Your First Takeoff Project

This guide walks you through creating and completing your first takeoff project in zzTakeoff. By the end of this article, you will understand how to set up a project, add plans, organize sheets, and begin performing takeoffs.

Overview

A takeoff project in zzTakeoff is where you organize plan sheets, measure quantities, and generate material and labor results for a construction job.

Your basic workflow will look like this:

1. Create a new project
2. Add plan sheets
3. Organize your sheets
4. Check scale and page setup
5. Begin takeoffs
6. Generate reports

This simple process helps you move from blueprints to accurate quantities quickly and efficiently.

Step 1: Create a New Project

1. Go to your Workspace
2. Click New Project
3. Enter project details:

• Project Name
• Project Number (optional)
• Address (optional)
• Description (optional)

1. Click Create

Your project is now ready for plan sheets and takeoff work.

Tip: Filling out project details helps with organization and reporting later.

Step 2: Add Plan Sheets

Once the project is created, you can upload your blueprints.

1. Open the project
2. Click Add Plans
3. Upload PDF plan sheets
4. Wait for processing to complete

zzTakeoff will load your sheets and prepare them for scaling and organization.

Step 3: Organize Your Sheets

Keeping sheets organized makes takeoffs faster and easier.

You can:

• Create folders for trades or drawing types
• Rename sheets
• Renumber sheets
• Move pages into folders

Example structure:

• Architectural
• Structural
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Flooring

Organized plans help estimators quickly locate the correct drawings.

Step 4: Check Scale on Plans

Before starting takeoffs, verify that your plans are scaled correctly.

1. Open a plan sheet
2. Select the Scale Tool
3. Measure a known dimension
4. Confirm the scale matches the drawing
5. Save the scale

Accurate scale ensures all takeoff measurements are correct.

Important: Always check scale before performing takeoffs.

Step 5: Begin Your Takeoffs

Now you can start measuring quantities.

Common takeoff actions include:

• Measuring lengths (walls, piping, conduit)
• Measuring areas (flooring, roofing, insulation)
• Counting objects (doors, windows, fixtures)
• Creating labeled takeoff items

As you work, zzTakeoff automatically calculates quantities and stores them in your project.

Step 6: Generate Reports

After completing your takeoffs, you can generate reports.

1. Open the Reports section
2. Select the takeoff items
3. Choose a report format
4. Export or download

Reports help you:

• Review quantities
• Share results with your team
• Use data for estimating and bidding

Best Practices

• Organize sheets before starting takeoffs
• Always verify scale
• Use folders for trade separation
• Name takeoff items clearly
• Review reports before sharing

Following these practices helps ensure accurate and efficient takeoff results.