Estimating Exterior Walls

Using 'Exploded Rooms'

The BidMagic construction estimating software uses an 'exploded' room diagram that shows each surface, as if the room were unfolded like a cardboard box.

At the bottom of each Room card are six small 'exploded room' diagrams. Each diagram contains seven surfaces which match the corresponding seven surfaces on the larger 'exploded room' diagram at upper right.

When you click on a surface, you'll 'toggle' it between a darkened (highlighted) state and an undarkened state.

Darkened surfaces will have the indicated type of construction work done to them, while undarkened surfaces will not.

To highlight all surfaces, click the Paint Bucket icon. To unhighlight all surfaces, first highlight all surfaces with the Paint Bucket, then click the Paint Bucket a second time.

Exteriors

Click in the Exteriors diagram to indicate the surfaces that are exposed to the outdoors.

Floors on the first story should be darkened unless there is a finished basement beneath them. Ceilings on the top story should also be darkened, even if there is an attic or crawl space above them.

HINT: In a one-story ranch building with no finished basement beneath it, both floor and ceiling should be darkened in each room.

If a wall is only partly exposed to the outdoors, either add the exterior portion of the wall to another exterior wall, or add its interior portion to another interior wall.