Or be like every other contractor out there and request CAD files "for submittal purposes only" and then use them for take-offs

we don't give CAD during tendering.

Give 'em the cad with a massive disclaimer, that way they get the job done faster and you're ass is covered. Win-win?

Pete, I know you've commented on the older post because of the Resurrection post below, but anyways, to answer you: We don't have the time to chase every one to get them to sign our CAD waiver during tendering. We will however release some CAD to the winning GC but will never accept a shop drawing if we notice they used our file to their their work.

Good point, thanks for the clarification.

Thanks for confirming that they are mostly just incompetent. Getting drawings printed full scale, even at A1 size, if not difficult or expensive. If they were good at their job, they would find a way to monetize on the mistakes of the "bad drawings" they bid.

It’s about 4$ a sheet at office max.

Bluebeam is a good one too. plenty of my GC's use it.

You can also just google the question and get better answers because we are architects; we don't do takeoffs much less specific ones like a subcontractor might want for something like the masonry package. Architects are also very hesitant to give out takeoff quantities because we can get hooked back in if we make an error; that means we kind of have this intentional ignorance. It is the contractor's job to prepare the takeoff and sign that contract to provide the materials and assembly. Too many trixie GC's have come back on the architects and said "we were to provide xx square feet of this per the architect's instruction; we need a change order for any of the architect's mistakes"... which they owner's try to rip from our wallet. So... we don't estimate or provide quantities of anything (if we're smart); thus would be horrible software advisors to do something we don't actually ever do or wish to remain blissfully ignorant about should something bounce back.

stop giving away our trade secrets

We are licensed professionals and not allowed to have secrets much less conspire as a profession; however being blissfully ignorant of things outside our area of expertise isn't a secret (and often the causation of mucho eye-rolling by various contractors as sort of a architect trademark). "Intentional ignorance" would be difficult to prove as I can provide a wife and children who will claim in a court of law that I am indeed an "idiot". Therefore I can wholeheartedly recommend strip clubs for professional takeoffs.

We always say not to do it; contractors always do it anyway. Whether they do it with a triangle scale and a highlighter on a hard-copy set or use PDF tools doesn't really make much difference. That said, if the owner wants us to make it easier for them, I'd call that an additional service.

I hatch the area and then use Area command in CAD. It’s easy and accurate. If you don’t have the dwg maybe pay the architect to provide areas?

I’m a contractor and designer, but sometimes I provide design only. when That’s the case, I usually provide other contractors the square footages upon request. I send it as a pdf with some boilerplate language...not a big deal.