Every successful residential build starts with a precise material takeoff. If the count is off, your margin, schedule and reputation all take a hit. Yet many small-to-medium trade businesses still rely on highlighters, spreadsheets or software never designed for construction. The result is hours lost to manual entry, missed items and quotes that never reflect real-time supplier pricing. CountBricks created its building take offs tool to fix that gap and put accurate data in the hands of the people who swing the hammers.
• Talk through the plans as you view them on screen—CountBricks captures your words, converts them into line-items and applies live material costs.
• No more tabbing between CAD files and price books. Our AI links every recognised component to your preferred suppliers through CountBricks.com/services.
• Labour rates, trade-specific tasks and mark-ups are applied instantly, giving you a working estimate before the meeting ends.
CountBricks’ AI reads PDFs and native design files, recognises walls, windows, slabs and fixtures, then suggests typical assemblies. All you do is confirm or adjust quantities. The tool learns from every project logged in your CountBricks.com/portfolio, so repeat details auto-populate on the next job.
1. Upload drawings or snap photos on site into your CountBricks dashboard.
2. Start a voice session; walk through each room or elevation as if you were explaining it to an apprentice.
3. AI parses the audio, tags the drawing and generates a structured bill of quantities.
4. Live supplier APIs feed current pricing—no need to chase spreadsheets.
5. Review suggested tasks and labour hours; tweak crew sizes or productivity factors as required.
6. One click turns the takeoff into a branded quote, ready to email or e-sign on CountBricks letterhead.
• Slash takeoff time by up to 80 percent, freeing estimators to bid more jobs.
• Win clients with same-day quotes that include granular breakdowns and options.
• Protect profit with live margins; the tool flags any item where cost drift erodes mark-up.
• Reduce waste on site because orders match actual quantities, not padded guesses.
• Seamless transition from estimate to invoice—approved line-items flow straight into CountBricks billing.
• Missed pages: AI checks sheet indices and warns if a drawing hasn’t been processed.
• Unit conversion errors: automatic metric-imperial translation keeps all crew on the same numbers.
• Copy-paste slips: there’s no manual re-entry, so formulas can’t break.
• Out-of-date price books: supplier feeds refresh nightly; you always quote current rates.
A framing contractor uploaded a 12-page PDF and completed the voice takeoff during the client meeting. In 14 minutes he produced a full material list, labour schedule and a choice of two cladding packages. The client signed on the spot, and the contractor shaved three days off his typical pre-construction timeline.
The take offs tool is only the starting point. Approved estimates sync with:
• CountBricks scheduling for crew allocation.
• CountBricks mobile site diaries for real-time progress tracking.
• CountBricks invoicing to draw down on completed stages automatically.
Creating your first smart takeoff is simple:
1. Sign in or create an account at CountBricks.com/consultation.
2. Upload your latest set of drawings.
3. Book a 15-minute onboarding call—our team will walk you through your first voice session.
4. Compare the output with your last manual estimate and see the difference for yourself.
Material volatility, client expectations and tight labour pools demand better processes. With the CountBricks building take offs tool, residential pros stay competitive by turning raw plans into profitable projects faster than ever before. Visit CountBricks.com/services to arrange a live demo.
• Set up preferred assemblies: Store your common wall, slab and roof build-ups once; the tool will auto-suggest them on every new drawing.
• Use voice notes for alternates: As you speak, tag optional finishes so clients can see good-better-best pricing without extra data entry.
• Calibrate waste factors: Input your real off-cut percentages; CountBricks will apply them consistently and reveal true material needs.
• Sync supplier catalogues weekly: A quick refresh keeps your quotes immune to price spikes and maintains trust with homeowners and banks.
• Leverage project templates: Duplicate a past townhouse build from CountBricks.com/portfolio, swap out the site plan and your estimate is 70 percent done.
The builder wanted granular cost control across two mirrored units. Using CountBricks, the estimator ran one takeoff, then duplicated the scope for the second dwelling. Live pricing revealed a timber fluctuation overnight; the system flagged the variance and updated the quote before submission. Result: the builder secured a fixed-price contract while preserving a 16 percent margin—something impossible with yesterday’s spreadsheet.
Traditional on-screen takeoff software forces you to trace every wall and count every stud. CountBricks accelerates the process by letting you describe assemblies naturally: “External wall, 90 mm stud, R2.5 insulation, fibre-cement cladding.” The AI recognises the phrase, draws the measurement from the plan and builds the cost code instantly. Estimators focus on constructability, not cursor precision.
Ready to tighten your numbers and win more residential bids? Book a personalised walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation. Our team will review your current estimating workflow, import your price files and set up your first job—usually in under an hour. Bring your toughest set of drawings; CountBricks will turn them into a clear, profitable pathway from foundation to finish coat.
