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Roofing Takeoffs for Suppliers: What a Material Quote Needs From the Plan Set
Disclosure: Sharp Pencil sells commercial roofing takeoffs, so we have a stake in this topic. The worked example is arithmetic on stated assumptions, not an actual job.
A supplier's material quote needs net quantities for every line (field membrane, flashing, insulation by layer, cover board, adhesive, fasteners and plates, edge metal, accessories), each tied to the sheet or spec section it came from, plus the exact products specified. Convert each one to purchase units with the manufacturer's published size or coverage, show any waste allowance as its own stated line, and send questions back when the set leaves a line open.
What does a roofing supplier need from a takeoff to quote materials?
A quantity for every line, the product behind it, and the sheet it came from. The roof plan alone won't get you there, because the assembly details, the spec, and the plumbing and mechanical sheets all carry quote lines too.
| Quote line | Takeoff unit | Where it comes from in the set |
|---|---|---|
| Field membrane | SF | Roof plan and assembly details; spec section for product, thickness and color |
| Flashing membrane | LF by height, or SF | Parapet, wall and curb details; elevations for heights |
| Insulation by layer, and tapered system | SF per layer; tapered layout | Roof plan, tapered insulation plan, assembly details, spec |
| Cover board | SF | Assembly details and spec |
| Adhesive or fasteners and plates | SF bonded, or fastener counts by roof zone | Spec attachment method and wind uplift requirements; details |
| Edge metal and coping | LF by profile | Roof plan edges and edge details; edge metal and coping often show up in the spec too |
| Drains, curbs, penetrations and accessories | EA | Roof plan, plumbing and mechanical sheets; drains are often in the plumbing details |
| Walkway pads | SF or EA | Roof plan |
If a line has no sheet behind it, it isn't ready to quote. It's a question.
How do plan quantities become purchase units?
Start with the net quantity, apply the manufacturer's published size or coverage for the exact product, then round up to whole units. Here's where the unit lives for three common products. They show where to look. Use the data sheet for the product on the job, and don't treat these as typical figures for every product.
- Membrane rolls. A 10 ft by 100 ft TPO roll is 1,000 SF gross. Carlisle lists 10'x100' and 12'x100' Sure-Weld rolls (Carlisle Sure-Weld TPO with SeamShield bulletin).
- Insulation pallets. Johns Manville's ENRGY 3 data sheet lists boards and square feet per pallet by thickness. For 2.0 in. flat 4x8 board it lists 24 boards and 768 SF per pallet (JM ENRGY 3 data sheet).
- Adhesive pails. Carlisle's Sure-Weld TPO Bonding Adhesive data sheet gives an average coverage of 60 SF per gallon of finished surface, in 5 gal pails, and says porous substrates may need more. That rate is per SF of finished, bonded roof area (adhesive goes on both the substrate and the membrane), so don't halve it (Carlisle bonding adhesive data sheet).
Substitutions change the units. An "or equal" product can come in a different roll width or a different count per pallet. Convert again from that product's own data sheet.
Who sets the waste and allowance on a supplier quote?
The contractor. Waste depends on roof cut-up, roll width and how the crew lays the roof, so no single number travels from job to job (see where single-ply waste comes from).
The supplier's part is to make it visible. Show the net quantity, the allowance, and the rounding as separate lines, so the contractor can see each one and change it. A contractor checking their number against closed jobs can compare the takeoff to what got installed.
What should go back to the contractor as a question?
Anything the set leaves open that changes a quoted product or unit:
- A roll width that isn't specified.
- An insulation thickness or R-value that doesn't match the details.
- A tapered system shown on the details with no tapered plan.
- An attachment method or uplift requirement that isn't clear.
- No manufacturer or system named, or an "or equal" left open.
- An edge metal profile that isn't detailed.
Write each one down and send it with the quote. More on turning gaps into RFIs.
Worked example (an example, not a real job)
Assumptions: adhered TPO. Net field area 20,000 SF (200 SQ). Field membrane in 10 ft by 100 ft rolls (1,000 SF gross each). Two layers of 2.0 in. flat polyiso, 4x8, at 768 SF per pallet. Bonding adhesive at the published 60 SF per gallon of finished, bonded area in 5 gal pails, which is 300 SF per pail at that rate. The contractor asked for a 10% allowance on field membrane. That's an assumption for this example, not a recommended number. Flashing, edge metal and accessories are quoted as their own lines and left out here.
| Line | Net quantity | Unit basis | Allowance | Purchase units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field membrane | 20,000 SF | 1,000 SF per roll | 10%, set by the contractor (22,000 SF) | 22 rolls |
| Polyiso, 2.0 in., two layers | 20,000 SF per layer | 768 SF per pallet | None in this example | About 26.04 per layer, so 27 pallets per layer, 54 pallets |
| Bonding adhesive | 20,000 SF bonded | 300 SF per 5 gal pail at the published rate | None in this example | About 66.7, so 67 pails |
The allowance sits in its own column, so the contractor can see it and change it. The adhesive line uses the published average rate. Porous substrates may need more, so ask the contractor before quietly padding the number.
