Commercial construction takeoff checklist
Use this before you issue quantities on a commercial bid. It matches how careful estimators work from PDF sets in Canada and the United States.
1. Start with the schedules
Door, window, finish, fixture, and wall-type schedules beat guessing from plans. If a mark is on the schedule, count it there first. Plan marks that do not appear on a schedule need a note — they are a common source of undercount.
2. Establish the building shell
Overall dimensions or a clear footprint give floor area and perimeter. Exterior wall length times height (from sections or elevations) is the gross exterior surface before openings.
3. Deduct openings honestly
Windows and exterior doors come out of exterior insulation and cladding. Interior doors come out of drywall on both faces and batt in the cavity once. Add drywall returns at reveals so the wrap is not free. Studs and track usually still run on full partition length — openings still need framing.
4. Keep neat and order separate
Neat is what installs. Order is what you buy after waste. Typical commercial ranges: drywall about 10–12% on a normal layout (higher when cut-up), framing 10–15%, concrete flatwork often 5–10% before truck rounding. Do not bury waste inside a silent unit rate if you want the number to stay defensible.
5. Name the estimate class
Early sketches support only rough budgets. A tender set with complete schedules supports a firmer number. Labeling Class honesty (AACE-style maturity or Canadian Class A–D practice) protects you from presenting a feasibility figure as a hard bid.
6. Check division coverage
Before packaging trades, scan whether concrete, openings, finishes, moisture protection, and major services are represented. Silent gaps at award become claims in construction.
LuminaBuilt follows this same order on every takeoff run — schedules, geometry, openings, neat vs order, class label, and your review before you price.