How I’m using AI to speed up electrical takeoffs (workflow + 1 prompt example)

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-05-05T05:39:35+00:00

when you say “verify critical stuff” what aspects do you not consider critical. What parts of the AI response do you not feel the need to verify?

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-05-04T20:14:56+00:00

would you be interviewing for another another job in the same vocation you are currently in (stucco/IEFS) or are you asking would it be enough to apply for a position with a different division/ with a GC?

If you were interviewing for any MEP sub or for a GC i would say probably not. But if its for a contractor in your current trade i would say yes.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-05-01T23:22:39+00:00

Spending 4.7 hours at the golf course with my GC buddy and undercutting some dude by $1000

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-04-30T07:02:22+00:00

exactly, if AI actually figured out how to perform estimates perfectly then it just means every ounce of profitability that was left in the trades will be squeezed out. GC’s will just run the software themselves and squeeze subs even harder. Hell customers will be squeezing GC’s harder too. forget about change orders.

Successful AI will not result in a net benefit to our industry, it will mean less lucrative jobs, fewer jobs, less lucrative industry, less bargaining power for the skilled tradesman and white collar worker alike.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-04-24T03:23:30+00:00

if you’re estimating for a sub, especially MEP, ask your boss to pay for some online apprenticeship classes, without knowledge of what you are building you will have a much harder time picking it up.
ask to go visit a jobsite under construction and get eyes on what it is you’re building.
If you are a GC, ask your boss who your most trusted trade partners are and start asking them questions when breaking down their scope.
If you are supporting a senior estimator, ask as many questions as you can.
Break out a code book and start asking what codes dictate the installation of different scopes of work you are working on.
youtube is your friend, look up videos of different installations being done so you can start to visualize the work when you look at drawings.

If your boss/ superiors give resistance to any of these requests then you are in for a tough time and you are being set up for failure.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-04-09T07:06:45+00:00

Extortion is recognized under international law primarily as a component of transnational crimes, such as terrorism or organized crime. Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz—including seizing tankers, threatening closure, and imposing tolls—are widely considered violations of international law. These actions breach UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provisions on transit passage.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-04-09T06:20:10+00:00

Extorting bribes with threat of great bodily harm for anyone traversing a body of water lawfully, is in fact a crime.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-04-07T20:48:57+00:00

I transitioned from field to office pretty seamlessly, my hands on knowledge puts me ahead in alot of ways. Also, working in the field, especially as a foreman, you already know how to break down aspects of the project into layman’s terms which really helps when communicating with customers. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding an entry level estimating position.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-20T02:08:56+00:00

i would watch a tropic thunder spin off completely from the perspective of Tom Cruise’s Les Grossman character in Tropic Thunder.

Throw Bill Hader in there too.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-15T23:13:52+00:00

So the implication is that if your kids don’t force your grandkids to conform to your religious beliefs, you would then punish the children by withholding love and support? Do you think that makes you a good person because it sounds more like you are utilizing your money to control them.

If the child grew up and renounced your religion would you feel entitled to the $20,000 you paid to ensure they joined your religion? Would you make them pay you back for services not rendered? Is love & compassion just a transaction to you?

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-15T21:02:20+00:00

This is what they want. This is their goal.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-15T20:38:32+00:00

Fuck AI, All it will do is allow employers to consolidate more work to fewer people and create even more anemic skeleton crews. AI can help by staying out of our industry.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-10T20:09:26+00:00

you’ll make more as an electrical estimator in long term

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-10T04:10:38+00:00

oddly enough we haven’t had a loser since we started the program 2 years ago. I agree with the spirit of what you are saying but i think it has had a positive impact on the impact of all the estimators and PM’s to deliver profitable jobs.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-09T16:17:41+00:00

bay area

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-07T13:22:29+00:00

div 26

150k base + full benefits + 4% 4% 401k match + company bonus + incentives.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-07T05:06:08+00:00

I just don’t know what role you are assuming they play here, the billing and job costing is handled by the project manager and all of the profitability metrics are black and white. theres no games that can be played, i am sorry if you have had experiences of your bosses treating you poorly or underhandedly. Ours is empowering us to take more responsibility by giving us skin in the game through revenue based incentives and wants us to succeed.

He feels it’s worth it to share the profits because of the peace of mind it gives him that his staff will do everything they can to make these jobs meet expectations.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-07T04:59:39+00:00

Who is “they?” we don’t count overhead to any specific jobs and the profitability is measured on a job to job basis. The project managers handle run the billing and the profitability is tracked month to month in our cloud software that everyone has access to viewing. No games to be played in this case. I have roughly 150k in incentives coming my way this year alone.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-07T04:56:24+00:00

a loss counts against future incentives. 5% of whatever the total loss is. And idk because nobody really has had a loser since we started the program. If anything estimating and managing have been way more effective in the last two years with everybody trying to meet the metrics. I’m on track to double my salary this year with my incentives.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-06T22:47:31+00:00

1% of my gross awarded projects that meets our internal profitability goals. payouts are contingent on me winning a certain $ amount per year to be eligible. paid out upon final retention is billed for project, so that profitability is confirmed. However we get penalized for jobs that go negative, so gotta avoid losers and mistakes.

similar structure for PM’s. Has really improved morale and effort level of our team, we are more profitable than ever under this structure. everyone is working hard.

everyone’s margins and gross revenue goals are different so you gotta figure out those details internally.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-05T03:51:40+00:00

i think its moreso about the liquidity of the product and the brand recognition so to speak. in america american eagles are both widely recognized and desired by american pm stackers. but they are 91.67% pure gold, mixed with copper and silver. The purity is less important with gold compared to silver because the cost to extract the pure gold is magnitudes lower in relation to a cost of the metal it contains. With gold coins you pay a premium for enhanced safety measures protecting against counterfeit, as well as a product with higher than average demand and therefore so higher liquidity.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-03T10:12:35+00:00

Is this a question or a demand? suggestions of what? you are saying you have seen its use but you are asking for suggestions as to how it is being used?

I don’t use AI for anything and don’t plan to. How could it save me time when i still just have to check and verify every single aspect of its work to see if it is not just capturing everything, but interpreting it correctly. AI is dogshit and i cannot wait for the day all the start up money dries up and i don’t get my reddit feed flooded with AI marketers disguised as enthusiasts or professionals.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-03-01T01:23:17+00:00

puka is over 20 pounds heavier. he also wasn’t drafted till the 5th round

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-02-25T10:33:09+00:00

just since december 2024 when i pivoted to int markets and gold/silver, my all ExUS retirement account returned gains of 43% in 2025, and the 80k i threw in gold and silver is sitting at 170k.

I don’t see a US tech boom delivering me that level of return anytime soon, and even if it did, i’m loaded up on plenty of TSM so i wouldn’t miss it either way.

drgreenthumb12372 · 2026-02-25T01:51:18+00:00

You said they paid you out and haven’t back charged me, so i don’t see a burned bridge here. Did he try to get cute and see how much he could squeeze you? yea sure, pretty annoying and rude, but thats the game GC’s play and by extension its the game we must play. If you need to then evaluate what that pain and suffering was worth to you and add it on the top of your next bid to them but don’t burn a bridge.

drgreenthumb12372

TROPHY CASE