Getting Started
The estimating template has several tabs for putting together a complete estimate and pricing. The Cover Sheet holds the general project
information. Much of the information is tied to the Quote tab. The Quote tab has the proposal, summary and pricing for material and labor. The
Takeoff tab is where the rebar entries are made. The Splices tab has a table that can be used in formulas on the Takeoff tab. The Mesh tab is
used for the mesh takeoff. The Item Breakdown tab gives a summary of weights for the selected bid code and the prices used for accounting.
information. Much of the information is tied to the Quote tab. The Quote tab has the proposal, summary and pricing for material and labor. The
Takeoff tab is where the rebar entries are made. The Splices tab has a table that can be used in formulas on the Takeoff tab. The Mesh tab is
used for the mesh takeoff. The Item Breakdown tab gives a summary of weights for the selected bid code and the prices used for accounting.
When the template is first opened, there may be a security warning. Click on "Enable Content" to allow the
spreadsheet to work.
spreadsheet to work.
When setting up the spreadsheet to do a takeoff, begin by selecting the units. The options are metric or imperial rebar, and metric or imperial
lengths. If the metric bar size option is used, the spreadsheet will use soft metric sizes (13, 16, 22, etc). Entering a hard metric size like 15 will be
changed to 16 by the spreadsheet. The default setting is imperial bar and imperial lengths.
lengths. If the metric bar size option is used, the spreadsheet will use soft metric sizes (13, 16, 22, etc). Entering a hard metric size like 15 will be
changed to 16 by the spreadsheet. The default setting is imperial bar and imperial lengths.
Next, select the codes. The codes can be anything. On the sample, the numbers 1 - 6 are used, but they can be anything else. On a highway job,
the bid item from the bid form will work. These codes will be used on the Takeoff tab and control how the bid is separated.
Each line of the takeoff starts with the Code. The Description field can hold anything to describe the area being estimated. The Units field holds
the number of instances of the detail. The Qty field is the number of bars in each of the units. Next comes the Size field for the bar size, followed
by the Length entry. The Bend field has three options, 0 for straight, 1 for heavy bent and 2 for light bent. As each line of the takeoff is completed,
the spreadsheet calculates the weight. The final three columns labelled Dims are used for information about the part of the takeoff and can be
used in formulas to calculate the bars.
the bid item from the bid form will work. These codes will be used on the Takeoff tab and control how the bid is separated.
Each line of the takeoff starts with the Code. The Description field can hold anything to describe the area being estimated. The Units field holds
the number of instances of the detail. The Qty field is the number of bars in each of the units. Next comes the Size field for the bar size, followed
by the Length entry. The Bend field has three options, 0 for straight, 1 for heavy bent and 2 for light bent. As each line of the takeoff is completed,
the spreadsheet calculates the weight. The final three columns labelled Dims are used for information about the part of the takeoff and can be
used in formulas to calculate the bars.
The next images show how formulas might be used. This part of the sample estimate will use formulas to estimate tilt panels. The Dims columns
can hold the width and height of the panel. The first entry is the top and bottom perimeter bars. The typical detail calls for 2 #5 with 18" hooks at
each end, so the formula is the width plus 3. To enter the formula, press the "=" sign, click on the width, then type "+3" for the hooks. Each of the
entries will tie into the dimensions of the panel.
can hold the width and height of the panel. The first entry is the top and bottom perimeter bars. The typical detail calls for 2 #5 with 18" hooks at
each end, so the formula is the width plus 3. To enter the formula, press the "=" sign, click on the width, then type "+3" for the hooks. Each of the
entries will tie into the dimensions of the panel.
The next entry starts by using a formula to use the same number of units. This way the typical panel can be used again by copying and pasting.
If there are multiple panels, just change the number of units on the first panel.
If there are multiple panels, just change the number of units on the first panel.
To calculate the perimeter vertical bars, press "=" and click on the vertical dimension.
This image shows how the horizontal bars would be estimated. For more precision, the Excel round function is used to eliminate fractional bars.
The rest of the formula is the height divided by the spacing, rounded to 0 places.
The rest of the formula is the height divided by the spacing, rounded to 0 places.
The final entry on the typical panel calculates the slab dowels, based on the panel width.
Once the first panel is complete, it can be copied for use on similar panels.
Paste the takeoff into the empty cells below.
The pasted copy can be edited to takeoff the next panel. In this case, there are three panels with a different width.
The next panel has a quantity of 2, with a different width and adds a takeoff for an opening. The width and height of the opening are placed in
the Dims. columns and bars for the opening are calculated based on those dimensions.
the Dims. columns and bars for the opening are calculated based on those dimensions.
The same types of formulas can be used to takeoff almost anything. Highways standards can be setup to use on future estimates.
The splice tab is used to contain the splices from the job. The splices can be used by clicking on them or by using the splice function. It is
explained on the Spreadsheet Notes tab. It takes two parameters, the bar size and the location. Use the function by entering "=splice(" then
clicking on the bar to be spliced, then entering the location (top, bot, comp). If the detail is reused and the bar size changes, the function will
automatically adjust the splice to the new bar size.
One place where the splice function might be used is in estimating columns. The formula might use the floor elevations, then add the splice
based on the vertical bar.
The splice tab is used to contain the splices from the job. The splices can be used by clicking on them or by using the splice function. It is
explained on the Spreadsheet Notes tab. It takes two parameters, the bar size and the location. Use the function by entering "=splice(" then
clicking on the bar to be spliced, then entering the location (top, bot, comp). If the detail is reused and the bar size changes, the function will
automatically adjust the splice to the new bar size.
One place where the splice function might be used is in estimating columns. The formula might use the floor elevations, then add the splice
based on the vertical bar.