Estimaite
TradesPricingMCP
Division 23 · M-sheets

HVAC / Sheet Metal takeoff,
the way estimators do it.

Schedules first, then every duct and pipe run by system, size, and construction class. Exactly what gets measured, how it gets priced, and how the number is proven.

HVAC / Sheet Metal

Division 23 · M-sheets

Schedules first, then every duct and pipe run by system, size, and construction class.

Illustrative HVAC / Sheet Metal methodology: how Estimaite takes off the hvac system
Illustrative takeoff
What Estimaite measures
Equipment (AHU, RTU, FCU, VAV, fans)CountEA
Ductwork by system + size + classLinearLF
Hydronic / refrigerant pipeLinearLF
Air devices (diffusers, registers, grilles)CountEA
Duct + pipe insulationLinearLF
Dampers, hangers, flex connectionsCountEA
How it's priced
  • Ductwork: G-60 lockforming galvanized (SMACNA S1.8); ≤16" slip & drive, >16" TDF/TDC flanged.
  • Gauge by largest side: ≤12" 26ga · 13-30" 24ga · 31-54" 22ga · 55-84" 20ga.
  • HVAC pipe: copper Type L to 2", A53 Schedule 40 steel from 2½" up (joint method in the layer name).
  • Insulation defaults: supply air wrapped R-6 (R-8 unconditioned); CHW + condensate get a vapor barrier.
Derived + allowances
  • Sheet-metal weight allowance: +20% for hangers, cleats, seams (25% with bracing).
  • Per-run accessories: volume damper at each branch, fire damper at every rated-wall penetration.
  • Coil trim per connection: ×2 isolation valves, balancing valve, strainer, P/T ports.
Live sample estimate
Flue pipe142 LF$10,288.00
24x12 galv S&D88 LF$11,596.00
10ø galv rnd64 LF$3,394.00
Diffusers / registers / grilles24 EA$5,664.00
VAV terminal9 EA$6,624.00
AHU2 EA$10,920.00
Material$29,734.00
Labor$15,366.00
Markup 15%$6,765.00
Grand total$51,866.00
Markup15%
Illustrative unit costs, priced live through Estimaite's real estimating engine. Your catalog uses your own costs.
How Estimaite proves it
Every schedule row type has a count, reconciled against the plan symbols.
No layer mixes systems; insulated vs bare split into separate layers.
A floor's trunk rarely exceeds ~1,500 LF of one size (a 10× reading is a scale error).
The method

Every trade runs the same disciplined takeoff.

Not a black box. The same six steps a careful estimator follows, enforced on every sheet.

  1. 01
    Set the scale
    Calibrate on a known dimension or the title-block scale before measuring anything. Sanity-check against a door or a parking stall.
  2. 02
    Read every schedule
    Equipment and fixture schedules anchor the estimate. Count the tagged things first, then reconcile against the plan symbols.
  3. 03
    Count the tagged units
    One count layer per schedule type. Density is never an excuse to skip, a crowded sheet means trace finer, not less.
  4. 04
    Trace by system, size, material
    One layer per system + size + construction class ("CHWS 6" Sch40 grv"). Size alone is not a takeoff line, material and system price it.
  5. 05
    Verify in overlay
    Re-view each region in overlay mode. Every line must sit on a real drawn run; anything floating over nothing is deleted.
  6. 06
    Final full-sheet pass
    Re-tile the entire area of every in-scope sheet. Not done until zero dark runs sit unmeasured and zero lines sit on nothing.
Complete, never sampled
Every system, run, and tagged unit on every in-scope sheet. A "representative" or "main systems only" takeoff is a failed one, not a smaller one.
Only what is drawn
Every line and point sits on a real drawn element. Hallucinated geometry is worse than a gap, so unverified marks get deleted.
Mismatches are findings
When the schedule says 12 and the plan shows 10, that is reported, not silently reconciled. The number stays honest.

Takeoff by trade

Every trade gets its own page: what gets measured, how it is priced, and how the number is proven.

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