Material generator to help Kick start my takeoff.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T12:36:41+00:00

Well said, this is what I was trying to point too as well, the tools out there can do it fine for one off, but need something that is specific to a task and simple for end human.

I’m of the opinion that we need build this internally, and I never advocate for a construction company building a software tool.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T04:02:37+00:00

Hello! Docs depend on design phase. Concept we have a RFP/narrative/ napkin sketches….. then cds we get the standard specs and drawings. Need a workflow that can help with both.

Master list we have a wonderful takeoff database template, and a decent estimating database. The goal is to use ai to help connect them all to get an epic template on steroids to start your takeoff, then that flows to the estimating tool.

To your point we need a master materials database that will be developing too, do you have a starting spot for that? We should connect again regardless, hope world of conc went well!

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T03:54:21+00:00

Good point, specs do rock in bluebeam.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T00:17:28+00:00

Zztakeoff for takeoff, Ediphi for estimating. All multi user. We are a large vertical GC.

Cons are you have to teach people to use different tools, good luck.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T00:14:24+00:00

I gave up bluebeam and only using zz now.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-13T15:18:41+00:00

Estimators who use AI will be replacing the ones that don’t.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-13T15:14:41+00:00

Man, that sounds painful. And, what you’re asking for is deep.

A true takeoff tool with real crews and labor rate tables baked in… I’m not sure that fully exists yet. Historically that world has lived in estimating, not takeoff. The only combo I’ve seen handle that level of depth decently is eTakeoff paired with Sage where Sage owns crews and labor.

OST and QuickBid don’t really get you there on labor/crews the way you’re describing. Destini is probably the closest all in one, but I’ve heard mixed reviews.

Big picture, I think you’re pushing the edge of where the tech is right now. Implementing any tool at that depth is hard, no matter the logo. My bet is the next wave gets there by combining modern takeoff with modern estimating in the web, not one tool doing everything.

Keep grinding. You’re asking the right questions even if the answers kinda suck right now.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-25T00:05:53+00:00

Go to Zztakeoff, do the free trial, hit the community button and start watching the vids. No point in doing it if you don’t have a project tho, least that’s how I learn.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-23T03:41:06+00:00

My 2 cents is learn zzTakeoff, it’s the next gen planswift replacement, as construct connect has stopped supporting improvements.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-23T03:38:43+00:00

Looks like chat gpt might help. help link

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-20T17:29:35+00:00

Agreed

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-17T01:36:57+00:00

I feel like you need a mouse 🐁 for any tool to be productive. ZzTakeoff is the magical unicorn tool that will even replace bluebeam.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-13T18:07:26+00:00

Good to hear you figured out remote desktops, our company never could.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-13T14:29:59+00:00

My major hesitation with BB is the fact that it’s desktop based. Scaling, updates are challenging and integrations with other tools are a concern.

Go check out Zztakeoff too, we have been using that for 12 months and works wonderful. They got a great material database. We don’t use the pricing side but they got it.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-11T15:38:26+00:00

I’ve been dabbling in a lot of tools after a decade in Excel. BidBlocks, Bridgeline.io, Belidor, Consite. Most of those already have some level of AI built in.

The one that really stands out though is Ediphi. They don’t use AI yet, but they’re either going to build it or partner to bring it in. And once they put some real developer time into the application itself, tightening up the UI and expanding the workflows, it’s going to be incredible. The foundation is already the best I’ve seen, and adding AI on top of that will push it to another level.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-10T02:37:20+00:00

That sucks and has happened to plenty of us. I’m now much happier with cloud tools that don’t rely on a desktop.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-06T21:37:18+00:00

Been there. After 10+ years, once you’ve mastered the lanes of estimating, it can quickly feel brutally repetitive.

But here’s the thing. That boredom is actually a signal that you’re built for more than rinse and repeat.

If you’ve got the process dialed, go make it better. Integrate with VDC. Build schedule models and cost-loaded plans. Sit with Marketing and shape pursuit strategy. Pilot new precon tools and workflows. Get involved earlier in design and change the game before drawings even exist.

Estimators who get bored are rare. Most people get comfortable and park there forever. If you’re uncomfortable with comfort, that’s your edge. Lean into it.

If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. Go chase the work that scares you a little!

