How to do a window takeoff from PDF drawings

Start with the sheet index, revision information and the intended scope. Separate exterior openings from interior doors, existing elements, demolition and optional work. List the pages you will actually inspect, including those not selected for AI analysis.

In our synthetic example, A01 is the plan, A02-A05 are four elevations and A06 contains both the section and schedule. Together they describe eight openings. This is a small teaching case; it does not establish the coverage of a larger project.

Create one record for each physical opening. An opening visible in a plan, elevation and schedule is still one opening. Preserve its mark and record the source views used to reconcile it. Repeated types can share a specification while retaining separate locations.

Here W01-W06 are six windows. D01 is one entrance door and SD01 one sliding door. The schedule range W01-W06 means six occurrences, not one row counted as one window. Check repeated marks and unmarked openings before accepting a total.

Use written dimensions and identify what they measure. Our test drawings explicitly call their dimensions outer openings; this does not turn those values into manufacturer frame sizes. Do not subtract an assumed installation allowance.

Check width, height, sill, wall and orientation against the relevant views. In this case each window is 4 ft wide by 5 ft high, with a 3 ft sill. The entrance and slider have a zero sill. Window operation remains unknown despite the presence of geometry.

Compare placed openings, unresolved proposals, context-only elements and schedule rows without an assigned opening. These groups serve different purposes and must not be silently added into one ordered quantity. Inspect pages omitted from analysis separately.

Export the preliminary brief only after checking identities and dimensions. Keep unresolved decisions with the handoff. Ask the supplier to confirm system selection, dimensions, handing, glass, performance, installation interfaces and final ordering requirements. The export is not a manufacturing order.