Welcome to the Estimators’ Consortium – A discussion forum for estimators

It is a place to “talk shop” and share ideas with other professionals in the business. You are invited ask and answer questions, share your knowledge, discuss estimating formulas, recommend software, upload photos, and anything else you’d like to bring to the table.

Learn VisionREZ BOM: Linking takeoffs to spreadsheet templates

TARGET TRAINING: In this lesson John shows you how you can link Excel spreadsheet templates to the takeoff information exported from the VisionREZ Building Information Model.

Target Training Video ~ VisionREZ Out-of-the-box Takeoff

TARGET TRAINING #1 – Export 3D model in to a Bill of Materials “BOM” spreadsheet.

Optimization Schedule for Estimators & Framers

Framing Material Optimization

Just about every quality framing plan I’ve seen tags the lengths of the headers, ceiling joists and rafters to the nearest 1′ increment. This is a great guide for both the estimator and the framer. If however, the estimator is quantifying all the 4′ members to be cut from a 2x6x12, and the framer is actually cutting these from a 2x6x8 or 2x6x16, then this will obviously result in a substantial takeoff error. This schedule is actually the back of my business card. It is also published on every page of my framing plans.

This schedule is based on the lowest common denominator for typical lumber lengths: 5’ members are estimated and cut from 10’ boards; 7’ members are estimated and cut from 14’ boards; and, 1’, 2’, 3’, 4’, 6’ members are estimated and cut from 12’ boards.  All other tagged member lengths, such as 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 18’ etc. are estimated as their nominal length.

 I believe that any communication tool that aligns the estimator with the tradesmen will result in a cleaner, more profitable project.