Construction Material Takeoff and Ordering Services
By having Forte complete the material take-off services, the contractors can order only what is required for the project — no more, no less. We are your construction materials estimator and take the drawings and turn them into deliverable lists of materials with the suppliers available to you, ensuring that there is no waste, no last minute shortages and no over spending on your material budget.
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What Is a Material Takeoff?
A material takeoff is a list organized by the quantities of the various materials needed for a project, using the raw quantity measurements. We are a construction materials takeoff services company and create these lists directly from your drawings, including the standard waste percentages for each type of material, thus providing you with an order that is not theoretical, but rather based on the real-world buildability of your material types.
While a quantity takeoff is a general takeoff, a material takeoff is organized for procurement purposes, meaning it groups materials by supplier category and packages materials for vendor quote requests and factors in standard package sizes like full sheets, bundles or pallet quantities, not just the raw linear square footage figures.
Our Material Estimating Process
Our Construction Material Estimator team reviews projects one by one and determines the cost of material used for each category of material that is needed and checks for specifications of substitutions, alternates, or owner supplied materials that do not need to be included on the purchase order. Then, we sort the materials into categories by suppliers to help your procurement team get quotes easily.
Material specifications are also cross referenced to approved equals/alternates that are listed in the project manual, and any substitutions that may impact pricing or lead time are flagged before the purchase order is placed.
Why Accurate Material Estimates Matter
We know that as a construction materials estimator, you don’t want to waste cash in unused inventory when you are on repeat orders, and you don’t want to incur expensive delays when you have to wait on backordered materials. An accurate estimate will help you to save money and time.
Deliverables You Receive
An itemized material list will be provided that categorizes items by trade and supplier and includes quantities, units of measure, as well as recommended waste factors for each category. This list can be customized according to your preferred procurement software or supplier ordering portal.
Working With Your Suppliers
Our material estimates are designed to be supplier-ready from day one – formatted to send for pricing right away without having to re-format the material estimate. This will save time in procurement and minimize the risk of transcription of the take-off and purchase order.
Reducing Waste and Controlling Costs
Often, it is material overordering which is one of the silent causes of the gradual erosion of construction budgets; over-ordering of material accounts for cash and may often end up being returned at a restocking fee. Our material takeoffs are based on realistic material waste factors to ensure you’re ordering close to what the job requires without shorting the job.
Additionally, items with long lead time are identified separately in the takeoff and can be prioritized for procurement for the procurement team to order items that would potentially be late to impact the schedule.
Bid more, Win more!
Get Our Estimating Services To Step Up Your Winning Game!
Contact us Now
Call us now and upload your construction project plans with all the specific details to explain the scope of work that includes construction drawings, specifications and other specific documentation.
Receive your schedule
Our expert team of BIM Estimators manages to deliver the final draft for review and consult through an email or call to consult and finalize the construction project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there factors to consider for waste in do material takeoffs?
Yes, industry standard waste percentages by material type will be used unless you provide other factors based on you own historical data.
Are you able to estimate materials related to a particular trade?
Yes, we offer single trade material estimates and complete multi-trade material takeoffs for a project.
What do you do for the owner provided materials?
Any materials that are supplied by the owner or alternate are identified and emphasized in the takeoff and will not be invoiced in the purchase order but will be reported on the project for records.
Are you able to meet our current drawing standards and templates at our office?
Yes, we’ll work with your drawing standards, sheet formats and layering conventions, so the deliverables fit seamlessly into your existing drawing sets.
Are there ways to make material estimates if there is a change of design?
Yes, we do provide revision pricing for any revision to the material takeoffs after the initial estimate.
Are long lead time materials marked separately?
Yes, we do know of materials with longer lead times, so your procurement team can look at these orders and make the best use of time.
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