Core terms

Takeoff

Core terms · definition

The process of measuring quantities of materials and labor from the drawings to build an estimate. Accurate takeoffs are the foundation of an accurate bid.

Source: InterNACHI — Inspection Glossary: Takeoff

  • Foundation

    The structure (slab, crawl space, or basement) that transfers the building's load to the ground. Foundation condition underlies the feasi…

  • Value Engineering

    Reviewing the design to find lower-cost ways to achieve the same function and quality — substituting materials or methods to bring a proj…

  • Superintendent

    The on-site supervisor who runs the field operation — directing crews, sequencing trades, and enforcing safety and quality at the job site.

  • Vapor Barrier

    A material that limits moisture diffusion through an assembly to control condensation. Correct placement is climate-dependent — wrong-sid…

  • Submittal

    Product data, samples, or shop drawings the contractor submits for approval before ordering or installing, confirming what will actually…

  • Variance

    Official permission to deviate from a zoning requirement (e.g., to build closer to a property line than the setback allows). Requires app…

  • Subfloor

    The structural sheet material (plywood or OSB) fastened over floor joists that everything else — underlayment and finish flooring — is bu…

  • Veneer

    A thin layer of a finish material bonded to a cheaper substrate — wood veneer on cabinet panels, stone or brick veneer on walls — deliver…

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

Remodeling guides → Contact the publisher →