Question 1

How do I calculate how many studs I need from a floor plan?

Accepted Answer

Divide the wall length in inches by the spacing, add 1, then add for corners, openings and intersections. A 40 ft wall is 480 inches, and 480 / 16 = 30, plus 1 = 31 studs at 16 in O.C. before extras. MetreMate gives you the linear feet of each wall, then you apply your spacing. For 8 ft walls, precut studs are 92-5/8 in.

Question 2

How do I figure plates from the wall length?

Accepted Answer

Multiply the wall linear feet by 3, for one bottom plate and a double top plate, then break it into stock lengths. 40 ft of wall x 3 = 120 linear feet of plate, or 7.5 pieces of 16 ft, so order 8. Stock lengths run 8 to 20 ft in 2 ft steps. MetreMate gives you the wall runs, and you pick the lengths that cut cleanly.

Question 3

How many sheets of sheathing or subfloor do I need?

Accepted Answer

Divide the square footage by 32, the square feet in a 4x8 sheet, then add your own waste. A 1,600 sq ft floor / 32 = 50 sheets before waste. Trace each floor or roof plane with Area and MetreMate gives you the square feet. For roofs, apply your pitch factor to the plan area, and use the waste number your crew trusts for the layout.

Question 4

Can I get board feet from the takeoff?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with one step of arithmetic. MetreMate gives you linear feet, then board feet = thickness x width x length / 12, using nominal inches and feet. 100 LF of 2x6 is 2 x 6 x 100 / 12 = 100 BF. Framing lumber is usually ordered by the piece and length, so many framers only need board feet for pricing.

Question 5

How accurate is measuring off the PDF versus the printed set?

Accepted Answer

Measuring off the PDF is more reliable, as long as you calibrate. A 24 x 36 in sheet shrunk to 11 x 17 is roughly 46 percent, not half: 11 / 24 = 0.458 and 17 / 36 = 0.472, so a scale ruler reads it wrong. Set the scale with Auto Scale or calibrate off a known dimension, and Auto-Snap locks onto wall corners so runs close cleanly.

Question 6

Does it cost anything to try, and do I need to install it?

Accepted Answer

No to both. Start on the free plan with no credit card, or use the 7-day trial. The paid plans are Pro and Team, and Team is billed per seat. MetreMate runs in any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computer, so a laptop in the office or the truck is all you need to start a takeoff.

Lumber takeoffs from the plans, wall by wall

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 framing contractors use MetreMate

Wall takeoff

Sheathing and subfloor

Openings and headers

More than measuring

Auto Scale

Manual Scaling

Auto Snap

Layers Manager

Print & Share

Project Organizer

Questions framing contractors ask

MetreMate works for every trade

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