Start with the decision
Start a painting takeoff by recording the document revision and measurement basis. Separate quantity measurement from pricing and clearly identify items that cannot yet be measured reliably. The worksheet below organizes the estimate; it does not supply design quantities, production rates or market prices.
This guide is for business-to-business project planning in the United States and Canada. For the wider trade context, visit the painting resource hub.
Record quantities with their basis
| Package | Measurement basis | Inclusion check |
|---|---|---|
| Surface preparation | surface areas grouped by condition | minor preparation versus separately defined repairs |
| Coating application | areas by surface and finish type | specified system versus proposed alternatives |
| Protection and access | rooms, access constraints and phased work areas | moving contents, masking, access and cleanup |
Download the painting takeoff checklist worksheet (CSV)
Fill in the response, owner or source, and date checked. Keep unresolved items visible. The file contains planning prompts only; it does not calculate quantities or make an approval decision.
Put the checklist to work
- List the drawings, schedules and addenda used. Keep units consistent and show where a dimension or quantity came from.
- Measure the defined packages separately. Flag substrate repairs, hazardous-material assessment, access equipment and protection of adjacent finishes so quantities are not silently omitted or counted in multiple packages.
- Record allowances, waste assumptions and unresolved dimensions explicitly. Ask for missing information instead of labeling an estimate as a confirmed quantity.
- Check the takeoff against scope changes and surface readiness, approved selections and release of rooms from preceding trades. Have another qualified estimator review important assumptions when the package warrants it.
A scope gap worth discussing
Illustrative example — not a Build Accord client project
One proposal prices finish coats on a ready surface while another includes extensive preparation. Compare their preparation assumptions before choosing between the totals.
Apply this to your decision: A traceable takeoff record with quantities, units, source references and open questions, ready for project-specific pricing.
Using this in the US and Canada
For a project in the United States
Record the state, local jurisdiction and actual service area. For federal notices, use SAM.gov Contract Opportunities and check the individual notice’s stage and instructions. A prime-contract notice is not automatically a subcontract invitation.
For a project in Canada
Record the province or territory, municipality and actual service area. Use CanadaBuys tender opportunities as one public-procurement source, then read the issuer’s documents and submission route. Do not assume it lists every private construction package.
For either market, state the currency, units and deadline time zone. This worksheet is general planning guidance, not a determination of licensing, procurement eligibility or technical compliance.
The next useful step
Continue with painting bid inclusions and exclusions checklist. For the other side of the conversation, see the painting project scope guide.
Build Accord coordinates introductions between construction project teams and trade contractors. An inquiry starts a discussion of fit and availability; it does not guarantee a contractor, an invitation to bid or an award. These guides are not a listing of currently available crews or projects.