Construction estimating and design guides
Practical, plain-language guides on quantity takeoffs, bills of quantities, tendering, measurement standards and construction design, written by the MASONORA team for contractors, subcontractors and developers.
Quantity takeoff vs bill of quantities: what’s the difference?
A takeoff measures. A BOQ describes, structures and prices. Here is where each fits in a tender, and which one your client actually needs.
How to prepare a construction tender in Australia
From reading the documents to lodging the tender: the steps Australian builders follow to submit a complete, compliant price.
BIM vs CAD for permit sets
Revit or AutoCAD for your next permit set? How the choice affects coordination, changes, quantities and approvals.
What do construction estimating services cost?
Fixed fee, per trade, per square foot or retainer? How estimating firms price their work, and the factors that move the fee.
Construction cost per square foot: how it is calculated and when to use it
Cost per square foot is the most quoted number in construction and one of the most misused. How to calculate it properly and when to trust it.
CSI MasterFormat divisions explained
Why US specifications and estimates are organized into numbered divisions, how the numbering works, and which divisions matter most to estimators.
NRM1 vs NRM2: what is the difference?
Two RICS rulebooks, two stages of a project. When the UK uses NRM1 for cost planning and NRM2 for bills of quantities.
How to read a bill of quantities (BOQ)
What every section of a BOQ means, how to read an item line, and the checks to make before you price it.
Takeoff software compared: PlanSwift, Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, CostX and Revit
Five tools estimators use to measure drawings and models, what each does best, and how to choose for your trade and market.
