Division 8 Takeoff Software: Doors, Frames and Hardware
Division 8 takeoff is counting at scale plus lengths and areas for storefront and glazing. How DrawScale takes off openings, prices them, and keeps every count reviewable.
Division 8 takeoff software should count every opening by mark and type across the full set, tie each count to its sheet, and carry leafs, frames, hardware sets and glazing into a priced estimate. DrawScale does this with Momo, which takes off the openings, builds the estimate and hands everything to you as a proposal to review and commit.
Why Division 8 takeoffs are hard
Openings scope under CSI MasterFormat Division 08 punishes manual takeoff:
- Many sections, one opening. A single opening can touch 08 11 13 Hollow Metal Doors and Frames, 08 14 16 Flush Wood Doors, 08 71 00 Door Hardware and 08 80 00 Glazing.
- Marks repeat across many plans. Every opening mark on A-101 to A-104 has to be found and counted.
- Schedule versus plan. The door schedule, often on A-601, and the floor plans drift apart on revised sets, and the differences are where money goes missing.
- Hardware multiplies. One opening with hardware set HW-3 might carry three hinges, a lockset, a closer, a wall stop and three silencers. Miscount the openings and every hardware line is wrong.
- Mixed units. Doors and hardware are counts (EA); storefront framing under 08 41 13 is often lengths (LF); glass is area (SF).
What DrawScale automates for openings
- Opening counts by mark. Momo counts openings on every relevant floor plan and records each one as a point on the sheet, so a count is something you can see and click, not just a number.
- Storefront and glazing. Lengths and areas are measured at the sheet's verified scale.
- Coverage. Momo reports which sheets it counted and which it skipped and why, so a missing floor is visible.
- The estimate. Counts flow through item formulas into a priced worksheet, with every unit price and production rate shown as a labeled assumption.
A worked example: hardware set HW-3
Suppose the takeoff commits 42 openings with hardware set HW-3. The item formula carries the set:
| Component | Per opening | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Hinges | 3 | 126 |
| Lockset | 1 | 42 |
| Closer | 1 | 42 |
| Wall stop | 1 | 42 |
| Silencers | 3 | 126 |
If an addendum adds two HW-3 openings, the count changes once and every component line follows.
What stays in your control
You decide how to settle schedule-versus-plan differences, how to treat rated openings and alternates, and what is excluded. You review Momo's counts, riskiest first, adjust or reject anything wrong, and add anything missing with the manual count tool. Nothing counts toward the estimate until you commit it, and your edits are never overwritten by a later run.
Next steps
For a step-by-step door takeoff, read how to take off doors from plans and schedules. For pricing, see door hardware estimating. General contractors can see the full-scope workflow on GC takeoff software. To run your next openings package through DrawScale, request a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is Division 8 in construction?
Division 08 is the CSI MasterFormat division for Openings: doors, frames, hardware, storefront, windows, glazing, louvers and related items.
Can DrawScale count doors automatically?
Yes. Momo counts openings across the relevant floor plans and records each one on the sheet. The counts stay proposals until you review and commit them.
How are hardware sets priced?
An item formula carries the components of each hardware set per opening, so one committed opening count drives every hardware line. Unit prices are labeled assumptions you confirm or replace.