Paving and Asphalt Takeoff
Paving and asphalt takeoff measures surface areas, material quantities, and associated items such as striping and structure adjustments. In CivilTakeoff, measure each pavement section and attach pay items to convert the area into square yards, base volume, or asphalt tons using the depths and factors you enter.
Full-depth pavement
Keep standard-duty, heavy-duty, and other sections in separate measurement groups. Read the typical sections for each course’s material and thickness. Measure the area once, then calculate each layer separately so different mixes and depths remain identifiable in the totals.
Milling and overlay
Measure milling areas by specified depth, overlay areas by course, and butt joints or key cuts by length. Count structure adjustments within the work limits. Distinguish the removal quantity from any recycled material placed elsewhere; their volume and weight assumptions may differ.
Striping and markings
Measure line lengths by width and material. Count arrows, symbols, signs, and other markings using the units required by the bid schedule. Read the marking sheet and notes separately from the paving plan to capture stop bars, crosswalks, and markings outside resurfacing limits.
Units and conversion inputs
Label each item with square feet (SF), square yards (SY), cubic yards (CY), short tons, or linear feet (LF). Keep a list of assumptions for thickness, weight, and allowance so someone reviewing the takeoff can reproduce the numbers.
Example: paving area to asphalt tons
For an example quantity conversion, use 7,200 SF and an entered 3-inch thickness. Surface area is 7,200 ÷ 9 = 800 SY. Volume is 7,200 × (3 ÷ 12) = 1,800 cubic feet. Using the material table’s generic hot mix asphalt density of 145 lb/ft³, weight is 1,800 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 130.5 short tons. Assign 130.5 tons to the asphalt course item before any allowance. The thickness is an example input, not a pavement design.
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure asphalt by lift or by total thickness?
Separate courses when their mix, thickness, or pay item differs. Reuse the measured footprint for layers with matching limits, and enter each course’s thickness for its own tonnage conversion.
Does a paving outline give me the asphalt thickness?
No. Take thickness from the pavement detail and enter it with the material density. Automatic vector-area selection supplies the boundary area, not the pavement section beneath it.
How do I separate milling from overlay quantities?
Create distinct items for removed pavement and placed asphalt. Split milling by specified depth and overlay by course, even where they occupy the same footprint; each has its own conversion inputs.
Measure and organize this scope
In CivilTakeoff, set the sheet scale and create a condition, or measurement group, for each pavement section. Select shaded regions automatically on supported vector PDFs, adjust the outline, and deduct islands. Measure other areas manually. Attach surface and layer pay items, enter thicknesses and densities, and review totals by course. Keep alternate sections separate and export the quantities to Excel.
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