Replies

1. 
   BobKovacs | Feb 11, 2004 02:26pm | #1

   I use Excel for all my takeoffs (though I'm moving into using an on-screen takeoff program).  As far as "what formula do I find effective"- that's a tough question.  What exactly is it that you're trying to takeoff?  Masonry?  Wood framing?  Concrete?  Floor tile?  Roofing?   The list goes on and on and on....

   Bob

1. 
   toolbear | Feb 11, 2004 04:35pm | #5

   I should have explained...

   Takeoffs for whatever you can ship by truck.  Concrete will be local.

   We are working to establish a Habitat west coast resource center that will allow the big donors to donate big annually.  They would prefer to make one donation to one center that would repackage and ship to local habitats.  Keeps them from getting hit up by everyone.  The locals get the benefit of scale. 

   <http://www.habitatwcrc.org&gt;

   A local Habitat would order a package, such as "3 bedroom home plus garage" framing package and get the lumber needed for most of the project.  They would be expected to make up the difference locally. 

   I would expect takeoffs on lumber, roofing, siding, sheating, electrical, plumbing, windows & doors, insulation. 

   Expect that they would order the truss kits locally, as those are plan-specific, but OSB, nails, etc. we could supply.

1. 
   BobKovacs | Feb 11, 2004 05:13pm | #6

   I see....that's making more sense now.....

   So what you're looking for is a spreadsheet where you can enter quantities for different assembles, such as interior walls, exterior walls, etc., and have it generate the materials list for you.  I think I've got something you can start with, but in general, it's a matter of listing all the items included in that assembly, determining how many of each item is needed per "unit" of the assembly, and then linking the formulas to the invididual line items.

   I'll see if I can find the spreadsheet I'm thinking of and email it to you- anything to help Habitat.  You'll need to modify the assemblies, but it'll give you an idea of where to start.

   Bob

1. 
   toolbear | Feb 11, 2004 05:28pm | #8

   That would be quite helpful.  We need all the help we can get to build more efficiently. 

   Last week I had my crew measuring window ROs to see what we needed in bituthane flashing and though that if I had the window and door ROs in a speadsheet, we could devrive a lot of info from that - number of headers of various lengths, flashing lenghts, trim packages etc.

   Could have handed that nice lady a cut list and saved a half hour.  Since I have a plan set, I should do this on my own. 

   My e-mail is    [email protected]

   ToolBear

1. 
   rasconc | Feb 11, 2004 06:12pm | #9

   This sounds like a noble effort.  I would think that it would be very hard to have an accurate take-off for a generic plan that would not invite waste, unless you are building the same basic plan every time . 

   Minor changes like mirror image, interior room sizes, etc should not affect it much but roof style, footprint, ceiling height, etc, can cause some pretty significant differences in timber lengths, sizes, and counts.  Like you mentioned even window sizes make a difference in header material requirements.

   If you can do like other production builders and develop a number of plans that you always build from then you can refine the t/o and call in your order for three plan b's, two plan c's, and eggrolls for five.

2. 
   toolbear | Feb 12, 2004 06:31am | #10

   I can appreciate the problem.  The Resource Center will undertake to provide a set of generic packages with the understanding that not everything will be included.  But, there will be substantial savings over buying the whole thing locally.  Then it's off to the local lumber yard for the rest. 

   So, the question is:  What are the tried and true estimating formulas and overage allowances.  Should we use one stud per 12" of wall on a 16" O/C frame, and so on?

2. 
   xMikeSmith | Feb 11, 2004 03:07pm | #2

   i like to get an extra set of the prints.. write "takeoff" in big letters with a magic marker..then i use those for all the calculations

    most of my takeoffs are done right on the prints.. then recapitulated to a QuattroPro spreadsheet... some become RFP's to my suppliers.. some become RFP's to my subs..

    the original document.. the prints.. stay with the file..

    if you don't have an extra set of prints.. i always either make one or get one

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   BobKovacs | Feb 11, 2004 04:18pm | #3

   Mike-

   Do you need to switch to the MS-DOS prompt to run Quattro Pro anymore?  LOL

   Bob

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Feb 11, 2004 04:30pm | #4

   bob...i have the whole MS Office Pro suite.... XP version... i've had it since Win 98 & Win 2000... but  i hate Word.. and i hate Excell

    i'm still using my WordPerfect 9.0 suite...

   i find Word & Excell to be clunky compared to QP & WP...

   but hey, whadda i no ?

   BTW.... i've been using WP since CPM... the DOS thing is a new guy on the block.... hah, hah, hah

   remember Supercalc & Wordstar ?.. they came bundled with my Osborne computer

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   Edited 2/11/2004 8:32:30 AM ET by Mike Smith

1. 
   BobKovacs | Feb 11, 2004 05:14pm | #7

   Hey, man- whatever works for ya! 

   Bob