Short answer
To take off quantities fast and accurately, stop printing drawings and measuring with a scale ruler. Today takeoff is done by measuring directly on the PDF drawing or by extracting quantities from the BIM model (IFC). OneEstimate does both and links every quantity to its unit price, so the takeoff becomes an estimate without retyping anything. With Serux built in, the agent can prepare the initial takeoff for you.
PDF takeoff, step by step
- Upload the drawing set (architecture, structure, MEP).
- Calibrate the scale of each sheet using a known dimension.
- Measure by type: lengths (walls, pipes), areas (slabs, flooring, paint), volumes (concrete) and counts (doors, fixtures).
- Assign each measurement to a cost item in the estimate.
- Have a second pair of eyes review the heaviest items.
Takeoff from BIM (IFC)
If the project has a BIM model, the quantities are already in it. When you load the IFC file into OneEstimate, elements (walls, slabs, beams, columns) are read with their dimensions and grouped into cost items. The value is that a design change is reflected in quantities without re-measuring everything. For trades or details that are not modeled, you complement with PDF measurement.
Typical mistakes to avoid
- Badly calibrated scale: a small error multiplies across the project.
- Double counting at wall and slab intersections.
- Forgetting waste and laps (rebar, tiles).
- Items never measured because "they were on another sheet".
How Serux helps
Inside OneEstimate you can ask "take off the structural works for the building from the uploaded drawings and build the cost items". Serux prepares the draft quantities and the associated estimate; the estimator reviews, adjusts and approves. Estimating becomes up to 10x faster.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a BIM model to use OneEstimate?
No. You can work with PDF drawings only; BIM is an accelerator when available.
What happens after the takeoff?
Quantities are priced with the database of 10,700+ unit prices and, if you win the job, the budget moves into control in OneMake.
Where can I try it?
At OneEstimate, which has a free plan with 2 estimates per month.