If you build homes for a living, you already know that razor-thin margins live or die on material quantities and labor hours. Learning how to carry out a takeoff precisely—and fast—keeps every project on schedule and inside budget. CountBricks combines AI, real-time price feeds and instant voice interaction to deliver the next generation of residential takeoffs, estimates and invoices.
A takeoff is the process of translating drawings into an actionable list of materials, tasks and costs. For a residential build, that means quantifying everything from concrete cubic metres to door hardware counts. Without a solid takeoff, even the most detailed programme of works will unravel once boots hit the slab.
Manual or 2D takeoff software:
• Time-consuming scaling and manual data entry
• Prone to transcription mistakes and outdated price lists
• Separate tools for takeoffs, estimates and invoices
CountBricks AI workflow:
• Voice-guided “highlight and quantify” inside one browser tab
• Realtime supplier pricing pulled directly into your cost library
• One-click conversion from takeoff to estimate to branded quote
1. Upload your PDF, DWG or scanned plan into CountBricks.com/takeoff
2. Set the scale by clicking two known dimensions—AI calibrates the rest
3. Say, “Highlight all 90 mm external framed walls”—the software traces them instantly
4. Confirm wall height and preferred stud spacing; CountBricks applies timber, fixings and labour assemblies automatically
5. Repeat voice commands for slabs, linings, roof trusses, windows and finishes
6. Watch material and labour totals populate live in the estimate window
7. Adjust waste factors or crew productivity; costs update in real time
8. Hit “Generate Quote” to create a branded PDF that’s ready for the client
• “Copy footing detail from sheet A3 to all gridlines”
• “Count all 2040 × 820 flush doors”
• “Show cost impact if we swap pine for LVL in floor joists”
• Overlooking overlapping wall segments—AI edge detection flags duplicates
• Ignoring supplier price rises—live feeds keep numbers current to the minute
• Forgetting ancillary tasks—CountBricks assemblies automatically include sundries, fixings and cleanup
• Mis-scaling drawings—calibration check alerts you before you quantify
Once the takeoff is complete, CountBricks pushes every line item directly into scheduling, procurement and invoicing modules. Because the same data powers each stage, you eliminate re-entry errors and ensure every purchase order matches your original allowance.
Ready to cut bid turnaround from days to hours? Visit CountBricks.com/services or book a live demo at CountBricks.com/consultation. When you know how to carry out a takeoff the CountBricks way, every residential project starts with confidence and finishes with profit.
ClearSpan Framing, a CountBricks client specialising in townhouse developments, once spent nearly eight hours producing a full structural takeoff for a five-unit project. After switching to CountBricks, the same scope now takes just two hours.
• 70 % reduction in takeoff time meant bids were submitted two days earlier than competitors
• Labour allowances became 12 % more accurate, lowering contingency padding and sharpening the selling price
• Automated purchase orders synced with preferred timber suppliers, locking in pricing before market fluctuations
1. The estimator created reusable wall and floor assemblies in the CountBricks cost library, ensuring every future job starts with pre-loaded rates
2. Voice commands like “drop all noggins at 600 centres” let the team adjust framing details without redrawing
3. The project manager exported site delivery schedules straight from the takeoff, giving the yard foreman clear drop-dates for every pack
• Save time by linking CountBricks to your supplier API—prices update while you sleep
• Use plan overlays to compare revision clouds; the system highlights only the affected quantities
• Tag rooms (bath, bed, living) during takeoff so later you can filter finishes and issue staged purchase orders
Want to replicate these gains on your next build? Explore downloadable templates and book a personalised walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation. The fastest path to profitable homes starts with mastering how to carry out a takeoff the CountBricks way.
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