Accurate material estimates from your plans.
Upload your drawings, schedules or specifications and our team will produce a detailed material estimate for your project. We work from architects plans, structural drawings and site measurements to quantify bricks, blocks, timber, steel, insulation, plasterboard, roofing, fixings and finishing materials.
What you get
- Estimates from PDF plans, DWG files or hand mark-ups
- Itemised quantities with product codes and alternatives
- Advice on wastage allowances and standard pack sizes
- Revisions as the design changes
- Linked directly to your trade account and delivery schedule
Why use our take-off & estimating service?
- Reduce over-ordering and leftover material on site
- Compare product alternatives to hit budget or specification
- Lock trade pricing and delivery dates in one quote
- Update quantities free of charge when drawings change
- Work from any format: PDF, DWG, hand mark-ups or site notes
How estimating works
- 1
Send your drawings
Email PDFs, DWG files or photos of hand mark-ups. Include specifications so we understand the required finishes and standards.
- 2
We review and measure
Our estimator checks dimensions, counts openings and calculates areas to build accurate quantities from the plans.
- 3
Build the bill of materials
We convert take-off quantities into product codes, pack sizes, wastage allowances and trade-priced alternatives where useful.
- 4
Revise as the design changes
Issued a revised drawing? Send it over and we will update the estimate at no extra charge.
- 5
Lock the quote and schedule delivery
Once you are happy, we convert the estimate into a firm quote with staged or consolidated delivery options.
Frequently asked questions
- What file formats can you estimate from?
- PDF plans, DWG files, scanned hand mark-ups and site measurement notes are all fine. The clearer the dimensions, the faster we can turn it around.
- How long does a builders merchant estimate take?
- Small extensions and alterations are usually turned around within 24 hours. Larger new-build or multi-plot estimates take 2–3 working days.
- Is there a charge for estimating?
- Estimates are free for trade account holders and serious enquiries. We may ask for a small refundable deposit on very large or repeated tender revisions.
- Can you price from site measurements instead of drawings?
- Yes. Send clear site measurements and photos, or arrange for one of our team to visit the site for larger projects.
- Do your estimates include wastage?
- Yes. We add realistic wastage allowances based on the material type, pack size and site conditions so you are not caught short.