To those not familiar with the world of construction, the words “concrete takeoff” probably conjure an image of someone grinding away at a sidewalk with a jackhammer, to remove all evidence of said sidewalk. This, of course, is not what concrete takeoff is all about, so in order to “cement” your knowledge, we offer a few facts about this crucial component of many construction projects.

1. Cement & Concrete: Not Always Separate, But Not Equal

As you see those huge concrete trucks heading down the road, their mixing drums spinning round and round, you might mistakenly have called this vehicle a “cement truck.” Cement, however, is one of the ingredients in concrete and not an interchangeable term. Concrete is a blend of paste and aggregates such as crushed stone, sand or gravel. The paste is the cement, which acts as a binder, binding together all of the sand and stone and gravel.

2. Most Cement Is Portland Cement

Most of the cement that is used in concrete is known as Portland cement. This type of cement was developed in the 19 th century in England, and its creator named it in honor of the Isle of Portland, because the color of the cement matches the color of the rocks typically quarried on that small limestone island. This type of cement generally includes limestone as well as chalk, seashells, shale and clay. While this blend of cement is the most commonly used in the world, not all of this cement actually comes from the Isle of Portland, as these “ingredients” are found readily throughout the world.

3. Concrete Takeoff: What’s It All About?

When it comes to concrete takeoff and concrete estimating, this includes studying every factor of a construction project that involves concrete. For instance, you need to calculate how much concrete will be needed, as well as the amounts of other materials such as rebar and reinforcing mesh. You must calculate the labor needed and the labor costs, as well as the cost of materials. Of course, before any concrete can be poured, there almost certainly will be excavation, grading and embankment tasks that must be completed.

Concrete takeoff is a huge portion of most construction projects. After all, concrete is used to help build everything from the foundation to the sidewalks that surround a building, as well as planters, parking lots and sometimes the entire skeleton or frame of a building is created from concrete. It’s also used for the construction of bridges and roads, as well.

4. Software Programs Can Help

At EarthCalc, our primary focus involves dirt estimates and creating machine control files, and in order to complete these projects, we use sophisticated software programs developed by companies such as Agtek and Trimble. These types of software programs also can be used to ensure accuracy and precision with concrete estimating and concrete takeoff.

While the team at EarthCalc can’t help you with concrete takeoff and concrete estimating, we can help with a few other crucial construction takeoff tasks. Since 1983, we’ve been providing clients with quality dirt estimates at various stages of a construction project. We can help during the design process, the bidding process or during the grading phase, and we often are called in to double check dirt estimates for large or complex projects. We are able to receive files or plans in just about any format, including CAD (both 2D & 3D), ASCI, PDF, TIFF and even hard copy plans. If you need dirt estimates or machine control files, give the team at EarthCalc a call today or email us at earthcalc@earthcalc.com.