Dormer Construction

Problem

Dormer calculations are all off for a complex roof entered in BidMagic Construction Estimating Software

Diagnosis

When BM estimating software factors in dormers, it calculates the extra dormer roof area, dormer walls etc., based on the dormer slope and extent as well as the roof slope. For a complex roof with many different roofs at different slopes, the roof slope is not defined, so adding dormers to a complex roof can result in wacky #'s.

Using the average roof slope helps some but not much. This will be fixed in some future version.

Solution

For now they'll have to tolerate it- one way to handle it would be to add the required dormers to a standard roof of zero horiz area, and then add the calculated #'s from this situation to the final roof dims of a complex roof WITHOUT the dormers. Or just adjust the quantities of items used in the dormers.

Comments

Entered 8/12/94 by Vinay. Updated 10/20/2010.

NOTE-- We retired BidMagic estimating software back in 2002, and replaced with Goldenseal-- which is integrated estimating software and project management software (plus optional accounting software).