READING PRINTS AND SPECS The Masterformat system can help you do efficient takeoffs and accurate bids by Charles Hults Construction documents vary greatly in format and quality. Some firms supply specifications and drawings that rival the project manual for Noah's ark, while others just throw together paper and drawings that try to simulate a construction project. In order to bid successfully on a project, it is essential to understand and coordinate the written documents and drawings. If features are missed or misunderstood, your bid will be too high or too low. Fortunately, there is a logical and structured system to classify and describe each aspect of the work that is required for a building project. When it is used, each element of a project manual will
