40 CHAPTER FIVE
FIGURE 5.1.WinEst Estimate Sheet.
Courtesy of WinEstimator Inc.
FIGURE 5.2.WinEst Database.
Courtesy of WinEstimator Inc.5–5 Takeoff Software
Takeoff software allows the user to determine the estimate
quantities from an electronic set of drawings. Software such
as On-Screen Takeoff allows the user to determine the
lengths, areas, and volumes (Figure 5.4) of the different
components in a building project. Other packages are
designed for specific trades. For example, Trimble’s Paydirt is
specifically designed to estimate the quantities of earthwork,
concrete pavement, and asphalt for excavating contractors.
These packages may be integrated into a specialized estimat-
ing program, or they may export the data to a spreadsheet or
other specialized estimating package.
Takeoff software has the following advantages:- By using layers, it can keep track of where the quantities
came from. This allows the estimator to review her takeoff