Methods of Measurement for Quantity Takeoff
Project Challenges
- How do you conduct quantity takeoff for construction materials, products, and work tasks?
- Does your company have a quantity takeoff manual or templates to help guide those assigned to conduct quantity takeoff?
- Does your company maintain standardized Bluebeam tool sets with tools (subjects) and relevant custom columns for takeoff, organized by item of work and related construction materials, products, and work tasks?
- What factors define how quantity takeoffs are conducted?
- Would access to templates of standard methods of measurement for quantity takeoff that are based on each item of work and related work tasks be of any value to you?
Project Context and State-of-Practice
We understand the relationships between items of work, work tasks, construction materials, products, and units of measure (UOM). We also recognize how project control practices focus on these elements. This is where quantity takeoff plays a crucial role.
Let’s be serious; if the quantity takeoff is not accurate, then all other aspects of project control—such as cost estimates and project scheduling—that depend on it will also be inaccurate.
Here are some of the factors that define how different work tasks, construction materials, and products are measured:
- Level of detail,
- Construction material and products measurement practice,
- Work tasks measurement practice, and
- Alignment to historical cost data to be referenced
To avoid reworking takeoff due to the use of the wrong UOM, the UOM used for takeoff must match the UOM found in the historical record or past cost for the construction materials, products, and work tasks being measured. This is why the person conducting quantity takeoff must first review and reference past cost records to determine the units of measure to use.
If you are asked to help quantify an item of work composed of several interconnected and dependent work tasks, construction materials, and products, how would you approach solving this problem?
So, here we go. The key point is that each item of work is estimated based on corresponding work tasks, construction materials, and products that drive the price of that item. The work tasks, materials, and products are measured using specific UOM, and the UOM defines the related quantity takeoff dimensions used to calculate the quantities.
For example, the UOM for clear and grub for a vegetated area is ACRE, and this is derived and calculated using set dimensions (length times width, or area) from the drawings.
Having the required work tasks, construction materials, products, their UOM, and related dimensions clearly mapped makes it easy to perform quantity takeoff for an item of work.
Specific Solutions from Our Webbook
Master the fundamentals of heavy civil construction with our webbook—gain solid expertise, practical skills, and help to add value to the organizations you work for.
Below is one example of our approach to simplify quantity takeoff. The template is for a specific item of work and the related work tasks. Our webbook features over 90 items of work across five units, with each item including a template of the standard method of measurement for quantity takeoff.
Standard Methods of Measurement for Quantity Takeoff: Topsoil Stripping, Stockpiling, and Placing
