Manual Tools

More Measurements: Drop, Surface Area, and Volume

Measure quantities that need an extra dimension: Linear with Drop (LF), Surface Area (SF), and Volume by Area or Volume by Length (CY).

Steps

1. Click New Takeoff, point at More Measurements, and pick a type. Or press Alt + D (Linear with Drop), Alt + S (Surface Area), Alt + 2 (Volume by Area), or Alt + 3 (Volume by Length).
2. In the Measure panel on the right, enter the extra dimension: Drop Length (per point) for Linear with Drop, Height for Surface Area, and Depth for both Volume types. Volume by Length also needs a Width. Enter the Height (Surface Area) or Width (Volume by Length) before you place any points.
3. Draw Linear with Drop, Surface Area, and Volume by Length like a Linear: click points, then double-click or press Enter. Draw Volume by Area like an Area.
4. Click Finish Measuring (or press Escape) when you're done.

Notes

• •Linear with Drop adds the drop length once for each point you place, on top of the path length.
• •Surface Area multiplies the path length by the height, and by 2 when Faces is set to Both sides (to count both faces of a wall). Volume by Area multiplies the area by the depth, and Volume by Length multiplies the path length by the width and the depth; both volumes are in cubic yards.
• •To get wall area from walls you already have, right-click a Linear, Line, or Walls takeoff (in the takeoff list or on the drawing) and choose Duplicate as Surface Area. Enter the Height and Faces, and a new Surface Area takeoff is made on the same paths; the original stays in linear feet.
• •Drop Length, Height, and Depth take feet and inches. Width takes feet.
• •Use Multiplier to repeat a quantity (for example, 2 for two identical floors). Plain Area takeoffs have it too.
• •Grid Pattern draws a hatch inside Area and Volume by Area shapes. It is for looks only and does not change the quantity.
• •Linear with Drop places a marker at each point. Pick its Symbol (check, X, or dot) in the Measure panel.