Before breaking ground on any construction project, construction teams must ensure an adequate supply of materials and equipment are available on-site and ready to be put into action when needed. To bid on projects, contractors need an accurate estimate of all the necessary resources for the job, which is what a construction takeoff is for.
Our guide to construction takeoffs will cover the importance of takeoffs and how to perform a material takeoff accurately. We’ll also look at the manual method of takeoffs compared to the more efficient and accurate digital method using takeoff software.
A takeoff is simply a measurement of the quantities of materials required for construction or installation. Each contractor or homebuilder needs to perform a takeoff to gauge the quantity of each material they’ll need to install or supply to the project. For instance, plumbers need a materials takeoff of piping, fittings, valves and tanks, while electricians need to know the right number of light fixtures, fuse panels and electrically powered equipment for their scope of work.
For every construction project, engineers, architects and designers must create a set of plans that gives builders an idea of what’s required for the project. These drawings can be either highly detailed or a brief overview, depending on which stage of the design the project is in. Once the design has been completed, the plans then get sent to subcontractors for bidding. It’s during this stage that a takeoff of all relevant materials and equipment must be completed.