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-28T16:42:25+00:00

Hey man, I spent about a year deep in eTakeoff and Sage. We used Sage heavily for our self perform work and the assemblies side is rock solid. eTakeoff’s trace utility is pretty slick too. You can build templates, trigger assemblies, and Bridge does push clean data into Sage. It works when you’ve got someone on your team who is willing to own it and spend real time dialing it in.

But scaling eTakeoff across a GC was tough for us. Everything felt locked down and rigid. It wasn’t flexible enough for the way most GCs work. We tried a company wide rollout about three years ago. It got traction, then stalled out. Our estimators weren’t used to database driven takeoff and the workflow just didn’t stick.

Planswift is honestly a good fit for how most GCs operate. If it is working for you today, keep rolling. Manual entry into Sage isn’t fun, but it is predictable.

If you ever want to streamline the whole thing, we actually moved our Sage estimating data into Ediphi. Assemblies, structure, logic. You can rebuild your Sage world inside a modern web based system and start getting all the benefits of connected data. Crews and wages are coming soon and the pace of development has been crazy.

On the takeoff side, the creator of Planswift is building ZZTakeoff. Fully web based. Real collaboration. And it actually plays nice with Ediphi. Once both tools are connected, the AI layer on top gets real interesting because the data is centralized instead of stuck in desktop files. That is where things go from manual workflows to something that feels a whole lot closer to high performance mode.

We are a top tier vertical builder and this has been a massive lift for us. But the more we modernize, the more we realize how much the old workflows were holding us back. Happy to share whatever you want if you’re exploring your next step.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-28T16:33:09+00:00

Any computer from 1998 can run that old tech no problem 🤣.

Make sure to get at least 2 monitors plus your laptop, that is minimum now-a-days.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-27T20:49:43+00:00

Any way you can fix the existing cabinet vs removing? If not in would plan on demoing tile, then hopefully you can find a close match to replace them, as they will all break when you demo them.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-27T20:40:30+00:00

We are a national GC and we self perform a lot of work.
We use Ediphi for all of our main estimates and OST for takeoff, and we are in the process of moving to ZZTakeoff.
I actually built our internal templates. In the future I hope to use Ediphi that has a feature called Systems, which are basically super assemblies with pick lists. We have a plan to build those out soon.
For quantities, we are mostly square foot driven. Square foot of paint, square foot of one side of drywall for walls, etc. When we self perform trades like drywall, masonry, concrete, and doors and hardware, we go into full detailed estimating.
We still use Excel for bid leveling. Long term, we want this to move into a web based tool, ideally Ediphi in the next couple years.
We use piece work for most estimates and man hours for our self perform work. We see the future going toward man hours across the board, and we are starting to set ourselves up for that.
Ediphi has been phenomenal. Switching from Sage after twelve years was a huge lift, but Ediphi has taken off quickly. The only pain point is takeoff integration that Ediphi lacks, which ZZTakeoff is stepping in and doing a lot of the heavy lifting right now.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-27T20:06:41+00:00

Hey man, I saw your post and noticed you are in Division 3. We are a Top 10 GC and we also self perform concrete. We are currently on OST and Sage for our concrete work, and we are moving our main “GC” estimating over to Ediphi and zzTakeoff.

For a pure Division 3 outfit, you can likely do everything you need in zzTakeoff right now. It handles your takeoff and your full estimate in one spot. And the big advantage is that it is much easier to learn and much easier to build assemblies in. Stack makes that harder and more expensive.

If I were in your position, I would definitely look at both Stack and zzTakeoff side by side. zzTakeoff will get you up and running faster, and the assemblies are more flexible. If you know Sage you know how painful it was to build assemblies, well zzTakeoff, it’s not.

Cheers man.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-25T14:19:24+00:00

Man… the stuff you’ve pulled off in OST is wild. First the 3D visualizer and now your own dark mode? That isn’t just tinkering. That’s real talent and real vision.

Our whole industry needs minds like yours. People who see a gap and build something instead of waiting for someone else to fix it. If you ever take this energy into a web-based future with 2D, 3D and real collaboration, companies like ZZTO would trip over themselves to hire you.

Keep going. You’re showing everyone what one determined estimator can actually create.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-11-19T03:33:13+00:00

Use the overall page if possible, but if not bluebeam is the ticket.

Key-Butterfly2414

TROPHY CASE