Chapter 2
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MAGED MOHMMED AHMED QASEMChapter 2
Uploaded by
MAGED MOHMMED AHMED QASEMChapter 2
Arithmetic and
Principles of Measurement
How is Work
Measured in a Takeoff?
• Work is measured in five different kinds of units:
– By counting the number of pieces; for example, the
number of doors
– By measuring the length of an item such as a pipe
– By measuring an area of a material; for instance the
area of floor sheathing
– By measuring the volume of a material such as
concrete
– By measuring the weight of materials such as
structural steel beams
Calculating Number of Items
• Enumerated items are often counted from the drawings, but
sometimes you need to calculate the number. Examples:
– How many bolts spaced at 24" are required on a 13'-0" wall (the
end bolts are 2" from the end of the wall)?
– Answer: 13'-0" - 4" = 12'-8" (12.67')
12.67' / 2.0'= 6.3 (round up to 7)
+ 1 for the end bolt = 8
– How many studs spaced 16" are required for a 21'-0" wall?
– Answer: 21.0'/ 2.0' = 10.5 (round up to 11)
+ 1 for the end stud = 12
Length Calculations
• Usually the length of an item is obtained directly from the
dimensions on the drawings.
• Scaling lengths is not recommended but may be necessary when
dimensions are lacking.
• Many buildings have perimeter walls. The volume of concrete in
a perimeter wall is obtained by multiplying the centerline length
of the wall, the width of the wall, and the height of the wall.
• The centerline length may also be used to calculate a number of
other items: forms for walls, trenching, concrete, and forms for
wall footings.
Perimeter Calculations
• The perimeter length of the basement wall shown
of Figure 2.3 is calculated in this way:
2 x 42'-0" = 84'-0"
2 x 26'-0" = 52'-0"
= 136'-0"
Less 4 x 8" = <2'-8">
133'-4"
Calculating Areas
• Most areas in estimating will be rectangles, but
triangles, circles, and other shapes sometimes have
to be calculated.
• The area of the building (to outside of walls) shown
on Figure 2.12 is calculated in this way:
42.0' x 38.5' = 1617
+ π x 21.0'2 / 2 = 692
2309 sf
Calculating Volumes
• To calculate the volume of concrete in a continuous footing to the
perimeter of a building use this formula:
– Volume = centerline length x width x depth
– Example: If there is a footing size 2'-0" x 1'-6" under the wall
shown on Figure 2.4, what is the amount of concrete in this
footing?
2 x 25.0 = 50.0
2 x 16.0 = 32.0
less 4 x 0.5 = <2.0>
= 80.0
volume: 80.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 = 240 cu. ft.
= 9 CY
The Quantity Takeoff
• A quantity takeoff is the process of measuring the work of the
project.
• The document that is produced in this process is also called a
takeoff.
• A takeoff is a series of quantified items that correspond to the
tasks required to construct the project.
– A takeoff item comprises a description and a set of dimensions
that define the quantity of the item.
• Items are measured according to standard rules of measurement
so that all estimators measure the same kind of items in the
same way.
– For example, the standard units for measuring concrete footings
are cubic yards.
What is Measured in a Takeoff?
• A takeoff for an estimate is more than a materials
takeoff because additional information is required for
pricing.
– For example: “160 square feet of ½″ G1S ply” is fine
for a material takeoff, but is to be applied to walls or
floors? This information is needed for pricing.
– Also, some items do not involve materials such as:
“hand troweling.”
Rules of Measurement
• Dimensions are entered onto the takeoff in this order: length,
width, and depth (or height).
• Dimensions are written in feet to two decimal places, thus, 5'-10"
would be written into a dimension column as 5.83.
• Deductions listed with the dimensions are written in red or
enclosed in brackets and noted as deductions.
• Extensions (the result of multiplying dimensions together) are
calculated to the nearest whole number whether it is linear feet,
square feet, or cubic feet.
• Totals in the extensions column are rounded off to the nearest
whole number.
• See text for a full list of measurement rules.
Takeoff Order and Strategy
• The order of the takeoff generally follows the
sequence of the work on the project.
• Strategy for larger projects:
– Divide the project into manageable parts
– Takeoff one part at a time
– Within each of these parts, measuring the work as a
sequence of assemblies
– Where an assembly is a collection of related items
Wall Assembly Example
• Items included in a wall assembly:
– The concrete in the wall
– The forms to the sides of the wall
– The forms to openings and blockouts in the wall
– The rubbed finish on the exposed concrete of the wall
– The reinforcing steel in the wall
Computer Estimating
• Use of computers can increase the efficiency of the process.
– The computer can perform all the arithmetic to determine total
net quantities from the dimensions input.
– Items are automatically sorted and recapped into the required
order.
– Items can be automatically priced from the database.
• Keeping backup notes on paper is recommended.
– It provides a record of how the estimate was prepared.
– It enables the takeoff to be checked to ensure that all the work
has been measured as required.
