Lumber Estimate For House

MHMConstruction

I realize I will be called a dumbarse but that's all part of the fun


my lumber supplier no longer does free take-offs for materials. ticked me off. told them i'd do it myself and go elsewhere.

oops - don't really know how to do it myself, other than drawing it out and counting by hand

anyone got any quick info on estimating framing lumber (2x6 exterior walls, 2x4 interior)

maybe a website, or formula or something?

MHM

JonM

Google is your friend

http://www.comprotexsoftware.com/onlinelumberest.html

reveivl

1 stick per linear foot of wall gets you close...

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MHMConstruction

very cool. many thanks

Cole

Send me the plans along with a check for $500 and I will do it for you!

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neolitic

One day only offer!
I'll do it for $499.95!
Such a deal, how can you pass it up?

Seriously, I've never saved anything
when someone else did my take-offs.
I build the way I build, and I spend too much
time on the job trying to figure out,
WTF is that for? And where is my_____?
The absolute worst was when Blowes
first came to town @ '74 and my uncle
let them do a couple.....they converted
all the rafters and joist to lineal feet,
and sent random lengths!
(for starters)
I do the take-off, and I know
what every stick is for
and where it goes as soon as
the bands are cut.

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MHMConstruction

Cole,

I'm disappointed in you - in the past you have been much quicker on the draw - I got two 'serious' replies before your *&*^& comment.

well, I knew it was comin.......thanks for not leaving me hangin


Actually, I've been doing some figuring, and that "one stick per linear foot" is not too far off.

MHM

neolitic

Add 10% (or more if your yard sends crap)
and it works really well. Unless it's really
chopped up.

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MHMConstruction

does this method cover the bottom plate and 2 top plates?

neolitic

Just studs.
Plates = lf of walls X 3. Doh!

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Cole

If you act now or before this commercial ends, you can get a lumber takeoff / material list for $475. Act now, act now!

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Tom M

That a pretty good rule of thumb. (stick/ft)

JON M thats an interesting cheat sheet you linked. I was wondering how come their is no basic input data like "height" of the walls. What are all these #'s based on?

Spectatorz

This might be something Helpful. http://www.eolnow.com/

I dont think there is much available that would be Free, if anyone Finds a Freeware Estimator be sure and let us all know.

They Do Offer a Low Cost Online Version Too : http://eolnow.com/eolbeta.html

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Spectatorz

This looks like it might be another useful program that doesnt cost too much money.

Take a look and see, they offer a Free Demo download too.

http://www.handyestimator.com/default.asp

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Kingfisher

Cole, has the time run out. Tell me where to send them please hurry. I can't see having any one use the lumber yard take off unless you sit there and tell them how you build and even then it will be wrong LOL

eagle2869

I've been signed up for a while just to see the contractors comments as to what makes their life better at what they do. I have been in the industry for well over 25yrs and I'm also a Veteran and I am just down right tired of the B.S. we get from our governerment and lumber companies who feel contractors need them when it is the other way around. I worked for 84 lumber as a contractor sales rep for years after I sold my Tile Company.

First let me say, any lumber company that says they do free take-offs are not. Think about it, sales reps are hired to drag in business for the lumber company, do you really think they are hired to do blueprint take-offs and get them accurate? No, they guess at it to get you in the door. Then you pay for that blueprint when they bury delivery into the extra material (you just paid for) to finish the dry-in. Then when you need your trim package, doors, windows ect. The margin is twice as high as you lumber margin.

On November 30, 2007 84 Lumber company layed off 680 people and closed 13 stores that i know of. Since then we have opened a Digital Estimating Company with the latest software and gives the contractors a shop drawing of floor joist, ceiling joist, and rafters so they know where their lumber goes and there are no questions. We also send that material list out to your choosen lumber companies for an apple to apples quote and they have no clue as to if your a contractor or a home owner. Lumber yards need to survive and the only way they can is with contractors, but now it's gone to their heads that you need them. So wrong and needs to be changed.

I can tell you how manual take-offs are done. Or the best way for you to do a manuel take-off.

eagle2869

King, What part of Tampa are you in. I lived in Brandon for 14 years.

MHMConstruction

eagle -

how DO you do the manual take-off? i'm definitley interested - I know I am missing something everytime


and BTW, i lived in Tarpon Springs (NW of Tampa bay) for a year - somewhat familiar w/ Brandon - when did you live there?

MHM

eagle2869

Sorry MHM, had to go get my truck, blow out the water pump on one of the coldest days here. lol I lived in Brandon from 1989-2002. I know about Tarpon Springs, used to go fishing on the Dolphine and the Miss Milwakee.

eagle2869

MHM, if you want to e-mail me, I can send you a manual blueprint take-off guide I first got when I started with 84 Lumber. I have a few of them and since I have enough experience with contractors, blueprints, and doing digital take-offs, I don't use them anyways. or you can e-mail me

midtnestimators@hughes.net

I have no problem helping out.

MidTN