Skip to content

Illustrative examples

See the estimating workflow in practice

Six worked examples, one for each kind of output. Each follows an input through measurement, structure and review to the document it produces.

Illustrative Example

These are illustrative scenarios built on one sample building. They are not customer projects, and the sheets, references and figures are not real project data. Rates are named, never valued.

Start with EX-01How it works
Example register6 examples
  1. EX-01Quantity TakeoffPlan A-101 → Quantity schedule
  2. EX-02BOQ PreparationSheets A-101 · A-301 → Bill of Quantities
  3. EX-03Construction Cost EstimatingBill items → Cost estimate
  4. EX-04Material TakeoffDetail A-310 → Material schedule
  5. EX-05Specialist EstimatingLayout M-101 → Package estimate
  6. EX-06Tender EstimatingTender set · T2 → Tender estimate pack

One sample building · every sheet illustrative

How to read an example

Input, process, output, review

Every example answers the same six questions, in the same order as the workflow.

  1. Input

    Drawing

  2. Process

    Measure · structure

  3. Output

    Document

  4. Review

    Checks

Input
The sheet or documents the example starts from, with their revision.
Process
What was identified, measured and structured — and who confirmed it.
Output
A page of the resulting document, with its references.
Review
The checks made before the output is issued.

EX-01 · Quantity Takeoff

A ground floor plan, measured into a quantity schedule

One plan sheet, taken off element by element, with every line pointing back to the sheet.

  1. Input

    Plan A-101

  2. Process

    Measurements

  3. Output

    Quantity schedule

  4. Review

    Review

What was the input?
Ground floor plan A-101 at Rev B, with the specification for the elements shown.
What was identified?
The external wall, the room floor, the skirting run and three door sets. AI-Assisted Drawing Intelligence highlighted candidates; the estimator confirmed each one.
What was measured?
Wall W-01 16.00 m; floor A-03 8.00 × 5.60 m = 44.80 m²; skirting F-01 27.20 m; doors D-01 to D-03, 3 nr.
How was it structured?
As dimension-sheet lines — times, dimensions, squared result and description — grouped by element, each with its sheet and revision.
What output was produced?
Quantity schedule QT-A101.
What was reviewed?
The scale on the sheet, the units, the door count against the plan, and the source on every line.
About Quantity Takeoff
Input · A-101 · Ground floor plan · takeoff · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative takeoff on a ground floor plan: external wall W-01 measured at 16.00 metres, room A-03 measured at 44.80 square metres, the skirting perimeter F-01 and three counted doors, with grid references, a scale bar and a revision B marker.ABCD1A-0344.80 m²F-01 · 27.20 mW-01 · 16.00 mB123D-01 · 3 nr05 mSCALE 1:100 · CHECKEDN

Output · Quantity schedule

QT-A101Quantity schedule
Illustrative Example
Illustrative dimension sheet
TimesDimensionSquaredDescription
W-01 · Grid 1 / A–D · A-101 Rev B
1/16.0016.00External wall run · m
A-03 · A-101 Rev B
1/8.00 × 5.6044.80Room floor area · m²
F-01 · A-101 Rev B
2/8.0016.00Skirting, long walls
2/5.6011.20Skirting, short walls
Σ27.20Skirting total · m
D-01 · A-101 Rev B
3/—3Internal doors · nr
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Review · checked before issue

  • Scale confirmed on every sheet measured
  • Unit matches the measurement type: m, m², m³ or nr
  • Source sheet and revision on every line
  • Counts re-checked against the drawing
  • Unconfirmed suggestions kept out of the schedule

EX-02 · BOQ Preparation

A wall section and plan, structured into a bill of quantities

The same building, written up as described items under work sections.

  1. Input

    Sheets A-101 · A-301

  2. Process

    Work sections

  3. Output

    Bill of Quantities

  4. Review

    Validation

What was the input?
Wall section A-301 and plan A-101, both at Rev B, with the specification for the item descriptions.
What was identified?
The masonry, lintels, floor finish and skirting in scope, confirmed by the estimator.
What was measured?
Blockwork 16.00 × 2.60 m = 41.60 m²; lintels 3 nr; floor finish 44.80 m²; skirting 27.20 m.
How was it structured?
Two work sections — E Masonry and M Finishes — with items E.1–E.2 and M.1–M.2, each with a description, unit, quantity and sheet.
What output was produced?
Bill of Quantities BOQ-01.
What was reviewed?
Descriptions against the specification, units against the measurement type and references against the sheets.
About BOQ Preparation
Input · A-301 · Wall section · BOQ items · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative wall section tagged with Bill of Quantities items: E.1 blockwork wall, E.2 lintel over the opening, M.1 floor finish and M.2 skirting, with a 2.60 metre storey height and the foundation below ground.FFL ±0.00EXTERNAL2.60 mE.1E.2M.2M.1BLOCKWORKLINTELSKIRTINGFLOORSECTION 1 · A-301 · REV B

