Estimating & Takeoff Guides
Practical how-to guides and cost breakdowns for contractors and serious DIYers — how to measure, estimate, and price the work.
How to Estimate Flooring Materials for a Job
A practical guide to estimating flooring: measuring square footage, choosing waste factors by material, converting to boxes, and avoiding common takeoff mistakes.
Flooring Installation Cost: How to Price Materials and Labor
A contractor's guide to flooring installation cost: material and labor rates by type, waste factors, coverage math, and how to build an accurate per-square-foot bid.
LiDAR vs Tape Measure for Material Takeoffs
When phone LiDAR beats a tape measure for material takeoffs, when it doesn't, and the accuracy, workflow, and waste-factor details contractors need to know.
How to Measure Square Footage Accurately
A contractor's guide to measuring square footage of a room or house: the actual steps, waste factors, coverage rates, and unit conversions that prevent costly mistakes.
How Much Paint Do I Need? A Contractor's Method
Learn how much paint you need with a step-by-step takeoff method, real coverage rates, waste percentages, and unit conversions for any room or whole house.
How Many Coats of Paint You Need (and When to Prime)
A contractor's guide to how many coats of paint you really need, when priming is mandatory, plus coverage rates, waste factors, and gallon math.
How to Estimate Drywall: Sheets, Screws, Mud, Tape
A contractor's method for estimating drywall: calculate sheets, screws, joint compound, and tape per room with real coverage rates and waste factors.
Drywall Installation Cost: A Contractor's Bidding Guide
A practical drywall installation cost breakdown for contractors and serious DIYers: coverage rates, waste factors, labor, and a step-by-step bidding method.
How to Calculate Concrete for a Slab: Yards and Bags
Learn how to calculate concrete for a slab in cubic yards and bags. Real formulas, coverage rates, waste factors, and unit conversions for contractors.
How to Estimate Shingles: Squares, Bundles, and Waste
Learn how to estimate shingles step by step: measure roof area, convert to squares, count bundles, add waste, and account for starter, ridge, and accessories.
How to Estimate a Deck: Materials Takeoff Guide
A contractor's step-by-step method to estimate a deck: framing, joist spacing, decking, fasteners, footings, and realistic waste percentages.
How to Estimate Tile for a Floor or Bathroom
A contractor's guide to estimating tile: measure square footage, add the right waste percentage by pattern, convert to boxes, and account for thinset and grout.
How Much Mulch Do I Need? A Contractor's Method
Learn how much mulch or topsoil a bed needs with the exact formula, coverage rates per depth, waste percentages, and bag-vs-bulk math for accurate takeoffs.
How to Estimate a Fence: Posts, Rails, and Pickets
A contractor's method for estimating fence materials: counting posts, rails, and pickets with real spacing rules, waste factors, and unit conversions.
Gravel for a Driveway: Yards, Tons, and Depth
How to calculate gravel for a driveway in cubic yards and tons, plus the right depth by layer, coverage rates, and the waste percentage to add.
Material Takeoff Guide: Process, Tools, and Costly Mistakes
A practical material takeoff guide for contractors: the step-by-step process, coverage rates, waste factors, unit conversions, and the errors that blow budgets.
How to Estimate Carpet for a Room or Whole House
Learn how to estimate carpet the way pros do: measure in square yards, account for roll width, seams, pattern repeat, and realistic waste factors.
How to Estimate Insulation by R-Value: Attic and Walls
Step-by-step method to estimate attic and wall insulation by R-value: coverage rates, bag counts, batt math, waste factors, and code minimums.
Wall Framing Stud Spacing, Plates, and Counting Studs
A contractor's guide to wall framing stud spacing, plate cuts, and counting studs accurately, with real spacing rules, waste factors, and takeoff math.
How Much Plywood, OSB, or Subfloor Do I Need?
Calculate how much plywood, OSB, or subfloor you need: sheet counts, waste factors, span ratings, and the math contractors actually use on the job.
How to Estimate Sod: Square Feet and Pallets Made Easy
Learn how to estimate sod for a new lawn: measure square footage, break the yard into shapes, add waste, and convert to pallets and rolls accurately.
How to Estimate Wallpaper: Rolls, Repeat, and Waste
Learn how to estimate wallpaper rolls for any room, including pattern repeat math, waste percentages, and the strip-counting method estimators trust.
How to Estimate Brick and Block (Plus Mortar) for a Wall
Learn how to estimate brick, concrete block, and mortar for a wall using real coverage rates, waste factors, and contractor rules of thumb.
How to Estimate Rebar for a Slab or Footing Using a Grid
Learn how to estimate rebar for slabs and footings using the grid method: bar counts, spacing, lap splices, waste factors, and weight conversions.
How to Lay Out Stairs: Rise, Run, Stringers, and Code Limits
A contractor's guide to stair rise and run: calculate risers and treads, cut stringers, and stay inside IRC code limits without guesswork or rework.
