I am learning to bid commercial projects, I know when you receive a full set of plans the scale is correct, example 1/8 = 1 ft. but when a contractor sends you a PDF file of the plans, I print them out on 8.5 x 11 in
printer paper how do I scale this. please help
The only way I know of is to use your scale tool to see which increment will give you the actual length. ie, if the building is 100', use different scales to see if you can achieve the same footage. 5/32, 1/16" and so on.
I send to a printer if I am serous about the bid. I have them print out the e pages, the site plan and the reflected ceiling plan. It costs me $4 per page. Well worth it.
I don't think you will ever get the scale accurate. You could get a Scale master from Calculated Industries. You can set a custom scale for the take off. You would have to know the length of a wall or something to set the scale .
.Dwf and .Dwfx are far better for scaling. Especially if you print handouts for field guys. Autodesk's Plan Review software is still free but is getting phased out for an online version. This won't help if you can't get the drawings as .Dwf.
Getting the .Dwg files will be hard to get. They are basically giving away their intellectual property. The files probably won't be any use anyway
Most of the drawings done today are done with Revit and exported to AutoCAD's .Dwg format. Once exported all the intelligence is stripped and only the 2D linework remains, unless the 3D model is being exported. Either way it is stripped of all the intelligent information.
If you have PDF files you can calibrate the scale in Bluebeam and get measurements onscreen.
Doors are usually 36" so you can use these to get the scale correct if you don't have any dimensions on the drawing.
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