Smart Contractor

Item Count Calculator

The Item Count Calculator form appears when you click the Calc button to the right of the prompt for "Item Count:" in the Edit Job Estimate form.

The Count Calculator is used to calculate the count of a job item. The item count is measured in count units, which are defined in the prompt for "Unit:" in the Edit Job Estimate form.

The Count Calculator allows you to define and save any number of calculator formulas that you can retrieve later and apply to other items in the same job, or in different jobs. Calculator formulas are saved under the name that you assign to it.

The Count Calculator form has the following prompts:

Select Calculator

The Count Calculator form first prompts you to "Select Calculator". This allows you to retrieve calculator formulas that you have previously saved. Select a calculator from the list, or click (Add New).
Calculate Count By:

The Count Calculator form first prompts for "Calculate Count By:". The Calculate Count By options are:

  • "Centers" - Calculate Count By Centers is used to count framing lumber that is positioned on centers. Examples: studs, joists, rafters.
  • "Lineal Feet" - Calculate Count By Lineal Feet is used to count material (usually lumber) that is applied in lineal feet. Examples: wall plates, headers, moulding, trim.
  • "Area" - Calculate Count By Area is used to count various types of sheet material. Examples: tyvek wrap, siding, floor covering, rolled insulation.
  • "Volume" - Calculate Count By Volume is used to count three dimensional materials. Examples: gravel, concrete, sprayed insulation, barkdust.

Calculate Count By Centers

If you select Calculate Count By Centers, the form will prompt for:

Count Per Foot:
Enter the number of items used per foot.

Example: When studs are positioned on 16 inch centers, a typical construction will use 1 stud per foot of wall length. So, to count studs for 16 inch centers, enter Count Per Foot = 1.
Site Length:
Enter the length of the side of the construction (in feet) that is perpendicular to the direction of the items being counted.

Example: For a wall constructed with studs positioned on 16 inch centers, enter the length of the wall. When counting floor joists, enter the length of the floor on the side that is perpendicular to the direction of the floor joists.

When you select Calculate Count By Centers, the program calculates the item count as:

Count = "Count Per Foot" X "Site Length"



Calculate Count By Lineal Feet

If you select Calculate Count By Lineal Feet, the form will prompt for:

Lineal Feet X
Enter the number of lineal feel of material used per foot of construction.

Wall Example: Typical wall construction uses about 3 lineal feet of wall plate per foot of wall length. So, to count wall plate lumber, enter Lineal Feet X = 3.

Trim Example: When counting material used for trim, enter Lineal Feet X = 1.
Site Length:
Enter the length (in feet) of the construction.

Wall Example: To count wall plate lumber, enter the length of the wall(s).

Trim Example: To count trim lumber, enter the total length (perimiter) of the area to be trimmed: trim for a 3 x 4 window would equal 12 feet.
Item Count Unit Length:
Enter the length (in feet) of one unit of the material being counted.

Wall Example: If lumber for wall plates is being purchased in 10 foot lengths (Count Unit = "Each"), then the length of one unit = 10, so enter 10.

Trim Example: If material for window trim is being purchased in 8 foot lengths (Count Unit = "Each"), enter Item Count Unit Length = 8.

When you select Calculate Count By Lineal Feet, the program calculates the item count as:

Count = ("Site Length" X "Lineal Feet X") / "Item Length"



Calculate Count By Area

If you select Calculate Count By Area, the form will prompt for:

Site Length:
Enter the length (in feet) of the construction area.

Wall Example: To count wall sheathing material, enter the length of the wall(s).
Site Width:
Enter the width (in feet) of the construction area.

Wall Example: To count wall sheathing material, enter the height of the wall(s).
Item Count Unit Contains:
Enter the number of square feet in one unit of the material being counted.

Wall Example: If 4 x 8 sheets of plywood are being used (Count Unit = "Each"), then one count unit contains 32 Square Feet, so enter 32.

If you select Calculate Count By Area, the program calculates the item count as:

Count = ("Site Length" X "Site Width") / "Unit Contains"



Calculate Count By Volume

If you select Calculate Count By Volume, the form will prompt for:

Site Length:
Enter the length (in feet) of the construction area.

Gravel example: To count cubic yards of fill material, enter the length of the fill area.
Site Width:
Enter the width (in feet) of the construction area.

Gravel example: enter the width of the fill area.
Site Depth:
Enter the depth (in feet) of the construction area.

Gravel example: enter the depth of the fill area.
Item Count Unit Contains:
Enter the number of cubic feet in one unit of the material being counted.

Gravel example: If one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet, enter Item Count Unit Contains 27 Cubic Feet.

If you select Calculate Count By Volume, the program calculates the item count as:

Count = ("Site Length" X "Site Width" X "Site Depth") / "Unit Contains"



As you enter numbers in the prompts described above, the program will calculate the count of items and display it in the "Item Count:" box.

Click OK to save the calculator formula (under the name entered), and close the count calculator and plug the item count into the Item Count prompt in the Edit Job Estimate form.