A project can have several takeoff objects that, when combined together, are considered a Typical Area, (just like Typical Groups, a Typical Area could be a restroom, an elevator lobby, an apartment unit, hotel suite, or townhouse, etc.). The difference between Typical Groups and Typical Areas is what you see on the screen.
As explained in
What is Typical Takeoff?, the main difference between
Typical Areas and
Typical Groups is that you
see all the
takeoff when using
Typical Groups.
Typical Areas is simply a multiplier, allocating results to different
Bid Areas - you won't see the
takeoff except the one place where it is drawn and assigned to the
Typical Area.
As explained in previous articles, Typical Groups allow you to set Markers on your plan to account for takeoff objects that repeat on your plan, and to see (visually) the associated takeoff. This is desirable for sharing with the field, but what if you only need to get aggregate totals for your project and do not need to see the takeoff objects on every Page? Or, what if your plans include a "Typical Page" that represents multiple floors (or other Bid Areas)
When you use Typical Groups, you see takeoff on the screen, Typical Areas are just a multiplier. If you are not concerned about seeing the physical takeoff on the plan, Typical Areas can generate detailed Quantity Results for you very quickly. This is especially useful if you need to get a "quick and dirty" bid out - you can always come back and change Typical Areas into Typical Groups or regular takeoff so you can print your project or provide real, visible takeoff to others.
You can use Typical Areas to instruct the program multiply defined regions of takeoff on your plan, or even entire Pages of takeoff, and assign those calculated values to specific Bid Areas.
You see the cumulative Takeoff Items' Results totals on the Summary and Worksheet Tabs and can break out quantities by typical area, floor, building, or show a grand total for bid - however you like.
Before you can start with Typical Areas, you must setup Bid Areas (previous Chapter, see Related Articles). Typical Areas are set up as a matrix that tells the program that takeoff you assign to the Typical Area exists some number of times in each Bid Area.
We cover selecting, copying, pasting, and Duplicating and Reassigning takeoff in Related Articles.
The next article shows you the Typical Areas dialog box and explains how to use the tools available. After that, we walk through creating Typical Areas and then assigning takeoff to a Typical Area.
- Deck Height - Every count of a Typical Area is exactly the same including its Height. In our example, Floors 4-22 are exactly the same - they all have the same deck height (8'), but Floors 1 - 3 all have a deck height of 10'. We must create a separate Typical Area for Floors 1 - 3 and another for Floors 4 - 22 and use Takeoff Items set to the appropriate Height to draw takeoff. Our example project is very simple - just a few Takeoff Items - a real-world project may have hundreds of Takeoff Items. The easiest way to accommodate a change in height is to copy and paste the takeoff (usually from a Page that indicates height "X" to a page that indicates height "Y"), then, while the pasted takeoff is still selected, use the Duplicate and Reassign function to create new Takeoff Items and reassign accordingly. You then adjust the duplicate Takeoff Items to reflect the Height appropriate to the Page where the takeoff was pasted. See Related Articles for more information on Duplicating a Takeoff Item and Reassigning Its Takeoff at Same Time.
- Common Objects - Do not assign takeoff objects that are shared or 'in common' to Typical Areas. Take off those objects separately or your quantities will be exaggerated. For example, if your project includes two Units with a common wall, do not assign that common wall to either of the Typical Areas as you would be counting too much wall. See previous article for what not to include in a Typical Group or assign to a Typical Area.
Typical Takeoff Example
We are going to use the same example for the rest of this Chapter to demonstration Typical Groups, Typical Areas, and using both together.
Our example for is a high rise condo, and we are acting as a contractor who installs carpeting, floors, and wall coverings, etc. We are being contracted to install carpets and flooring in the suites on each Floor and to tile the floor and install wall coverings in the elevator lobbies.
Floors 1, 2, and 3, are unique, although the some of the same condo units used on Floors 4-22 occur on each, their common areas and the number of units on each is different. Floors 4-22 are identical and also use several of the same units. The elevator lobbies for Floor 2-22 are identical, only the elevator lobby on Floor 1 is different.
We used Typical Groups to account for a single instance of each of the suites and then placed Markers throughout the Pages associated with Floors 1-3 to account for those floors unique layouts.
We will use Typical Areas to account for the Elevator lobbies (Floors 1-3 and then 4-22 - we need two Typical Areas to account for the difference in deck height).
And we will use a combination of Typical Groups and Typical Areas to takeoff off Floors 4-22 on the "typical floor plan" Page.
Takeoff You Should Never Include in a Typical Group