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Construction estimating tips, news, and insights from Estimating Canada.
Material Takeoff vs. Cost Estimate: What Is the Difference?
Contractors often use the words takeoff and estimate as if they meant the same thing. They do not, and mixing them up is one of the quickest ways to lose money on a bid…
How to Read a Floor Plan Before You Start Your Takeoff
A floor plan looks simple, but it holds most of the information an estimator needs. Reading it well before you measure anything saves hours and prevents expensive…
5 Ways Faster Estimates Help You Win More Bids
In construction, the contractor with the best number does not always win. Very often the contractor who is ready first, and ready with confidence, does. Speed in…
Estimating for Canadian Winters: What to Allow For
Building in Canada means building around the weather. A project that is priced as if it will be built in mild conditions can lose a surprising amount of money once the…
Plans, Drawings, and Blueprints: What Estimators Actually Look For
People use the words plans, drawings, and blueprints almost interchangeably, but an estimator sees them differently. Each one answers a different question, and a…
How AI Is Changing Construction Estimating, and Why Estimators Still Matter
Artificial intelligence is arriving in construction, and estimating is one of the first places where it can make a real difference. The routine part of a takeoff, such…