How to Turn Online Blueprints Into a Good Construction Bid

Frustrated with navigating digital blueprints on a computer screen? This article will help you turn online construction plans into a qualified bid proposal quickly and efficiently.You may know how to read a 24”x36” set of blueprints, but how do you begin to read construction plans on a computer screen? These simple steps will help you turn digital plans into a qualified bid proposal:

Steps

1. Invest in a 24” monitor (or larger) or a multiple screen display so you won’t go crazy trying to scroll through each drawing!
2. Make sure you have installed Adobe Reader and WinZip programs, as most online plan sets are in a .pdf or .zip file format.
3. Look at the General Notes and/or Cover Page to locate where your scope of work can be found in the plans. Sometimes this information can also be found in the first pages of the Architectural Plans.
4. Identify and download all file names using the following guideline to pick out the plans for your scope of work:
   
   • Architectural: All A drawings
   • Structural: All S or ST drawings
   • Civil: All C drawings or S for Site
   • Electrical: E drawings
   • Plumbing: P drawings
   • HVAC: H or M drawings
   • Landscaping & Irrigation: All L or LS and IR drawings. Sometimes lighting plans are called L plans too.
   • Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing: MEP drawings
5. Keep a note of which pages you will need to reference for your proposal.
6. If there are specs, take a look at any specific materials required by the builder or the project owner. Often times, specs will contain important manufacturer, color, or type information for the materials you will need to use. Specs are usually broken down by divisions according to the following:
   
   • Division 00 — Procurement and Contracting Requirements
   • Division 01 — General Requirements
   • Division 02 — Site Construction
   • Division 03 — Concrete
   • Division 04 — Masonry
   • Division 05 — Metals
   • Division 06 — Wood, Plastics, and Composites
   • Division 07 — Thermal and Moisture Protection
   • Division 08 — Openings
   • Division 09 — Finishes
   • Division 10 — Specialties
   • Division 11 — Equipment
   • Division 12 — Furnishings
   • Division 13 — Special Construction
   • Division 14 — Conveying Equipment
   • Division 21 — Fire Suppression
   • Division 22 — Plumbing
   • Division 23 — Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning
   • Division 25 — Integrated Automation
   • Division 26 — Electrical
   • Division 27 — Communications
   • Division 28 — Electronic Safety and Security
   • Division 31 — Earthwork
   • Division 32 — Exterior Improvements
   • Division 33 — Utilities
   • Division 34 — Transportation
   • Division 35 — Waterways and Marine Construction
   • Division 40 — Process Integration
   • Division 41 — Material Processing and Handling Equipment
   • Division 42 — Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying Equipment
   • Division 43 — Process Gas and Liquid Handling, Purification and Storage Equipment
   • Division 44 — Pollution Control Equipment
   • Division 45 — Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment
   • Division 48 — Electrical Power Generation
7. Assemble a materials take-off for all the materials you will need to complete your scope of work, including spec items. Contact multiple suppliers to make sure you get a competitive price and take advantage of available supplier discounts.
8. Assemble a labor take-off for the required hours it will take to complete the job.
9. Last, include your overhead allocation, profit margin, supervision costs, and waste/overage estimates specific to your scope of work.
10. If you need assistance in bidding, you can always hire a professional estimator who will assemble bid packets for you.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Reader & WinZip programs, or other software capable of handling .pdf files and .zip compression.

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