Quantities take off
What is a quantities take off?
A quantities take-off is a method to price a construction project and is normally carried out by a construction estimator.
Construction estimates are calculations that give a cost for a construction project. The estimate gives valuable information to the project manager to allow full control of the project costs.
The costs of the project are broken down into the construction elements, for example:
- Foundations
- Drainage
- Substructure
- Superstructure
- Roof
- Floors
- Fist fix
- Plastering
- Second fix
- Finishes
- Landscaping
Each element is then broken down into work elements, for example.
Foundations
- Excavate foundations
- Excavate working space
- Move spoil to location on site
- Level and ram foundation bottom
- 50mm blinding concrete to raft
- 400mm formwork to side of raft
- Concrete C30 to Raft
The cost of each work item is then broken down into labour, plant and materials.
It is easier to see an example:
The image below shows a priced bill of quantities for a house foundation. You can see the work items, the amount of each work item, the rate, and the total.
The next image shows each work item’s labour, plant, and material makeup.
The advantage of having a fully priced bill of quantities
Once you have a fully priced bill of quantities for your project, you are then in control of your costs. You can make better-informed decisions on how you intend to build the project.
Our estimating services
We can take the pain away by taking off the quantities for you, creating a shopping list, obtaining competitive quotations for materials, and pricing the bill of quantities.
Competitive quotations for materials are obtained by sending out a blank bill of quantities to a number of suppliers. Each supplier fills in the blanks with their prices, which are then compared. The estimator selects the supplier with the most competitive prices and orders the materials from them.
My name is Bob Evans, and I have been a construction estimator for over forty years. I have a lot of experience taking off quantities and pricing up projects. I was the MD of my own civil engineering business and was one of the estimators.
Tell me about your project if you are looking for a project cost. I can give you a fee to carry out the work for you.
- Author:
- Bob Evans
- Job Title:
- Founder
- Company:
- Retaining Wall Solutions
- Last updated:
- December 6, 2023, 4:27 pm
