Estimating Project Areas

NOTE--We retired MacNail in 2000, and replaced it with Goldenseal project estimating software. There are still quite a few die-hard MacNail users, so we keep the manuals online for them! Goldenseal is a complete small-business software package that also includes accounting, job costing and project management features. Each Goldenseal estimate calculates its construction quantities from a set of foundation and structural dimensions that are very similar to the ones found in MacNail.

Wall and Ceiling Areas

The wall and ceiling areas listed here are the actual area that will receive siding or wallboard in this construction project. The area of doors and windows has been subtracted.
* For an addition, these numbers will need to be adjusted if you are doing some work on walls or ceilings in the existing structure.
* For gut/rehabs and remodeling projects, the areas should be checked carefully, since the actual quantity of work is hard to predict. The MacNail construction estimating software makes some reasonable guesses but there is not enough info to get accurate quantities for all projects.

Floor Areas

Floor framing area is the total area that will receive new joists and subfloor. Floor finish area is the total area that will receive new floor finishes (e.g. hardwood flooring, carpet).

Independent Ceiling Framing

Include any area of any ceilings that are carried by their own framing. Ceilings attached to the underside of floor or roof joists, or to the bottom chord of roof trusses, should not be included here.

Foundation Wall Area

Includes the area of foundation wall, as viewed from the side (elevation view).