Output · Bill of Quantities

BOQ-01Bill of Quantities
Illustrative Example
Illustrative bill of quantities page
ItemDescriptionUnitQty
E · Masonry
E.1Blockwork wall, 100 mm, external wall W-01A-301 · Rev Bm²41.60
E.2Lintels over openingsA-301 · Rev Bnr3
M · Finishes
M.1Floor finish to room A-03A-101 · Rev Bm²44.80
M.2Skirting to room A-03A-101 · Rev Bm27.20
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Review · checked before issue

  • Every item has a description, unit and quantity
  • Item references are unique and in sequence
  • Descriptions match the specification
  • Quantities traced to drawing sheets
  • No work measured twice across sections

EX-03 · Construction Cost Estimating

A bill priced into a cost estimate, with the working shown

The bill items carried into an estimate, line by line, with named rates.

  1. Input

    Bill items

  2. Process

    Quantity × rate

  3. Output

    Cost estimate

  4. Review

    Validation

What was the input?
The measured items from BOQ-01 and the project's controlled rate set.
What was identified?
The rate in the controlled set that applies to each item, matched by unit.
What was measured?
Nothing new — the quantities carry through from the bill: 41.60 m², 3 nr, 44.80 m² and 27.20 m.
How was it structured?
Each line as quantity × named rate. Lines add up to the section E and M totals, and sections to the estimate.
What output was produced?
Cost estimate ES-01. Rates are named here, not valued.
What was reviewed?
Rate units against quantity units, the rate source on every line, and section totals against the estimate total.
About Construction Cost Estimating
Input · ES-01 · Estimate build-up · section E · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative estimate build-up: wall W-01, 16.00 by 2.60 metres, gives 41.60 square metres, multiplied by the named rate E.1 to give cost E.1; item lines sum to the section E total, and section totals sum to the estimate.W-01 · 16.00 m41.60 m²2.60QUANTITY41.60 m²×CONTROLLED RATErate E.1=COSTcost E.1E.23 nr × rate E.2 = cost E.2Σ SECTION E · MASONRYsection EESTIMATE · Σ SECTIONSestimateRATES NAMED, NOT VALUED · ILLUSTRATIVE

Output · Cost estimate

ES-01Cost estimate
Illustrative Example
Illustrative cost estimate build-up
ItemQuantityRateCost
Section E
E.141.60 m²rate E.141.60 × E.1
E.23 nrrate E.23 × E.2
Σ section EΣ E
Section M
M.144.80 m²rate M.144.80 × M.1
M.227.20 mrate M.227.20 × M.2
Σ section MΣ M
Estimate totalΣ E + Σ M
Unit matchSource sheetRate sourceReviewed
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Review · checked before issue

  • Unit of rate matches unit of quantity
  • Every rate has a recorded source
  • Every quantity has a source sheet
  • Section totals reconcile to the estimate total
  • Estimator review before issue

EX-04 · Material Takeoff

A wall build-up, listed as a material schedule

One construction detail read layer by layer, each material measured once in its own unit.

  1. Input

    Detail A-310

  2. Process

    Material layers

  3. Output

    Material schedule

  4. Review

    Review

What was the input?
Wall detail A-310 at Rev B, the specification and foundation sheet S-101.
What was identified?
Five materials — blockwork, insulation, lining board, damp-proof course and foundation concrete — each confirmed against the specification.
What was measured?
The wall layers at 41.60 m² each, 16.00 m of damp-proof course and 16.00 × 0.60 × 0.40 m = 3.84 m³ of concrete.
How was it structured?
Tagged BLK, INS, BRD, DPC and CON, and grouped into masonry, insulation and linings, and groundworks packages.
What output was produced?
Material schedule MS-01.
What was reviewed?
Layers for double-counting, the unit for each material, and the insulation change from Rev A to Rev B.
About Material Takeoff
Input · A-310 · Wall build-up · materials · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative wall build-up for a material takeoff: blockwork, insulation and lining board layers above a damp-proof course and a concrete foundation, each tagged with its material code and unit; the insulation carries a revision B marker.10010012.5BGLBLKBLOCKWORKm²INSINSULATIONm²BRDLINING BOARDm²DPCDAMP-PROOFmCONCONCRETEm³A-310 · WALL DETAIL · REV B

Output · Material schedule

MS-01Material schedule
Illustrative Example
Illustrative material schedule
TagMaterialUnitQty
Package · Masonry
BLKBlockwork, 100 mmA-310m²41.60
DPCDamp-proof courseA-310m16.00
Package · Insulation and linings
INSInsulation, 100 mm · Rev BA-310m²41.60
BRDLining board, 12.5 mmA-310m²41.60
Package · Groundworks
CONFoundation concrete · 16.00 × 0.60 × 0.40S-101m³3.84
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Review · checked before issue

  • Each material confirmed against the specification
  • Unit suits the material
  • Layers measured once, not double-counted
  • Drawing reference on every line
  • Schedule reviewed before issue

EX-05 · Specialist Estimating

A ventilation layout, measured as a specialist package

A discipline drawing measured on its own terms, inside a scope boundary stated first.

