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Construction Takeoff Software for Custom Builders and Remodelers

BuildTools lets you view plans, mark up drawings, compare versions, and run takeoff workflows from inside the browser. Plans become connected project intelligence instead of isolated files.

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app.buildtools.com/takeoff
Marsh Creek ResidenceTakeoffView as ClientSG
Plan MarkupTakeoff
Plan TakeoffA-201 Floor Plan
Export
Takeoff Items
0
Linear ft
0 LF
Area
0 SF
Exterior wall length
248 LF
Slab floor area
1,640 SF
Partition linear ft
612 LF
Window openings
14 EA

What it does

  • Opens plan sets and drawings in the browser without separate software.
  • Marks up PDFs with measurements, shapes, notes, and callouts.
  • Performs quantity takeoff with calibrated scale on the drawing.
  • Compares plan versions to see what changed between revisions.
  • Keeps markups and takeoff measurements tied to the plan and project.
  • Shares marked-up drawings with the field and trade partners.

Why builders need it

Plans are where scope decisions happen, and they usually live in a desktop tool one estimator owns. The field works off a printed set that may be a revision behind. When the plan changes, nobody is sure what moved, and the takeoff that priced the job is disconnected from the job itself.

Builders need drawing work that travels with the project. Takeoff quantities, markups, and version history should be visible to the PM, the field, and the budget, not locked in a file on one machine. Otherwise scope decisions get made on stale plans and cost the builder later.

How BuildTools handles it differently

  • Plan markup and takeoff run in the browser against the same documents the field uses.
  • Takeoff quantities can inform the project budget instead of living in a separate estimate file.
  • Version comparison shows what changed, so the team builds against the current set.
  • Markups and measurements stay attached to the project alongside RFIs, specs, and budget.
  • AI can help summarize what changed between plan revisions and flag affected scope.

Common workflows

  • An estimator calibrates a drawing scale and runs a takeoff for a framing package.
  • A PM marks up a plan with a field condition and shares it with the trade.
  • A new plan revision arrives and the team compares it against the prior set.
  • A takeoff quantity feeds a cost code in the project budget.
  • A superintendent opens the current drawing on a phone instead of an outdated print.

Who it is for

Custom home builders pricing and coordinating from plansRemodelers working from architect drawingsEstimators running quantity takeoffProject managers and superintendents in the fieldDesign-build firms managing drawing revisions
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Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

What is construction takeoff software?

It lets you measure quantities directly on a plan, such as lengths, areas, and counts, using a calibrated scale, so estimates are based on the drawing instead of guesswork.

Can I mark up plans in the browser?

Yes. You can open plan sets and mark up PDFs with measurements, shapes, notes, and callouts in the browser, with no separate desktop software.

Does BuildTools compare plan versions?

Yes. You can compare a new revision against the prior set to see what changed, so the team builds against the current drawing.

Do takeoff quantities connect to the budget?

Yes. Takeoff quantities can inform cost codes in the project budget, so the numbers that priced the job stay connected to the job.

Can the field see marked-up drawings?

Yes. Markups and the current plan set are shared with the field and trade partners, so crews are not working off an outdated print.

One connected platform for custom builders and remodelers.

BuildTools is the AI-first operating system for custom builders and remodelers: budget control, schedule control, client decisions, field documentation, and project intelligence in one connected platform.

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