 |
|
08-27-2007, 09:30 PM
|
#1
|
|
SANDBLASTING & REMODELING
Trade:
SODA BLASTING & REMODELING
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,367
|
What measuring device do you use when estimating?
I am seriously consindering a digital device for estimating.
any suggestions?
I need something that i could quickly calculate sq.ft LN. ft. etc...
|
|
|
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury
or death. ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!
Join the #1 Contractor Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
ContractorTalk.com - Are you a Professional Contractor? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's the leading place for contractors to meet online. No homeowners asking DIY questions. Just fellow tradesmen who enjoy talking about their business, their trade, and anything else that comes up. No matter what your trade is you'll find that ContractorTalk.com is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!
Join ContractorTalk.com - Click Here
|
|
08-27-2007, 09:34 PM
|
#2
|
|
DGR,IABD
Trade:
Electrical; Commercial and Residential Service
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Central PA
Posts: 9,665
|
ine
Last edited by mdshunk; 08-27-2007 at 09:41 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
08-27-2007, 09:52 PM
|
#3
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Paperhanger/painting contractor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Decorah, IA
Posts: 154
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by plazaman
I am seriously consindering a digital device for estimating.
any suggestions?
I need something that i could quickly calculate sq.ft LN. ft. etc...
|
I just purchased a Stanley Fat Max laser tape measure. Pretty cheap as far as lasers go, but it doesn't really have any bells and whistles. It will calculate sq. ft. or cub. ft. of a room but not sq ft of wall space. But for 99 bucks I thought I'd give it a try. I haven't really had an opportunity to use it yet. It's supposed to be accurate to within 1/4 inch at 100 ft.
|
|
|
|
|
08-27-2007, 10:00 PM
|
#4
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Low Voltage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Burlington, Ontario
Posts: 1,218
|
Quote:
|
I am seriously consindering a digital device for estimating.
|
Opposing thumbs?
Last edited by BuildingHomes; 08-27-2007 at 10:04 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
08-27-2007, 10:06 PM
|
#5
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Low Voltage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Burlington, Ontario
Posts: 1,218
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackrabbit5
I just purchased a Stanley Fat Max laser tape measure. Pretty cheap as far as lasers go, but it doesn't really have any bells and whistles.
|
That's the actual laser range finder model? Or the one with a laser pointer on it that still uses sonicwave measuring?
|
|
|
|
|
08-27-2007, 10:09 PM
|
#6
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Paperhanger/painting contractor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Decorah, IA
Posts: 154
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BuildingHomes
That's the actual laser range finder model? Or the one with a laser pointer on it that still uses sonicwave measuring?
|
It's a true laser range finder. No sonics involved.
|
|
|
|
|
08-28-2007, 03:22 PM
|
#7
|
|
Professional Remodeler
Trade:
Remodeling Contractor
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 2,290
|
I use the Hilti PD-20. Works like a charm. Probably 6 or 7 years old, never had a problem with it. The new ones are much smaller and have even more functions. Highly recommend the Hilti's, every one I know that has one loves them.
__________________
 -Mike-
Falcon Contracting Residential - Commercial
|
|
|
|
|
08-29-2007, 05:52 PM
|
#8
|
|
ohhh noooo, it's ...
Trade:
Wallcovering Installation
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Norfolk, MA
Posts: 1,241
|
Stacy,
I been casually looking for a true LASER measuring tool. I assume it's perfect for wallpaper estimates too?
Does it look like this:
model No. TLM100 ?
If so, I'll look for it Home Depot or Lowes.
(the Fat Max Laser level is a perfect back-up for my PLS 2. They appear to be decent cheap tools)
|
|
|
|
|
08-29-2007, 06:26 PM
|
#9
|
|
Pro
Trade:
manager of excavation division
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: danbury,ct.
Posts: 3,660
|
An old yard stick. It has 3 inches missing from it too. 
__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe
|
|
|
|
|
08-29-2007, 06:41 PM
|
#10
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Paperhanger/painting contractor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Decorah, IA
Posts: 154
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by daArch
Stacy,
I been casually looking for a true LASER measuring tool. I assume it's perfect for wallpaper estimates too?
Does it look like this:
model No. TLM100 ?
If so, I'll look for it Home Depot or Lowes.
