How to Perform a Plumbing Takeoff: A Quick Guide
Concept about plumbing quantity takeoff
Recording the plumbing takeoff is one of the most essential steps in the estimating process for any kind of construction project. The main goal of the plumbing quantity takeoff is to convert the detailed drawings into accurate quantity and cost data, which helps to ensure that the project contractors can forecast the requirements of the materials, labourers, and construction equipment with precision.
The plumbing takeoff helps to turn complex plumbing systems into structured and actionable estimates, which helps to improve the overall bidding accuracy and the construction project execution process.
Discuss the key components of the plumbing estimating sheet
The plumbing estimating spreadsheet contains all components that are required to bid on a small project or a large-scale project. This plumbing estimating spreadsheet helps to save time and money on the bidding project, as well as improve the overall project accuracy.
Plumbing fixtures
The plumbing estimating sheet has a line item for all plumbing fixtures that will be found in residential or commercial construction projects. There is a fixture value in each line that the user can assign; as a result, the plumbing estimating spreadsheet can automatically calculate the project costs on the basis of the fixture for a sanitary check.
Plumbing equipment
The information about the plumbing equipment, including water heaters, pumps, boilers, storage tanks and others, has been put in the plumbing estimating spreadsheet.
Plumbing materials and labour summary
The plumbing material and labour summary helps to do a quick review of the overall trade numbers. In this sheet, the total feet of piping, the labour cost for each piping service, the material costs and other information related to the plumbing services should be included.
Plumbing assemblies
The plumbing assembly section is a time saver as it contains all common fixtures and equipment trim that have already been preset.
Plumbing specialties
The plumbing specialities tab is for the material and labour cost that has been considered for the specialities that do not fit into the other categories.
Plumbing crew size and labour rates
The plumbing estimating spreadsheet helps to calculate the total cost of the labourers, including the burdens of the labourers. With the help of a plumbing estimating sheet, the surveyor can change the descriptions to fit the labour designations. A burden calculator is also available in the plumbing estimating sheet, which helps to figure out the cost to be recovered for labour burden expenses.
General conditions
In the plumbing estimating sheet, the user can put their recurring project management fees, job site office fees and other general information.
Rental sheet
In the plumbing estimating sheet, the user can put all the typical pieces of plumbing equipment that they normally rent and the cost for the rental period. The user can keep track of the cost of the rental plumbing equipment instead of calling the rental yard for every bid.
Estimating summary sheet
In this section, the user can add the overhead and profit percentages along with any contingency.
Dashboard
The dashboard helps to provide a quick visual overview of the total plumbing and construction project, along with the cost metrics, which enable users to compare one project against another.
Risk assessment sheet
This section of the plumbing estimation sheet enables users to assess the risks and rewards of pursuing a proposed estimate on the basis of the real risk. The risk assessment sheet needs to be filled out to determine whether the project is worth pursuing on the basis of the values for each category.
Plumbing specification review sheet
This section of the plumbing estimating sheet allows the project estimators to record the important sections of the project specifications. These specifications can be entered in the sheet and act as a reminder for the estimators to search for the current specifications.
Bid notice sheet
This section allows the estimator to document the important aspects of the plumbing and construction project that are relevant to bidding, for example, job walk dates, bid date and time, deadlines for RFI’s, etc.
Learn about the process of performing plumbing quantity takeoff
To perform the plumbing quantity takeoff, several steps need to be followed, which are:
1. At first, the overhead cost of the company needs to be estimated. The estimator needs to include an amount to cover all the expenses for labourers, materials, insurance, rent, taxes, utilities and others.
2. The project specifications need to be examined closely to catch anything unusual in the project before the estimator bids on the project.
3. In the next step, the user has to begin the manual takeoff processes.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
Video Source: Math and Engineering hub
Download Plumbing Quantity Takeoff
4. After that, the estimator has to watch for unusual items in the project.
5. In the next step, the estimator needs to calculate how long the installation process will take. In this case, the estimator also needs to add a buffer to cover the unexpected issues at the construction job site.
6. The estimator should double-check the entire work. After that, the estimator has to do paperwork, in which every aspect of the project should be listed. In the case of a public bidding meeting, it has to make sure that any concerns are addressed immediately.
