How To Use Procore Software for Takeoff and Estimating Construction Projects

How To Use Procore App for Takeoff and Estimating Building Projects

Procore is touted as a construction program for taking off quantities, estimating and managing bids. It’s an online estimating and project management app that requires you to sign up and log in from anywhere, so you dont need a download or installation on your PC.

Logging into the cloud app presents you with a simple user interface. One can clearly see the main menu with tabs for Estimating, Submitted Bids, Accepted Bids, Projects in Progress, Complete Projects, Delayed Projects, Lost Bids and Archived Projects.

1 – Procore User Interface

Then you have a tab for creating New Projects in the top right hand corner. Apparently the Procore dashboard is clear, straighforward and intuitive for anybody who hasn’t used it. Logically, a construction project starts out with Estimating, which is required for preparing a Cost Appraisal and submitting a Bid.

Estimating Module

Create New Project:

So let’s assume a contractor wants to bid for a proposed project advertised by a private client by way of invitation or publication in the media. The contractor will start by creating a New Project inside the app. Start by filling in the project brief and details under Overview:

2 – Create New Project Procore

1 – Click the New Project tab on the top right corner
2 – Fill the Estimate Overview – Project Name, Description, Name of Estimator, Measurement System (Choose between Metric and US)
3 – Fill in the names of Estimators or Team in your Office
4 – Fill the Project Gross Floor Area in Square Meters
5 – Complete the Project Completion Time (Due Date and Time)
6 – Enter the Client Details – Site Address and Name of Client

Upload Project Documents:

The Procore Estimating module has 5 sub-menus – Overview | Documents | Takeoff | Estimating | Bid

1- Under Documents, you are required to upload the client’s project documents such as CAD drawings, project scope, specifications, blank bills of quantities if any, schedules, conditions of contract, preliminaries and preambles to trades.

2 – Takeoff – Upload the project digital drawings or blueprints. These are digital house plans or CAD files which are needed to takeoff measurements.

3 – Estimating – Under this tab, the user will have access to cost data for pricing a project accurately using the Esticom Application.

4 – Bid – Construction cost rates are adjusted and finalized to suit a particular bid and increase the chances of winning a contract. The Esticom App comes in handy to reduce your workload and do the maths.

The bulk of the Estimator’s work is handled under the Estimating Module. This is where you do all your quantity takeoffs, estimating, pricing and bid finalization. The simplicity with which Procore undertakes a project is amazing and convenient for those who want to reduce the learning curve of the ins and outs of a new software. Estimating programs are not created the same, and it’s a good idea to avoid advanced programs with a complicated UI if you are new to estimating.

Under the Estimating Module, you can click the button under New Project or Project Name to gain access to other features which were mentioned earlier on. These are management features to track and monitor progress on your bids and projects.

3 – Estimating View – Management Tools

House Plan Takeoff

We are going to test the Procore Takeoff feature by uploading a digital blueprint.

Under the Estimating Module, go to “Takeoff” and upload your digital house plan.

4 – Takeoff Upload Drawings

6 – Upload Drawings PDF

Once you upload your drawings, you will see the “Start Takeoff” tab on the top right corner of the menu. Click this tab and it will open up the blueprint on the screen.

Start measuring the digital plan online using the toolbar on the right side of the screen.

There are options to set the Drawing Scale, Zoom the Drawings, Grid Layout, Select Shapes and Lines, Rotate and Move Plan.

The left sidebar is a section to create and organize your measurement groups. If you are familiar with Bills of Quantities and Elemental Estimates, takeoffs are done in order starting with initial items in the construction schedule or program of work. As you progress with your takeoffs, the Cost Estimate is auto-updated.

Takeoff Screen Procore