For commercial construction projects to remain under budget and on schedule, careful planning is necessary. Accurately estimating the amount of lumber required for framing is a crucial part of preparation. This entails deducting amounts from designs and accounting for moisture and waste. Accurately calculating lumber quantities is essential for contractors putting in bids for projects or buying supplies. The methods for commercial framers to accurately calculate their needs for framing timber are described in this handbook. Proper planning ensures enough materials. This covers takeoffs for commercial framing lumber quantity estimates.
Review Blueprints
Thoroughly examining architectural drawings notes overall square footage and critical building dimensions for wall layouts. Carefully examine all architectural drawings noting wall layouts, dimensions, and openings before taking measurements.
Wall Framing
Estimate vertical studs using length between sole plate base and top plates or eave height above. Account for wall openings. Calculate vertical studs required using the length between the sole plate and top plate or eave height above, accounting for placement of windows and doors.
Headers and Beams
Spans across openings require calculated header sizes matching load needs. Lumber sizes depend on engineered specs. Spanning openings like doors require sized headers matching structural loads. Proper sizing depends on engineering specifications.
Floor and Roof Framing
Planning floor joists requires knowing spans between bearing walls or beams below. Truss layouts dictate roof component amounts. Planning floors requires knowing joist spans between walls or beams below. Roof truss layout sheets indicate truss component quantities needed.
Material Wastage
Experience aids in factoring wastage cuts from imperfect lumber into quantities. Allow extra for scrap or errors in the field. Experienced framers factor in wood scrap amounts from imperfect cuts or field modifications to original plans.
Mobile Apps Assistance
Takeoff tools auto-calculate dimensions inputted for easy material tracking on job sites or while bidding. Digital takeoff tools allow automatic calculating of lumber needs based on entered dimensions for ease and accuracy.
Factor Moisture Content
Green lumber swells requiring over-estimating slightly for dry-in shrinkage before installation. Overestimating slightly accounts for lumber swelling when green and later shrinkage upon drying before installation.
Know Minimum Quantities
Suppliers sell in standard bundles thus small overages prevent reordering fees for partial bundles. Suppliers sell materials in standard bundles, so small overages avoid partial bundle fees from close quantity estimates.
Delivery Logistics
Vehicle size limits delivery loads. The schedule may necessitate split deliveries to the site over time. Consider vehicle load limits for split deliveries over time if materials exceed single load capacity.
Accounting for Hardware
Nails, screws, and connectors join sections together requiring bulk packages in takeoffs. Include sufficient fasteners like nails and screws plus mechanical connectors for joining sections.
Conclusion
Careful measuring coupled with experience ensures having correct materials when needed and avoids job delays. To ensure that frameworks have all they need from the beginning, it is important to thoroughly evaluate architectural designs, account for hardware, factor in standard packages, and allow for eventualities. Cost forecasting is most effectively done by experienced estimators who are familiar with structural components like headers and trusses. When lumber estimates for commercial projects are dependable, framers can be assured that all their material demands will be met.
