What to record for each entry
- The BOQ line or contract item it belongs to.
- Where: the room and the element (for example, master bedroom, wardrobe shutters).
- The dimensions taken and the calculated quantity, with the unit.
- The date, who measured, and a photo where it helps.
- The vendor's signature or confirmation.
Why it matters
Quantities on site rarely match the BOQ exactly. Shutters change size, a ceiling gets an extra cove, a wall is skipped. If nobody records the real quantity when the work is done, the final bill is argued from memory weeks later, and the vendor's number usually wins.
When the vendor has already signed the measurement, the final bill is just the agreed quantities multiplied by the contract rates.
How to keep one that holds up
- Measure at the end of each stage. Not at the end of the project. A finished stage is easy to measure; a finished home with furniture in it is not.
- Get the countersign the same day. A signature given on the day is rarely disputed later.
- Tie it to quality. Only measure work that has passed its quality check, so you never certify work that will need redoing.
- Bill from it, and hold retention. Build the final bill from the certified quantities and keep the retention until the vendor's snags are closed.
Questions people ask
Who keeps the measurement book?
Usually the project manager or site engineer for the firm, with each entry confirmed by the vendor's representative.
Is a measurement book the same as a BOQ?
No. The BOQ is the planned quantity at quote time. The measurement book is the actual quantity done on site. The final bill should come from the measurement book.
Can measurements be recorded on a phone?
Yes, as long as each entry is tied to the right item, dated, and confirmed by the vendor.