Estimating Dimensions Basics

The BidMagic construction estimating software program uses 'smart' dimensioning to calculate many construction quantities for you, based on measurements that you'll get from blueprints, field notes or spec sheets. You'll enter easy-to-find dimensions such as wall lengths, floor areas and ceiling heights. From them, BidMagic will calculate more complex dimensions such as siding area, wallboard area and length of baseboards.

The calculations used by the BidMagic estimating software are based on simple geometry, and in most cases they will be right for your project. If there is some quirk about the project that makes any dimension wrong, however, you can always unlock its field and enter your own number.

NOTE: BidMagic dimensions aren't used directly to calculate any costs. Instead, they are used in formulas that give 'suggested' quantities in Specifications.

BidMagic uses American measures for all dimensions--feet, cubic yards, and so on. You can use metric unit prices with BidMagic, but you'll have to use a conversion factor in the Formula Editor (see pages 262-268) to convert the 'suggested' quantities from American to metric.

Which Dimensions to Use

BidMagic includes over 200 construction dimensions, covering everything from foundations to framing to roofing to painting. If you are building a whole structure (a new building or an addition) or if you're completely redoing an existing structure, go through every Dimensions card and check each dimension--the process usually only takes a few minutes.

For very small projects that don't involve the full range of construction (for example, a new deck), you can skip most or all of the Dimensions and go directly to Specifications to enter construction item costs.

NOTE: If doing a very small project in a copy of BidMagic that already has some dimensions entered, choose Clear Dimensions from the Bid menu. It will set all project measurements to zero.

Whenever you run into dimensions that don't apply to your particular project, simply give them zero as a quantity.

EXAMPLE: If your project does not include any porches, decks or garages, enter zero for all their measurements on the Exterior Dimensions card.

Locking and Unlocking Dimensions

Usually you'll want BidMagic to calculate as many dimensions as possible for you. To do that, choose Lock Dimensions from the Bid menu.

Any dimension that can be calculated from dimensions you've entered already will then have a padlock icon. As you change any of the dimensions used to calculate it, its quantity will change.

NOTE: Dimensions are always based on dimensions on previous cards, or dimensions on the same card that are above and to the left of the calculated quantity.

If the 'suggested' value for a dimension is not correct for your project, unlock the field (see page 87), and enter your own quantity.