Blog & insights

Measure walls in linear feet, floors and roofs in area, apply the slope factor. The full framing takeoff method, with a worked example and roof factor table.

Diesel +65.8%, aluminium +52.4%, drywall flat. The 2026 price change for 10 common construction materials, and what a blanket escalation number gets wrong.

Concrete takeoff and estimating step by step: formulas in feet and metres, NRMCA waste factors, a worked job from drawing to bid, and the fees people miss.

Assemble Pro now has full keyboard shortcuts for pan, zoom and drawing. Plus cost centres in the Library, customisable columns, and much faster plan uploads.

Small subs rarely lose bids on price. They lose them on turnaround time. How the manual estimating bottleneck costs you work, and how to fix it without hiring.

Manual takeoffs take 10-15 hours. Takeoff software takes 2-3. An honest side-by-side on speed, accuracy, and the tipping point where switching pays off.

Manual takeoffs run 10-15 hours per job. That's 40-60 hours a month on measuring and math before a single bid lands. Here's where the time actually goes.

The contractor who out-details the competition wins, even at a higher price. John Miller, The Takeoff Guy, on winning bids, takeoffs, and using AI as a tool.

Darren grew DOR Carpentry alongside his Instagram account to 25k followers. With Assemble Pro he quotes blockwork in minutes and saves hours every week.

Honest 2026 guide to takeoff software for builders and subcontractors: Assemble Pro, Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Stack, Buildxact and more, with real prices compared.

Buildxact bundles estimating with job management from about $169 a month. Assemble Pro keeps it simple at $70. An honest 2026 comparison for residential pros.

Houzz Pro bundles leads, 3D tools and project management. Assemble Pro prices jobs for $70 a month. An honest 2026 comparison for builders and remodelers.

JobTread is a brilliant all-in-one platform. Assemble Pro is a simple takeoff and estimating tool at $70 a month. An honest 2026 comparison for contractors.

Buildertrend runs your whole company. Assemble Pro prices your jobs for $70 a month. An honest 2026 comparison for builders who mainly need faster estimates.

PlanSwift costs around $1,749 a year and runs on Windows only. Assemble Pro is $70 a month in the cloud. An honest 2026 takeoff software comparison.

Bluebeam is the industry standard for PDF markups. Assemble Pro is built for pricing jobs. An honest 2026 comparison of cost, learning curve, and workflow.

A bill of quantities lists every work item, material, and cost on a construction project. Learn what goes in one, when you need it, and how to create your own.

A quantity takeoff is a detailed list of every material needed to complete a construction job, with exact measurements and quantities. Learn how takeoffs work, why they matter, and how to do one faster.

May 2026 updates: undo last point with Backspace, group-level visibility toggles, smarter group selection, and a rebuilt estimate builder for faster construction takeoffs.

Steel is up 20%. Aluminium is up 39%. Diesel is up 45%. If you gave a client a fixed price three months ago, you may already be losing money on that job. Here's what to do about it.

A roofing material takeoff is the difference between a profitable job and a costly one. Learn why accurate takeoffs matter, what to measure, and how to do them faster.

Quantity takeoffs aren't just for estimators. Whether you're a carpenter, drywall contractor, electrician, or plumber, accurate takeoffs drive your bids, your schedule, your material orders, and your profit margins. Here's what every trade contractor needs to know.

Set smarter goals for your construction business. A practical framework covering financial, operational, and growth targets — with monthly reviews that take just 15 minutes.

Bhragan of Last Week in ConTech on why construction tech is at a turning point — from robotics and AI to what small contractors should be preparing for right now.

Subcontractor failure can cost 4x the original price. Patrick Spicer of Fiable explains how to vet subbies, manage risk, and use tech to protect your construction projects.

Plasterer and YouTuber Max shares hard-won lessons on apprenticeships, pricing your work, and why young tradespeople need to charge what they're worth from day one.

Assemble Pro co-founder Keith Moore spent 14 years working construction across NZ, Australia, and the Caribbean. His advice on visas, demand, and building a career abroad.

Raj from Five Rivers Accountancy breaks down project-level profitability, cashflow management, UK tax structures, and e-invoicing rules every contractor should know.