(the Fat Max Laser level is a perfect back-up for my PLS 2. They appear to be decent cheap tools) |
That's the one Bill,
I saw one initially at Walmart for 99 bucks. I thought it looked like something I might want and checked it out online. I found it at Amazon for 91 and some change. I mulled it over for about a week and by the time I got around to ordering it the price had gone up to 99. but shipping was free and no sales tax so I was still money ahead, or maybe just not quite so far behind 
|
|
|
|
|
07-27-2008, 01:47 PM
|
#11
|
|
Member
Trade:
Surveying
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 31
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by firemike
I use the Hilti PD-20. Works like a charm. Probably 6 or 7 years old, never had a problem with it. The new ones are much smaller and have even more functions. Highly recommend the Hilti's, every one I know that has one loves them.
|
Hilti's or Leica Distos are the best around, accurate and have all the bells and whistles depending on which one you buy. The Disto A5 also has a pythagoras feature if you need it.
|
|
|
|
|
07-27-2008, 02:31 PM
|
#12
|
|
Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
|
The most obvious......Experience.
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2008, 12:42 AM
|
#13
|
|
EPI
Trade:
Painting, C33
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Beaumont, Ca.
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York
The most obvious......Experience.
|
Hey MALCO I've missed you, I see you still roaming about.
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2008, 12:54 AM
|
#14
|
|
Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ewingpainting
Hey MALCO I've missed you, I see you still roaming about.
|
But you know that I am correct!!!!! Experience is the SINGLE most important/valid/applicable tool in All fields.
Experience REQUIRES the paying of attention to your and others job details.
And How-De-Doo to you Mr. E-Wing!!! How are you this fine Morning?
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2008, 01:00 AM
|
#15
|
|
EPI
Trade:
Painting, C33
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Beaumont, Ca.
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York
But you know that I am correct!!!!! Experience is the SINGLE most important/valid/applicable tool in All fields.
Experience REQUIRES the paying of attention to your and others job details.
And How-De-Doo to you Mr. E-Wing!!! How are you this fine Morning?
|
Yes you are right, didn't think for a moment you were not. Experience is what leads success
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2008, 10:10 PM
|
#16
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Home Improvement
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 104
|
more or less usually just a quick guesstimate at area. but i do have a bosch laser range finder that works nicely.
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2008, 10:18 PM
|
#17
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Residential Remodeling
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 405
|
Stabila LE50. 1/16 in 100 feet.
|
|
|
|
|
08-03-2008, 08:22 AM
|
#18
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Remodeling contractor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 554
|
I know this will open up as a joke session , but for rough estimating, use your body.
If you are an average size person (around 6'-0")
Pace off large steps = 3'
Toe to heel = 1'
Arm span = 6'
Arm reach 8'
Hand span=9"
Hand width=4"
Thumb width = 1"
Take a tape measure, measure yourself and practice this method. Pace off 10 large steps and measure it. Pace of 10 heel to toes and measure it. See what you get.
Roofs - count the tabs x width of 1 tab
Siding - count the courses x height of one course.
This trick can be invaluable when you get somewhere and don't have a tape.
Remember estimating is just that - and estimate & then round up. 
__________________
Remodeler in Maine & Vermont
Finish carpenter
Been doin' this stuff for a long time.................
|
|
|
|
|
08-03-2008, 08:48 AM
|
#19
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Squirrel Handler
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,438
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcleve4911
I know this will open up as a joke session , but for rough estimating, use your body.
If you are an average size person (around 6'-0")
Pace off large steps = 3'
Toe to heel = 1'
Arm span = 6'
Arm reach 8'
Hand span=9"
Hand width=4"
Thumb width = 1"
Take a tape measure, measure yourself and practice this method. Pace off 10 large steps and measure it. Pace of 10 heel to toes and measure it. See what you get.
Roofs - count the tabs x width of 1 tab
Siding - count the courses x height of one course.
This trick can be invaluable when you get somewhere and don't have a tape.
Remember estimating is just that - and estimate & then round up. |
What if you have really big hands, long arms, big feet and short legs?
.
__________________
Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.
|
|
|
|
|
08-03-2008, 09:18 AM
|
#20
|
|
Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,546
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeyco
What if you have really big hands, long arms, big feet and short legs?
.
|
You'd probably make better money working at the circus if that's the case 
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
 Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
