Blueprint Takeoff Software
STACK’s blueprint takeoff and blueprint takeoff software will help you optimize your business. Use our services and products to:
• Accurately complete takeoffs
• Streamline your takeoff process to save time
• Expand your business
What is a Takeoff in the Construction Industry?
In the construction industry, general contractors and subcontractors are typically provided a set of blueprints (either printed or digital), and then asked to provide a quote detailing how much it would cost to perform their specialized trade. A takeoff is simply measuring blueprints to determine the quantities of materials needed to finish any given job.
As you may have experienced for yourself, making an accurate takeoff by hand can be difficult and somewhat tedious. Historically, these takeoffs were all done by hand with paper blueprints, scale rulers and calculators. It is a time consuming process to takeoff even a small project by hand, and can span multiple days when working on a larger project such as a multi-floor office building.
In contrast, STACK’s blueprint takeoff software is convenient, quick and easy to use, and provides accurate takeoff estimates. We strive to equip you with the tools and support you need to succeed in your business endeavors.
Bid Faster. Win More. Build Smarter.
Get your FREE account today to:
- Increase Team Efficiency
- Complete Estimates Faster
- Generate More Revenue
How Takeoffs Work
These days, the construction industry is rapidly migrating towards using digital blueprints and blueprint takeoff software. Although there are many different software options, in general they operate the following way:
Using the software’s pre-built materials database, you’ll select your materials, items, and assemblies. The software creates your estimate by:
• Opening your digital plans in the software
• Perform your takeoff digitally using your computer mouse to measure project area and count symbols on your blueprint
Digital Vs. Manual Takeoff
Are you still doing your material takeoffs manually, measuring with a scale ruler? There are many reasons to upgrade your takeoff process to a digital method using software! Benefits of digital takeoffs include savings a massive amount of time, reduction of measuring & calculation errors, ease of making changes after your initial measurement, and savings in blueprint printing costs.
The only benefit to using a manual method is that you won’t have to pay for digital blueprint takeoff software. If you are only doing 1 or 2 takeoffs a month, this might be the way to go for you. Even still, there are free options available for those instances such as STACK’s free takeoff & estimating software which is perfect for low volume contractors.
For those doing over two takeoffs/month, there’s no question that a paid digital takeoff solution will be worthwhile. Time is money and your time savings will pay for software itself. Digital takeoffs are easily 3-4 times as fast as manual takeoffs. What will you do with all the extra time you have on your hands? You can use the extra time to bid (and win) more jobs and/or spend the extra time with your family and stop working nights and weekends.
Construction contractors all over the world are now embracing blueprint takeoff software to give them a leg up on their competition, increase their revenues, and be more profitable. Consider this situation: two commercial painters are submitting bid proposals for jobs in their area.
• Commercial Painter #1 is still doing manual blueprint takeoffs. It takes them on average four hours to complete their takeoff and submit their bid. A full time estimator can submit two bids/day and ten bids/week. If they win 10% of their bids, they’ll get one job/week.
• Commercial Painter #2 has embraced digital blueprint takeoffs using software. They can now do takeoffs four times faster and it now takes them one hour to complete a takeoff and submit their bid. A full-time estimator can submit eight bids/day and fifty bids/week. If they win 10% of their bids, they’ll get five jobs/week.
Long-term, Commercial Painter #2 will be much more successful than Commercial Painter #1. They will win more work, employ more painting crews, be more selective of which jobs they take on and be more profitable. Simply moving from manual takeoffs to digital takeoffs can have a HUGE impact on their business!
So what are you waiting for? Make the leap today! Create your free blueprint takeoff software account and give it a try. Need help getting started? STACK offers customized training and dedicated support from our customer support team, available via chat, email and phone. In addition, there’s an entire library of help articles and videos designed to get you started quickly and easily.
Is there a difference between takeoffs and estimates?
Takeoffs and estimates are two critical steps in the construction project planning process, each serving distinct purposes but closely related.