Software or a takeoff service for a supply house desk?
In house with takeoff software. This works when the desk has trained estimators and steady volume. The software doesn't read the spec or decide which detail governs. The estimator does. For the tool categories, see roofing takeoff software compared.
A takeoff service. It makes sense for peaks, large or complex sets, or quotes due faster than the desk can turn them. Whoever you use, ask four things: does every quantity name its sheet, what happens to the gaps, what is the turnaround and when does the clock start, and what happens to the plans afterward.
Send your first job free
Your first takeoff is free, one per contractor, on a job you're bidding or quoting. Upload the plan set and you'll get back quantities you can check against the sheets.
Usually within one business day. Delivered within 48 hours*
*Clock starts once any questions we send you are answered.
FAQ
What does a roofing supplier need to quote materials from plans?
A net quantity for every line, the exact product specified, and the sheet or spec section each quantity came from. The assembly details, the spec, and the plumbing and mechanical sheets carry quote lines the roof plan doesn't show.
How do you convert roof area to rolls of TPO?
Divide the quantity by the roll's area from the manufacturer's data sheet and round up to whole rolls. A 10 ft by 100 ft roll is 1,000 SF gross, so 22,000 SF is 22 rolls. Any waste allowance should be its own stated line.
How many pallets of polyiso does a roof need?
Divide the area of each layer by the square feet per pallet for that exact board and thickness, then round up. For example, JM lists 768 SF per pallet for 2.0 in. flat 4x8 ENRGY 3, so 20,000 SF is about 26.04, which rounds up to 27 pallets per layer.
Who decides the waste factor on a supplier quote?
The contractor. Waste depends on roof cut-up, roll width and crew practice, so a supplier should show net quantity, allowance and rounding as separate lines the contractor can change.
Does Sharp Pencil do takeoffs for suppliers?
Yes. Supply houses and distributors get the same takeoff, plans and prices as roofing contractors, including the free first takeoff, one per contractor. The takeoff workbook cites the sheet behind every quantity, a material order list comes with it when the takeoff supports one, and gaps the drawings can't settle go on the open questions (RFI) list.
Why send your takeoffs to Sharp Pencil
A takeoff backlog hurts most on the jobs you pass on because nobody has the hours. Here's what to look for when you hand takeoffs off.
- Usually within one business day. Delivered within 48 hours*. A takeoff stuck in a week-long queue does you no good when the quote is due sooner.
- Every quantity names its sheet. Every quantity in the takeoff workbook cites the sheet it came from, so you can check it.
- No silent blanks. If the drawings can't settle a line, you get a written reason for it.
- Questions instead of guesses. If the set leaves something open, like a roll width that isn't specified or an "or equal" with no product named, it goes on the open questions (RFI) list that ships with your takeoff.
- A material list when the takeoff supports one. You get a material order list with your takeoff whenever the set supports one.
- Checked before it goes out. Every paid takeoff is checked before delivery.
- Your plans stay yours. Used for your takeoff, never shared, and deleted whenever you ask. See what happens to your plans.
- Monthly plans, with your first takeoff free. $395 per new set of drawings, or monthly plans: Shop 12 at $2,750/mo, Shop 25 at $5,500/mo, and Shop 60 at $11,000/mo. Your first takeoff is free, one per contractor, on a job you're actually bidding or quoting. See what a takeoff costs and how it works.
Supply houses and distributors get the same plans and prices as roofing contractors. Our focus is commercial low-slope roofing. Residential is not our focus today, but ask if you have a job in mind. See our commercial roofing takeoff services.
Send us a live bid · See full pricing and plan terms · Or email [email protected]
*Clock starts once any questions we send you are answered.
The Sharp Pencil team
Sources
- Carlisle SynTec, Sure-Weld TPO with SeamShield Technology bulletin, April 23, 2024: https://ccm-p-001.sitecorecontenthub.cloud/api/public/content/cde3e1d4574c4ea984f75d8228f496d4
- Johns Manville, Flat and Tapered ENRGY 3 data sheet RS-5137: https://www.jm.com/content/dam/jm/global/en/commercial-roofing/Data%20sheets/Insulation/RS-5137_ENRGY3rsPolyisocyanurateRoofInsulation.pdf
- Carlisle SynTec, Sure-Weld TPO Bonding Adhesive product data sheet: https://www.carlislesyntec.com/Document-Viewer/sure-weld-tpo-bonding-adhesive-product-data-sheet-pds/CSGA_32yTk2XUKDDjb8y7w