Hey Henry, if you're looking to go beyond just using Home Designer’s materials list and want a proper construction estimating process (especially if you plan to manage the build yourself), you might want to look into how construction takeoffs work. It's the step-by-step process of measuring and quantifying materials before pricing them—basically the foundation of accurate estimating.
Here’s a good beginner-friendly guide I found that walks through the process clearly: https://totalscopeestimating.com/how-to-do-construction-takeoffs/
It covers how to break your project into components, take measurements, and convert that into a cost estimate. It's helpful even if you eventually decide to use software like Stack, PlanSwift, or Bluebeam, since understanding takeoffs is key to getting reliable numbers.
Hope that helps—especially if you're trying to price the project yourself or just want a better grip before talking to contractors or suppliers.
