Challenges in Building Materials Estimates: What Are the Construction Materials Calculators?

Estimating building materials is crucial when it comes to appropriately calculating your project's budget. Fortunately, there are professional tools that make it easier than ever. Building materials calculators can greatly improve the precision of your estimations, so you don't have to be worried about running out of money and not being able to finish your project. How to use get accurate building material estimate? What are the aspects to consider? Let's dive into it!

What is a Building Materials Cost Estimation?

A material estimate in a building project, also referred to as a quantity takeoff, construction takeoff, or material takeoff, involves extracting information from blueprints regarding the necessary materials and their quantities for a project. This process focuses solely on the materials needed, excluding labour costs, equipment expenses, and other indirect costs, which are considered separately in construction estimates. 

In a large organization, there might be a dedicated estimator responsible for calculating the cost of building materials. On the other hand, small builders or contractors often need to prepare these estimates themselves. Anyone with a stake in the project, whether they produce tenders, bids, or manage a building budget, should be familiarized with the construction costs and ensure a material estimate is conducted.

Types of Materials Estimates in Constructions Projects

The Unit Pricing Method: This method is where you count everything that is required that comes at a unit price. Such as a door, light bulb, door handle or stovetop. It also includes nails. They are sold, for example, in boxes of 500, which is considered one unit. Count each unit of every product necessary, multiply that by their unit price, and you get your total estimated price. Don’t forget to consider when the project is set to begin, prices may have inflated by then. 

The Square Foot (Square Footage) Method or The Cubic Yards Method: To find out the area of the roof, floor, and walls you need to find the square feet or cubic yard. You achieve this by measuring the length, then multiplying the length by the width. If the area is not square, then measure the longest sides. For example, from this, you can work out how many plywood sheets you would need to complete the overall project: divide your answer by the size of one sheet, this will tell you how many plywood sheets you need.

The Rule of Two Method: As we said before, this method doesn’t consider actual costs or unit amounts, but rather begins with how much time the project should take and the labour costs. It is based on the premise that labour is about half of the material costs. Through historical data and industry knowledge, you estimate the labour cost then multiply it by two, add 10%, and you have a basic cost estimation.

Calculating Accurate Estimates for Different Materials You Need

  • Bricks and Blocks
    • Calculate the volume of concrete needed for slabs, footings, or walls.
    • Determine the cost per cubic meter or cubic yard of concrete.
    • Multiply the volume required by the unit cost to estimate the cost of concrete.
  • Concrete
    • Calculate the number of bricks or blocks required based on the area to be covered.
    • Determine the cost per unit (e.g., per brick or per block) from suppliers.
    • Multiply the quantity required by the unit cost to get the total material cost.
  • Estimating the Costs of Materials Required: Timber
    • Determine the dimensions and lengths of timber required for framing, flooring, or decking.
    • Obtain the cost per linear meter or per board foot from suppliers.
    • Multiply the quantity required by the unit cost to estimate the cost of timber.
  • Steel
    • Calculate the length, weight, or quantity of steel beams, bars, or plates needed for structural elements.
    • Determine the cost per kilogram or per tonne of steel.
    • Multiply the quantity required by the unit cost to estimate the cost of steel.
  • Roofing Materials
    • Determine the area of the roof to be covered, considering pitch and overhangs.
    • Select the type of roofing material (e.g., tiles, shingles, metal sheets).
    • Obtain the cost per square meter or per bundle from suppliers.
    • Multiply the area required by the unit cost to estimate the total cost of roofing materials.
  • Flooring
    • Calculate the area to be covered with flooring material (e.g., tiles, hardwood, laminate).
    • Determine the cost per square meter or per box of flooring material.
    • Multiply the area required by the unit cost to estimate the cost of flooring.
  • Plumbing and Electrical Materials
    • List the materials needed for plumbing (e.g., pipes, fittings) and electrical (e.g., cables, switches).
    • Obtain the cost per unit or per meter from suppliers.
    • Multiply the quantity required by the unit cost to estimate the total cost of plumbing and electrical materials.
  • Finishes
    • Determine the types of finishes required for walls, ceilings, and trim (e.g., paint, plaster, tiles).
    • Obtain the cost per square meter or per unit from suppliers.
    • Multiply the area or quantity required by the unit cost to estimate the total cost of finishes.

What Is a Construction Materials Calculator?

A building materials calculator is a tool used in construction projects to calculate the amount of materials required for a specific task or project. It helps construction professionals, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts accurately plan and budget for materials needed for tasks such as concrete pouring, bricklaying, paving, roofing, and more.

Key features of these programs include:

  1. Material Selection: Users can select from a range of commonly used construction materials such as concrete, bricks, blocks, timber, roofing materials, and more.
  2. Calculation Algorithms: The calculator uses predefined algorithms to calculate the total amount of materials required based on the input parameters and selected material types. These algorithms may account for factors such as waste, density, and coverage rates.
  3. Output Results: The calculator provides output results detailing the estimated quantities of each material required for the task or project. This may include quantities in units such as cubic meters, square meters, linear meters, or individual units (e.g., bricks, concrete blocks, tiles).
  4. Cost Estimation: Advanced calculators provide cost estimation capabilities, multiplying the calculated material quantities by current market prices to generate an estimated total cost for the materials.
  5. Customisation Options: Users may have options to customise parameters such as waste allowances, material types, and unit costs to tailor the calculation to their specific requirements.
  6. User-Friendly Interface: The calculator typically features a user-friendly interface with clear instructions and intuitive input fields to help you estimate how much material you will need to finish the project.

Building materials calculators (such as concrete block calculator or concrete cinder calculator) are valuable tools that help streamline the planning and estimating process, saving time and reducing errors. They empower users to make informed decisions about material quantities and costs, ultimately contributing to the successful completion of construction projects.

Get a Professional Support In Cost Estimating Process

In Estimedes, we provide professional estimating services to determine how many materials you need for construction and building projects. Whether you're figuring out the quantity of plaster bags required, the number of studs for a partition wall, the amount of aggregate needed for a sub-base, the volume of concrete for a footing, or the count of bricks and blocks in a cavity wall, our calculators have got you covered!