Talk:Material take off

HerbM (talk) 16:52, 28 March 2018 (UTC) Question (and adding the answer would improve this article): What is the etymology or explanation for the meaning of this term?

It may go back to 1785 or some early cost estimation survey terminology.

The Take-Off list is essentially (or nearly) the "bill of materials" to do a construction job.

But "take off"? What is getting taken off or taken off from where? Conjecture: Perhaps someone started giving instructions, "Take the needed items off the blueprints" Meaning to FIND them on the blueprints to prepare such a list.

The phrase makes little sense in in the everyday usage of "take off" -- but is commonly used in estimating and construction.

In everyday usage if someone says "take it off the list" it means the opposite: REMOVE the item from the list.

It would be nice to explain the meaning to help people understand and remember the term.

Apparently it is use the prepare a "Draw schedule" which is just about as much a special use idiom that an ordinary person would not guess.

The 2nd ref implies my guess: 'take it off the drawing or plans'

In my investigations sources don't say anything to explain the source of the idiom(s):