Takeoffs focus on the quantitative aspect of a project. They involve calculating the precise quantity of materials required, based on detailed analysis of the project blueprints and specifications. This process involves identifying all the materials needed, such as concrete, steel, lumber, and other components, factoring in the associated costs. The primary goal of takeoffs is to ensure that every material requirement is accurately accounted for to avoid shortages or surpluses during construction.
Estimates, on the other hand, build upon the data provided by the takeoffs by incorporating financial considerations. This step involves applying costs such as the price of labor, taxes, overhead, equipment, and other related expenses. An estimate provides a comprehensive financial projection of the project, offering a detailed overview of what the project is likely to cost.
Subcontractors, General Contractors, Suppliers & Manufacturers use STACK everyday to power a better preconstruction process. Get started today!
Benefits of Takeoff Software
There are various benefits to using blueprint takeoff software. Arguably the biggest benefit to using this software is that it is much faster than alternative manual takeoff methods. In general, you can expect takeoffs to be between two and four times faster when using a good takeoff software program versus performing calculations by hand. When you are working on large-scale projects, this means that you will be saving hours or even days of work.
When time is money, saving so much time allows you to put money back into your pocket by bidding and winning more work. Or you may choose to use that extra time to spend more with family and friends and not in the office!
Another important benefit to using blueprint takeoff software is increased accuracy. When measuring by hand, there are many ways to make mistakes in your calculations. For example, you may accidentally use the wrong scale, mis-read your ruler, have your ruler positioned incorrectly, type the wrong number in the calculator, double-count, or miscount. These are all human errors that may be avoided or eliminated entirely when using software. This ensures that your takeoff is as accurate as possible!
Benefits of a Cloud Takeoff Solution
When selecting the right blueprint takeoff software for your company there is an important consideration. Do you want to use cloud-based construction software or software that is downloaded to your computer?
What is "cloud-based software"?
Simply stated, cloud-based construction software simply means that you will access the program using your web browser by typing in the software’s web address and logging into your account. Alternatively, purchased software is bought and downloaded to your computer.
What are the advantages of cloud-based software?
There are many benefits to using cloud-based estimating software. These advantages include:
• Access the software anywhere – You can access the software from work, home or while travelling.
• Use any device to access the software – You can use any phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop to access the software. This is incredibly useful for contractors who spend a lot of time in the field. Downloadable software is only accessible on the computer it’s installed on.
• Nothing to install – No hardware requirements or anything to download on your computer plus no need to mess with installing software updates.
• Updates – New features, bug-fixes and other improvements are continually made so you’ll always be using the latest and greatest version.
How can automated measurements help?
Using automated measurement tools for blueprint takeoffs offers several significant benefits, particularly in improving accuracy, reducing human error, and saving time compared to manual methods.
Improved Accuracy: Automated tools are designed to convert blueprint data into precise material quantities with high accuracy. Unlike manual methods, which rely on hand measurements and calculations that can easily lead to mistakes, automated tools reduce the risk of miscalculations or overlooked details, ensuring that the material quantities are exact and reliable.
Reduction of Human Error: Manual takeoffs are prone to errors, from simple misreads to complex calculation mistakes. These errors can lead to costly overruns or delays in construction projects. Digital takeoff tools significantly reduce these risks by eliminating the need for repetitive manual input. They provide consistent and repeatable results, which minimizes the chances of human error and ensures the integrity of the takeoff data.
Time Savings: One of the most significant advantages of automation in blueprint takeoffs is the time saved. Manual takeoffs can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially for large or complex projects. Automated tools can process blueprints quickly, often in a fraction of the time it would take manually. This allows project teams to focus on other critical tasks, such as estimating or client communication, and accelerates the overall project timeline.
Streamlined Process Integration: Automated tools not only enhance the takeoff process but often integrate seamlessly with estimating software. This integration allows for the smooth transfer of data between different stages of the project, from initial takeoff to final estimation. By automating the flow of information, these tools help to avoid data entry duplication and reduce the potential for discrepancies, further improving efficiency and accuracy across the project lifecycle.
Overall, the use of automated measurement tools in blueprint takeoffs transforms the process, making it faster, more accurate, and less prone to error, while also enhancing the overall efficiency of construction projects through better integration with other digital tools.
