Other than lot cost, the framing order is the single largest line item in the budget. Framing a house is the longest bar on the schedule timeline. More profit margin dollars can be lost by mistakes in the framing materials order than in any other part of the process.I’ve never understood why builders don’t spent more time trying to understand the dynamics of the “framing takeoff”.
The misconception is that there is a magic list of materials that is perfect, requires no review by anyone, can be provided by anyone, and is exactly the same no matter who provides the list.
This can’t be any farther from the real world.
Asking your supplier.
I’ve never understood why some builders ask their supplier to prepare the framing takeoff, but they do.
- Ask three different suppliers and you get three different lists, usually just a printout of quantities and sku’s from their computer system.
- The lowest total price may not be the best choice…things missing or fill-ins needed are yours to pay for, so it’s the final total that counts.
- Computer printouts offer no help to the framer when there are specific materials and special lengths.
- And finally…the supplier is trying to make a sale. You begin to lose control of the process when the first invoice is written. Problems with framing materials can be an expensive nightmare when it comes to coding invoices, figuring out why you needed all the fill-ins, and if you have received all the credits due.
Asking your framer.
Some builders ask their framers to prepare the framing takeoff. The tendency of the framer to order the big ticket things in unit quantities so the framing crew can get going, and then leave you – the builder – to call in all those fill-in orders for the special items that didn’t get counted the first time. And when does this happen – usually on Friday afternoon.
It’s an aggravating and inefficient (read lost profit dollars) way to do things.Asking your staff.
If you have staff who can get it done…Good for you. Carry on.Doing it Yourself.
So you sit down with the plans and that yellow legal pad…you grab the scale…you get started…you miss the engineer’s note about SYP girders…you miss the 2x6 balloon wall at the foyer…you miss that 2x12 window header over in the back corner…then you try to figure out the length of those two 14” LVL’s at the 9/12 – 12/12 roof – are they 28ft or 32ft…and then the phone rings…then when you start back you don’t remember where you left off.Call Us
We have a system and templates that we have improved and updated over 15 years. The key to our success is in communicating what we have counted and where we have counted it.
Our system includes…
- Marked and highlighted structurals sheets
- Specific numbering and callouts for all structurals…girders, headers, beams, ridges, hips, and valleys
- Labeling of all floor and roof sections, with quantities and lengths written on the plans
- Color highlighting of special structural materials
All LVL’s are highlighted in Green
All SYP members are highlighted in Orange
All 2x12’s are highlighted in Purple
All special long lengths are highlighted in Blue- A printed cutlist that matches the marked plans, labels, and colors exactly
- A Spanish-English translation key to explain the colors and labels
- Separate load sheets to address special inspection requirements and reduce exposure to left, weather, small lots, and mis-cuts by the framer
- Archived copies of the marked plans for troubleshooting if needed, or for reprinting if you build the same model again.
All I can ask you to do is try it one time.