Question 1

How do I do a lumber takeoff from house plans?

Accepted Answer

Work from the framing plan, wall by wall. Set the scale, then use the Measure tool for wall runs in linear feet, the Area tool for floor and roof decks, and the Count tool for headers, posts and openings. Keep exterior walls, interior walls and floor systems on separate layers. MetreMate gives you the quantities; you apply spacing, plate count and stock lengths to build the quote.

Question 2

How many studs for a wall at 16 in on center?

Accepted Answer

Divide the wall length in inches by 16 and add 1. A 20 ft wall is 20 x 12 = 240, and 240 / 16 = 15, plus 1 is 16 studs. Then add for corners, openings and intersections. MetreMate gives you the wall length in linear feet off the plan; you apply the spacing and extras. For 8 ft walls that usually means 92-5/8 in precut studs.

Question 3

How do I convert linear feet to board feet?

Accepted Answer

Multiply nominal thickness by nominal width in inches, times length in feet, and divide by 12. A 2x6 that is 12 ft long is (2 x 6 x 12) / 12 = 12 board feet. MetreMate gives you the linear feet; you split that into stock lengths, then convert. Framing lumber is mostly quoted by the piece and length, so board feet matter most for hardwood and volume orders.

Question 4

How do I figure sheets of OSB or plywood?

Accepted Answer

Divide the area by 32 sq ft per 4x8 sheet. Trace each floor deck or wall with the Area tool, and a 1,600 sq ft floor is 1,600 / 32 = 50 sheets before waste and cut pieces. Roofs need the pitch applied first, because a floor plan shows plan area, not the slope. MetreMate gives you the square feet; you apply sheet size and waste.

Question 5

How accurate is a takeoff from a PDF?

Accepted Answer

As accurate as the scale you set. Calibrate with Manual Scale off a long dimension, then check a second one before you start. If the contractor sent a 24 x 36 set shrunk to 11 x 17, the sheet is about 46 percent of full size (11 / 24 = 0.458, 17 / 36 = 0.472), not 50 percent, so the printed scale is wrong. Calibrate off a known dimension instead.

Question 6

Can my whole sales team use it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Team plans are available, see pricing; each person can also start on the free plan with no credit card. MetreMate runs in any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computer, with nothing to install. Share a marked-up plan with teammates in MetreMate and it lands in their Shared with me list, so whoever picks up the call can finish the quote.

Framing takeoffs from the plan, quoted by the piece

The slow way, or the smart way

Everything you can measure off the plan

Lengths in linear feet

Areas in sq ft

Perimeters

Counts

How lumberyards and building supply use MetreMate

Wall linear feet to studs and plates

Sheathing and subfloor sheets

Joists, rafters and beams by length

More than measuring

Auto Scale

Manual Scaling

Auto Snap

Layers Manager

Print & Share

Project Organizer

Questions lumberyards and building supply ask

MetreMate works for every supplier

Ready to quote faster, lumberyards?