  1. Input

    Layout M-101

  2. Process

    Scope boundary

  3. Output

    Package estimate

  4. Review

    Specialist review

What was the input?
Ventilation layout M-101 at Rev B and its equipment schedule.
What was identified?
The ductwork, bends, grilles and dampers inside the package boundary, and the air handling unit as by others.
What was measured?
Straight ductwork 42.50 m; bends 5 nr, supply grilles 8 nr and volume dampers 4 nr, counted from the layout.
How was it structured?
Package M lines DU-01, DU-02, GR-01 and DA-01, each marked in scope, with the by-others item listed and not priced.
What output was produced?
Package estimate PK-01.
What was reviewed?
Runs and counts against the layout, and the package against its stated boundary.
About Specialist Estimating
Input · M-101 · Level 1 · ventilation layout · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative ventilation layout for a specialist package: the package boundary is marked, the air handling unit connection is by others, and the supply ductwork, five bends, eight grilles and four dampers are taken off, with a revision B marker on the added grilles.2345AHUBY OTHERSPACKAGE M BOUNDARYDU-01BGR-01 × 8DA-01 × 4BENDS × 5M-101 · LEVEL 1 VENTILATION · REV B

Output · Package estimate

PK-01Package estimate
Illustrative Example
Illustrative specialist package schedule
RefItemQtyScope
Package M · Ventilation · M-101 Rev B
DU-01Ductwork, straight42.50mIn
DU-02Bends5nrIn
GR-01Supply grilles8nrIn
DA-01Volume dampers4nrIn
—Air handling unit and plant connection—By others
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Review · checked before issue

  • Scope boundary recorded on the drawing
  • By-others items listed, not priced
  • Runs and counts checked against the layout
  • Unit suits each component
  • Package reviewed before issue

EX-06 · Tender Estimating

A tender drawing set, prepared with its queries and assumptions

A tender set registered, questioned and estimated, with the basis written down.

  1. Input

    Tender set · T2

  2. Process

    Queries & assumptions

  3. Output

    Tender estimate pack

  4. Review

    Final review

What was the input?
The tender drawing set at issue T2, including Addendum 01, with the tender documents.
What was identified?
Three gaps in the information, raised as queries Q-01 to Q-03.
What was measured?
Quantities from issue T2. Sheets revised by Addendum 01 were compared, and affected quantities re-measured.
How was it structured?
A six-section pack — register, scope review, quantities, estimate, queries and assumptions — with the query log kept current.
What output was produced?
Tender estimate pack TD-01.
What was reviewed?
The pack as a whole: open queries listed with their status, and assumptions and exclusions recorded.
About Tender Estimating
Input · TD-01 · Tender drawing set · register · Issue T2Illustrative Example
Illustrative tender drawing set: stacked sheets A-101, A-301, S-101 and M-101, a query Q-01 clouded on the ground floor plan, addendum 01 revising A-101 from issue T1 to T2, and a drawing register showing each sheet's state.M-101S-101A-301A-101GROUND PLANISSUE T2TENDER SETQ-01ADDENDUM 01A-101T1 → T2T2REGISTERA-101T2A-301QS-101✓M-101✓Q = QUERY RAISED

Output · Tender estimate pack

TD-01Tender estimate pack
Illustrative Example
Illustrative tender query log
RefQueryStatus
Query and clarification log
Q-01Room height not dimensionedA-101Answered
Q-02Lintel detail not shownA-301Open
Q-03Corridor finish not scheduledA-101Open

Assumptions and exclusions

  • A-04Typical lintel detail assumed until Q-02 is answered.
  • A-05Quantities measured from issue T2 (Addendum 01).
  • X-01Air handling unit and plant connection excluded — by others.
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Review · checked before issue

  • Every sheet in the register reviewed
  • Open queries listed with their status
  • Addenda checked against the quantities
  • Assumptions and exclusions recorded
  • Final review before the pack is issued

From example to project

The same workflow, on your own drawings

See each stage of the workflow in more depth, or compare the seven services to find the output your project needs.

See how it worksExplore services