In which scenarios are blueprint takeoffs critical?
Accurate blueprint takeoffs are a crucial element in commercial construction, serving as the foundation for several key processes. Here’s an outline of the various situations where they are essential:
1. Submitting Bids
- Competitive Advantage: During the bidding process, contractors must provide a detailed estimate of the costs associated with a project. Accurate blueprint takeoffs ensure that all necessary materials and labor are accounted for, giving contractors a competitive edge by allowing them to submit precise and competitive bids.
- Avoiding Underbidding or Overbidding: An accurate takeoff helps avoid the pitfalls of underbidding, which can lead to financial losses, or overbidding, which might result in losing the contract to a competitor.
2. Creating Detailed Project Estimates
- Comprehensive Cost Planning: Detailed project estimates rely on accurate takeoffs to quantify materials. This allows for the creation of a realistic budget, helping stakeholders understand the financial scope of the project.
- Financial Forecasting: Accurate estimates aid in financial forecasting, ensuring that the project remains on budget throughout its duration, and helping in securing financing or approval from stakeholders.
3. Ordering Materials
- Preventing Over-Ordering: Accurate takeoffs help ensure that only the required amount of materials is ordered. Over-ordering can lead to unnecessary costs and wastage, both of which can negatively impact the project’s bottom line.
- Preventing Under-Ordering: On the flip side, under-ordering materials can lead to project delays, as additional orders and deliveries may take time. This can disrupt the project timeline and increase costs.
4. Supporting Project Management
- Project Monitoring and Control: Takeoffs are vital for tracking the progress of the project and ensuring that it remains aligned with the initial estimates and budget. This helps in making informed decisions and adjustments as the project progresses.
- Risk Management: By providing an accurate picture of the materials and costs involved, takeoffs help in identifying potential risks early, allowing for the development of contingency plans to mitigate those risks.
5. Client Communication and Transparency
- Building Trust with Clients: Accurate takeoffs allow contractors to provide clear and detailed estimates to clients, fostering transparency and trust. This helps in managing client expectations and maintaining a positive relationship throughout the project.
- Detailed Reporting: They also enable contractors to provide detailed reports to clients, showing exactly how the budget is being allocated and used, which can be crucial for client approval and satisfaction.
Blueprint takeoffs are a foundational element in commercial construction that impacts nearly every phase of a project. Accurate takeoffs prevent under or over-ordering of materials, reduce project delays, and ensure that cost estimates are as accurate as possible. By facilitating better planning, budgeting, and project management, they play a critical role in the success of construction projects, helping to deliver them on time, within budget, and to the required specifications.
The Future of Construction Industry Software
Like the software industry in general, construction software is quickly moving away from downloadable software and moving towards software that runs in the cloud. Forward-looking contractors are embracing this change and taking advantage of the benefits that being in the cloud brings to their organization.
Our Software Options
Our cloud-based, intuitive cost estimating software will help to increase speed and eliminate costly errors – giving you more hours in the day to focus on growing your business. Our specialized software takes the pain out of creating takeoffs.
In short, we are committed to helping you to achieve the results you are looking for. Each of our software options allows you to do the following:
• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs. Quickly complete takeoffs with easy-to-use measurement and markup tools.
• Put time back on the clock. Reduce your takeoff time by 75% or more and add valuable time back to your business and life.
• Minimize complexity and eliminate risks. Take the stress out of manual measurement and eliminate costly estimating mistakes.
• Grow your business. Complete takeoffs in a fraction of the time it takes by hand.
In summary, our software takes care of takeoffs in an efficient accurate way so that you can turn your focus to what is most important in running a business – your bottom line. The integrated takeoff and estimating software we provide is designed for any project and any trade, so you may apply it to whatever business you may have. If you want to add hours back to your day, eliminate costly estimating mistakes and say goodbye to paper plans, you’ve come to the right place.
Subcontractors, General Contractors, Suppliers & Manufacturers use STACK everyday to power a better preconstruction process. Get started today with our construction cost estimating software!
