How to Deduct Openings and Reference Blocks in Xactimate

Openings (like doors and windows) and reference blocks (such as cabinets, vanities, or built-in bathtubs) in magicplan can affect wall and floor surface areas. When you export your project as an ESX file to Xactimate, these elements do not deduct area by default, enabling you to apply carrier or customer-specific settings via Xactimate profiles.

Why Remove Openings From Your Estimate?

Doors and windows take up wall space that typically is not repaired, painted, or finished during a loss. If openings are not deducted, Xactimate may overcalculate wall surface area, which can lead to:

• Inflated quantities for drywall, paint, or finishes
• Estimates that don’t align with carrier rules
• Increased risk of estimate revisions or audit issues

Removing openings ensures your wall surface calculations reflect the actual repairable area, resulting in cleaner, more accurate estimates.

How to Remove Openings From Wall Area in Xactimate

You can remove wall area taken up by doors and windows in two ways:

• Manually by editing each opening in your sketch
• Automatically by adjusting your Xactimate preferences and re-importing the ESX file

Option 1: Manually Deduct Openings From the Sketch

1. Import your ESX file into Xactimate, following these instructions. Open the sketch.
2. Select the opening you want to deduct from the wall surface area.
3. Open the door or window’s properties. In the properties panel, look for the “Deduct” property
4. Enable the deduction by changing the value from “No” to “Yes” using the dropdown menu. This tells Xactimate to remove the area of the opening from wall surface calculations.
5. Repeat as needed, applying to other windows or doors individually. Read below for instructions for automatically deducting openings.

Option 2: Automatically Deduct Openings Using Preference Settings

To have openings deduct automatically, adjust your settings before uploading the ESX file by following these steps:

1. Open Xactimate and navigate to Preferences > Sketch > Calculations > Wall Openings.
2. Make sure “Deduct windows” and “Deduct doors” are checked.
3. Import your ESX file into Xactimate, following these instructions. [link]
4. Do not skip this step! Re-import the sketch.
   • Click the icon in the inner left corner of the sketch window, select your plan, then click "Import"

How Reference Blocks Function in Xactimate

A reference block indicates where a real object from our Object Library exists in magicplan - things like cabinets, furniture, fixtures, or equipment within a room. The object must be present in your magicplan floor plan to be present as a reference block in your ESX export. While these blocks are not structural elements, they can influence surface area calculations if configured correctly in Xactimate.

Common examples include:

• Kitchen cabinets
• Bathroom vanities
• Built-in bathtubs

When exported from magicplan into an ESX file, reference blocks do not automatically deduct wall or floor area in Xactimate. However, you can manually enable this within Xactimate to ensure your surface area calculations reflect real-world conditions.

How to Enable Area Deductions for Reference Blocks in Xactimate

You’ll want to set your preferences in Xactimate before importing your ESX file. To apply deductions from wall or floor areas using reference blocks, follow these steps:

1. Go to Preferences in main Xactimate window
2. Click “Sketch”, then select “Calculations”.
   • Important: Preferences are Profile specific. Ensure you are in the correct profile before updating Preference settings.
3. Scroll down to the “Reference Blocks” section.
4. Select the Reference blocks you would like to have deducted by default.
5. Return to the “Local” section in the Xactimate window to import your ESX file, and follow these instructions to import.
6. Do not skip this step! Re-import your ESX file into Xactimate. This will ensure that your profile preferences are applied.
   1. Click the icon in the inner left corner of the sketch window, select your plan, then click "Import"

Which Blocks Should Be Deducted?

Deductions should be applied thoughtfully. Here are some general guidelines: