way: read the spec, find your work on the plans, count it, and check that the two agree. What changes is the spec section, the sheets and the rules. So we open each trade with estimators who do it for a living.
- LiveGym and athletic equipmentThis is the trade Takeoff Tool was built in. It reads the gymnasium equipment section, keeps the lines you sell, counts them on the plans and stops at every conflict.
- OpeningElectricalAn electrical takeoff is counts first: devices, fixtures, panels and gear. The errors come from the schedules and the plans not matching. That is the part Takeoff Tool is built to catch.
- OpeningPlumbingA plumbing takeoff starts with the spec: which pipe, which fixtures, which valves. Then the plans say how many. Takeoff Tool reads both and stops where they disagree.
- OpeningPaintingA painting takeoff is rooms, surfaces and coats. The finish schedule says what gets painted. The spec says how. Takeoff Tool reads both and flags the rooms where they do not agree.
- OpeningFramingA framing takeoff turns wall types into studs, plates, headers and sheathing. The architect draws the walls and the engineer sizes the members. Takeoff Tool reads both sets and flags where they differ.
- OpeningExcavation and earthworkMost excavation contractors do the takeoff at night, after the field work. The risk is in the notes: the soils report, the import and export terms, the utility conflicts. Takeoff Tool reads those first.
- OpeningRoofingA roofing takeoff is areas, edges and penetrations. The spec names the system and the warranty. The details show how it is built. Takeoff Tool reads both and flags the gaps.
- OpeningTile and flooringA tile or flooring takeoff is rooms by finish, plus base, transitions and waterproofing. The finish schedule and the finish plan must agree. When they do not, the estimator pays. Takeoff Tool flags it first.
- OpeningHVACAn HVAC takeoff starts with the schedules: units, fans, terminal boxes and air devices. The plans say where each one goes and what duct feeds it. The errors come from a tag on the plan that the schedule does not carry, or the reverse.
- OpeningDrywall and metal framingA drywall takeoff is wall types first. Each type sets the stud, the board layers, the insulation and the height. The errors come from a wall tagged one type on the plan and rated another on the life safety sheet.
- OpeningConcreteA concrete takeoff follows the schedules: footings, piers, walls and slabs. The structural sheets give the sizes and the reinforcing. The errors come from the general notes, the spec and the details not agreeing on mix, bar or finish.
- OpeningMasonryA masonry takeoff is wall areas by unit type, less the openings. The wall sections show the reinforcing, the grout and the ties. The errors come from the elevations, the sections and the structural notes each telling part of the story.
- OpeningFire protectionFire protection is often a design-build bid from a performance spec. The estimator works from the ceiling plans, the hazard classes and the water supply data. The errors come from scope that the spec assigns and no drawing shows.
- OpeningLow voltageA low voltage takeoff is device counts by system: data, wireless, cameras, card readers and speakers. The technology sheets show the symbols. The errors come from who supplies what, because the electrical, security and owner scopes overlap.
- OpeningDoors, frames and hardwareA door takeoff starts and ends with the door schedule. Each opening has a door, a frame, a rating and a hardware set. The errors come from the schedule, the plans and the hardware sets not matching.
- OpeningGlass and glazingA glazing takeoff is frame elevations by type, with a glass type in every opening. The window schedule and the elevations give the sizes. The errors come from glass types and safety glazing that the legend and the elevations show differently.
- OpeningInsulationAn insulation takeoff is areas by assembly: exterior walls, roofs, slabs and sound partitions. The wall sections and the wall type legend say which product goes where. The errors come from R-values that the spec, the sections and the energy notes state differently.
- OpeningMillwork and caseworkA millwork takeoff comes from the interior elevations. Each elevation shows the cabinets, the tops and the trim for one wall. The errors come from elevations, the finish legend and the spec naming different materials or grades.
- OpeningStructural steelA steel takeoff is a member list: columns, beams, joists, deck and the miscellaneous metals. The framing plans and schedules give the sizes. The errors come from steel that only the architectural sheets show. They also come from connection design that the notes put on the fabricator.
- OpeningDivision 10 specialtiesA Division 10 takeoff is many small counts across many sections. The accessory schedule, the enlarged restroom plans and the signage schedule each carry part of it. The errors come from items the spec lists and no sheet shows, and from items the owner supplies.
- OpeningLandscaping and irrigationA landscape takeoff is a plant count against the plant schedule, plus areas of turf, mulch and soil. Irrigation adds heads, valves and pipe. The errors come from the plan symbols and the schedule quantities not matching.
- OpeningSite utilitiesA site utility takeoff is pipe by system, size and depth, plus every structure on the run. The utility plans, the profiles and the structure tables each give part of the answer. The errors come from those three not agreeing, and from where each trade stops.
- OpeningAcoustical ceilingsA ceiling takeoff is rooms by ceiling type, with the grid, the tile and the perimeter for each. The reflected ceiling plan shows the type. The finish schedule often names it again. The errors come from those two not agreeing.
- OpeningFood service equipmentA food service takeoff follows the equipment schedule item by item. Each item number has a quantity, a maker, a model and a utility load. The errors come from the schedule, the itemized spec and the kitchen plan not carrying the same list.
Live means it runs real bid packets today. Opening means we are building it with founding contractors, who use it three months free. Bring your trade.