Estimate & Calculation

Estimate sheet preparation:

An estimate sheet preparation is used to detail the expected costs, quantities, materials, labor, and other resources required for a particular project. This sheet helps project managers, contractors, or businesses assess the financial requirements before starting a project. It is an essential part of project planning, as it ensures that all aspects of the project are considered and budgeted properly.

1. Click on Estimate in the takeoff panel after the takeoff/Estimate is completed.

2. The estimate sheet panel appears with options like Material cost, Labor cost and Cost calculation.

3. The below image shows the estimate panel with the options available.

Estimate or take-off sheet preparation:

Below is a step-by-step guide to preparing an estimate sheet, including its key components.

First let us have a view of how a template should look. The below image shows an example of the template

Overview

· All the variables to be used in the material cost estimate sheet should be declared first.

· Material calculation can also be customized by using formulas

· The variables to be displayed in the estimate sheet should be declared

· Filter options are available to change the visibility.

Steps to create an example painting template:

1. Click Estimate in the takeoff panel.

2. Click Takeoff ---> Configuration

1. Defining a variable: Variables are strings that is to be created to be used in the calculator section to create an estimate that is tailored according to our need

· Click variable

· Click on create

· First, we need to display the material name as in the example of template sheet. We need to extract the material name string. To do that select the material name string from the drop-down menu and give a variable name without any spaces. These will be extracted later in the calculator tab.

· Likewise create the variables we need to get displayed in the estimate sheet.

· We can edit and delete the variables. Options are provided at the right end of the items created.

· We need material name, Unit of measure, landed price (Given in material management), and labor productivity (Given in the material management)

4. Material Formula - material formulas are used to calculate the quantities of materials required for a specific task or project. These formulas help estimate the amount of material needed, which is crucial for cost estimation, procurement, and budgeting.

· Let's take painting material calculations.

· Let's calculate paint material needed for exterior paint

Formula calculations

· Let us consider displaying the paint material required in Gallons.

· Let us consider 1 gallon can cover up to 400 sqft of area.

· As the area measured are in sqft for painting let us create the formula for that

Steps to create a material Formula:

1. Click Material Formula --> Create

2. Enter the name of the area for paint under consideration (Eg Exterior)

3. Select the material from the drop-down menu. Either a single material can be selected or a whole group can be selected from the drop down.

4. Select the unit

5. We can create a new variable by checking the box and give the name and it will be added to the variables that can be used in the formula

6. Enter the formula

7. Click on the + symbol next to the variable name to add it in the formula bar

(For example, to measure the material in gallons let's use area/400).

(If we use linear drop option to create a take-off then we also include length and height of the wall in that case the formula will be ({{area}}+{{length}}*{{heightofwall}})/400)

8. There is a test option available to test the formula accuracy

9. Click create button to add the formula

10. Likewise create formulas for all the materials to be used in the takeoff.

11. Below is the list created to calculate the paint area.