Labour only
The Labour Only button is a shortcut to the free type screen with the material cost field removed. Use it for any task that has no material element — strip-outs, first fix preparations, supervision hours, or any other labour-only allowance.
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Click the Labour Only button on the left-hand side of the takeoff screen.
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Enter the description of the task (e.g. "Strip-out existing lighting" or "First fix preparation — ground floor").
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Enter the quantity and unit labour hours. The quantity might represent the number of rooms, floors, or simply 1 for a single lump-sum allowance.
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Press Confirm to add the item to the current section.
The item appears on the examine grid with a material cost of zero. The labour hours are included in the site labour calculation on the summary table and are subject to whatever labour rate is assigned.
Common uses for labour only
- Strip-outs — removing existing installations before new work begins.
- First fix preparations — chasing, coring, and other preparatory tasks.
- Supervision hours — time spent managing subcontractors or overseeing specific works.
- Testing and commissioning — where the labour element needs to be priced separately from any testing equipment.
- General attendance — time for general labourers or apprentices assisting on site.
Labour only is functionally the same as free type with the material cost set to zero. The separate button simply saves you a click by removing the material cost field from the screen.
Comment lines
If you need to add a note or remark within a section — for example, to explain an assumption, record a specification detail, or leave a reminder for yourself or a colleague — use the Comment Line function.
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Click the Comment Line button at the bottom of the item panel on the takeoff screen.
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Type your comment and press Enter.
The comment appears as a line on the examine grid with no quantities, costs, or labour attached. It serves purely as a note within the section.
Where comments appear
- On screen — the comment is displayed on the examine grid alongside your takeoff lines.
- On the bill of quantities — if a bill of quantities (quantified schedule of rates) is produced, comment lines are included in the output. This can be useful for communicating assumptions or clarifications to the client as part of your tender documentation.
Use comment lines to record key assumptions in your estimate — for example, "Assumes ceiling height of 3m" or "Cable routes subject to site verification". This creates a built-in record of your pricing basis that is visible both on screen and in the final documents.