Estimating guides
Plain-English guides to measuring, estimating and pricing work, written for US contractors with the right units, terms and rules.
How to estimate concrete for a slab, step by step
Measure, convert, add the right waste and order the right way. Here is the method estimators use to get slab volumes right the first time.
7 min readConcrete & MasonryConcrete bags vs ready-mix: where the break-even really is
Bags are convenient, but mixing more than a cubic yard or metre by hand gets expensive in time and quality. Here is how to decide.
5 min readPricing & BusinessMarkup vs margin: the pricing mistake that quietly costs contractors money
A 20% markup is not a 20% margin. Learn the difference, see the conversion table, and price jobs so you keep the profit you planned.
6 min readPricing & BusinessHow to write a contractor estimate that wins work
What to include, what to leave out, and how to present price so clients compare you on value, not just the bottom line.
7 min readMeasure & ConvertWaste factors by trade: how much extra to order
A reference table of typical waste allowances for concrete, framing, sheet goods, flooring, tile, roofing and more, and when to go higher.
6 min readWalls & FinishesHow to estimate drywall for a room
Sheets, screws, mud and tape: measure once, count sheets the way installers hang them, and finish with the right consumables.
6 min readDecking & FencingDeck estimating: boards, framing, footings and fixings
A full deck takeoff from the ground up, including the parts that are easy to miss: footings, hardware, joist tape and the railing.
8 min readDecking & FencingHow to estimate a fence: posts, pickets and rails, and concrete
Sections, posts, gates and the concrete to set them, for picket and privacy fences.
6 min readRoofingRoof estimating: squares, pitch factors and shingle quantities
Turn a building footprint into true roof area with the pitch factor, then count every material from the eaves to the ridge.
8 min readFlooring & TileTile estimating: tiles, thinset and grout
Count tiles by module, choose the right notch and adhesive quantity, and work out grout from the joints. Area alone gets it wrong.
6 min readWalls & FinishesHow much paint? Coverage, coats and surfaces
Coverage rates on the tin assume perfect conditions. Here is how to adjust for surface, colour change and method so you buy the right amount.
5 min readRoofingRoof pitch explained: x/12, degrees and percent
Why US roofers say 6/12 and UK roofers say 26.5°, how to convert between them, and how to measure an existing roof.
4 min readStairs, Ramps & RailsStair building rules: the IRC basics
Riser, tread, headroom, width and guard rules for residential stairs under the IRC, and how to lay out a compliant flight.
6 min readLandscaping & EarthworksGravel, mulch and soil: cubic yards and tons explained
Suppliers sell by volume, by weight or by the bag. Here is how to convert, what different materials weigh, and how much a yard really covers.
6 min readPricing & BusinessHow to set your hourly rate as a contractor
Work backwards from what you need to earn, what the business costs to run, and how many hours you can really bill.
6 min readLandscaping & EarthworksExcavation: swell, compaction and truck loads explained
A hole of 10 cubic yards doesn’t fit in a 10-yard truck. Here is why, and how to price muck-away properly.
5 min readMeasure & ConvertMeasuring a job for an accurate takeoff
Good estimates start on site. A system for measuring rooms, walls and outdoor areas so nothing is missed and nothing is counted twice.
6 min readMeasure & ConvertImperial and metric on site: conversions every trade needs
The exact factors, the handy approximations, and the traps: US vs UK gallons, short vs metric tons, and nominal vs actual timber sizes.
5 min readConcrete & MasonryBrick and block estimating: counts, mortar and extras
Bricks per square foot, CMU per square foot, plus mortar, ties, lintels and the items that turn a count into a quote.
6 min readFlooring & TileFlooring estimating: boxes, underlay and pattern waste
Hard flooring comes in boxes and carpet comes off a roll. Two different methods, and the extras that make the job.
5 min readConcrete & MasonryHow many bags of concrete do I need?
Bag yields for every common size, quick tables for slabs and post holes, and why the number on the bag is only a starting point.
5 min readFraming & CarpentryHow to do a framing takeoff for walls, floors and roofs
Count studs, plates, joists and rafters from plans or site measurements, with the extras that a "one per foot" rule misses.
6 min readWalls & FinishesInsulation R-values: how much do you need?
R-value targets by climate zone, batts vs blown-in, and how to count bags.
6 min readConcrete & MasonryBuilding a paver patio: base, sand and pavers
The base does the work and the pavers just look good. A layer-by-layer takeoff for patios, paths and driveways.
7 min readLandscaping & EarthworksGarden retaining walls: blocks, base and drainage
What goes into a segmental block retaining wall, how to count it, and when to call an engineer.
5 min readLandscaping & EarthworksNew lawn: sod or seed, and how much to buy
Prep, quantities and timing for a new lawn from sod or seed, with the topsoil and feed to go with it.
5 min readElectrical & LightingVoltage drop explained for long cable runs
Why long runs to garages, outbuildings and EV chargers often need a bigger cable than the current alone suggests.
5 min readHeating, Cooling & AirSizing AC and heat: BTU rules of thumb
Quick sizing for room AC units and heaters, and why whole-house systems need a Manual J.
5 min readPlumbing & WaterDrain falls and gradients explained
How much fall waste and drain pipes need, how to set it out, and why steeper isn’t always better.
5 min readPricing & BusinessSales tax on contractor quotes: the basics
Why sales tax on construction varies by state and what to show on a quote.
5 min readFraming & CarpentryMiter and crown cuts made simple
Mitre settings for any corner and polygon, the compound settings for crown, and the coping method that makes inside corners easy.
5 min readRoofingGutters: sizing, downspouts and hangers
How much gutter a roof needs, where to put the outlets, and the fittings that make up a complete run.
4 min read