Material takeoffs
Detailed quantities developed from the plans and project information provided.
Material Lists
A useful estimate should do more than produce a total.
We review available plans, quantities, materials, assumptions, and project requirements so builders and developers can decide with better information before work begins.
Services
Plan review
Practical review for missing information, conflicting details, and items that create problems in the field.
Budget checks
Early cost checks based on available plans, quantities, and supplier information.
Bid comparison
Organized comparison of supplier pricing, terms, and material packages.
Order preparation
Material schedules and order information prepared for the selected supplier.
Consultation
Practical consultation on plans, materials, sequencing, and field questions.
What gets checked
These are the checks a takeoff runs through before a number leaves this office. They are listed because an estimate is only as good as the review behind it, and because a client is entitled to know what that review covers.
| Plan revision | The revision number and date are confirmed and recorded before anything is priced. Pricing a superseded set is the most expensive error in estimating and the easiest one to avoid. |
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| Source of quantities | Quantities are developed from the drawings. A supplier's list reflects what that supplier stocks and how it is packaged, so it is used for comparison after the takeoff exists. |
| Openings | Doors and windows are counted from the schedule and checked against the elevations. The two disagree more often than they agree. Discrepancies are reported to the client rather than resolved quietly. |
| Framing against foundation | Bearing points, beam pockets, and post locations are confirmed to agree between the framing and foundation plans before lumber is counted. |
| Lumber | Species, grade, and treatment are stated. Lumber priced without species and grade has not been priced. Treated material is identified wherever ground contact or exposure calls for it. |
| Waste | Waste factors are shown per material. Sheet goods, dimensional lumber, and finish materials do not waste at the same rate, so a single percentage applied across a takeoff hides more than it covers. |
| Sheet goods | Counted by sheet coverage against the layout. Square footage alone does not account for how sheets actually land. |
| Exclusions | Anything the estimate does not cover is listed by name in the written scope. |
Missing plans, undefined selections, and unresolved site conditions are identified and listed by name. They are not absorbed into the number.
Pricing
Estimating scopes vary widely by project, so pricing is quoted rather than listed. After the project is reviewed, a written scope and fee are provided before any work begins. Current clients see their own scopes, invoices, and documents in the client portal.
What an estimate does — and does not — cover
Estimates and material takeoffs are based on the plans, specifications, and information supplied by the client. They do not replace architectural, engineering, code, permitting, inspection, or contractor review.
Material prices, labor conditions, and supplier availability may change after the work is delivered.