How to Estimate Pavers, Base, and Sand for a Patio
A contractor's guide on how to estimate pavers, base gravel, and bedding sand for patios and walkways, with coverage rates, waste factors, and depths.
Asphalt Driveway Calculator: Tonnage and Paving Costs
Learn how to estimate asphalt tonnage for a driveway, with spread rates, waste factors, compaction rules, and realistic paving cost ranges for contractors.
Retaining Wall Block Calculator: Blocks and Base Math
A contractor's guide to estimating SRW blocks, leveling pad base, drainage stone, and geogrid for a retaining wall, with real coverage rates and waste factors.
How to Read a Tape Measure: Fractions, Marks, and Tricks
Learn how to read a tape measure fast: what every mark means, fractions down to 1/16, the burned-inch trick, and field shortcuts pros use daily.
How to Bid a Construction Job: Takeoff to Final Price
Learn how to bid a construction job step by step: takeoff, waste factors, labor hours, overhead, and markup. Practical rules of thumb estimators actually use.
Markup vs Margin: How Contractors Set the Right Number
Markup vs margin confuses contractors and quietly kills profit. Learn the formulas, the conversion table, and how to set a markup that actually hits your target margin.
How to Measure Countertops in Square Feet
A contractor's guide to measuring countertops: square-foot math, the 25-inch depth rule, backsplash, seams, edge profiles, and waste factors.
How Much Does a Wood Fence Cost? (2024 Pricing Guide)
A complete breakdown of wood fence costs per linear foot by style, with material lists, labor estimates, and tips for getting accurate bids from contractors.
Concrete vs Asphalt Driveway: Cost, Durability & Which to Choose
A side-by-side comparison of concrete and asphalt driveways covering installation cost, lifespan, maintenance requirements, and which performs better in cold and hot climates.
Shed Materials List: What You Need and How Much It Costs
A complete materials list for building a 12x16 storage shed, with lumber quantities, roofing, siding, hardware, and cost breakdowns for both DIY and contractor builds.
How Much Tile Does a Bathroom Need? (With Cost Guide)
Learn how to calculate tile quantity for bathroom floors, shower walls, and tub surrounds — with waste factors, material costs, and a step-by-step estimating method.
Framing Cost Per Square Foot: What Contractors Charge (2024)
A breakdown of house framing costs per square foot for walls, floors, and roofs — with material and labor splits, regional differences, and tips for getting accurate contractor bids.
How Much Mortar Do I Need? Brick, Block & Tile Guide
Calculate mortar quantities for brick walls, concrete block, stone, and tile — with bag coverage estimates, mix ratios, and tips on buying the right amount for your project.
PEX Pipe Sizing Guide: How Much Pipe Do You Need?
A practical guide to sizing PEX pipe for plumbing and radiant heat systems — with pipe diameter selection, footage calculations, and tips on a, b, and c type differences.
Window Rough Opening Size Chart and Framing Guide
A complete guide to window rough opening sizes — how to calculate the RO from the window unit size, standard framing dimensions, and how to account for header depth and jack stud height.
Concrete vs Gravel Driveway: Cost, Durability & Which to Choose
A comparison of concrete and gravel driveways covering installation cost per square foot, long-term maintenance, performance in wet and cold climates, and the best use cases for each.
Tile vs LVP Flooring: A Contractor's Guide to Estimating and Choosing
A practical comparison of ceramic/porcelain tile and luxury vinyl plank for contractors — covering installation speed, material cost, waste factors, durability, and which trades each favors.
How Much Baseboard Do I Need? (With Calculator)
Calculate baseboard molding for any room — measure perimeter, subtract door openings, and add the right waste factor. Includes a quick formula and pro tips.
How to Calculate Wallpaper for Any Room
Calculate how many rolls of wallpaper you need — measure wall area, account for pattern repeat, subtract windows and doors, and add the right waste factor.
Drop Ceiling Tile Calculator: How Many Tiles Do I Need?
Calculate drop ceiling tiles and grid for any room — measure area, account for border tiles, and estimate grid components. Includes a quick formula and cost guide.
Board Foot Calculator for Lumber: What Is a Board Foot?
Calculate board feet for any piece of lumber — the formula, why it matters, and how to use it to price hardwood and estimate lumber orders for any project.
Retaining Wall Block Calculator: How Many Blocks Do I Need?
Calculate how many retaining wall blocks you need — measure wall area, pick your block size, and add the base course and cap blocks. Includes a cost estimate.
Paver Patio Calculator: How Many Pavers Do I Need?
Calculate how many pavers you need for a patio or walkway — measure area, pick your paver size, add base material, and estimate the total cost.
How Much Spray Foam Insulation Do I Need?
Calculate spray foam insulation for walls, crawl spaces, and attics — coverage per board foot, open vs. closed cell, R-value per inch, and cost per square foot.
How to Calculate Carpet for Stairs
Calculate carpet yardage for stairs — measure tread and riser, multiply by step count, and add the right waste factor for pattern and seaming. Includes a cost guide.