88 guides
Estimate vs Bid: What Contractors Must Know Before Quoting
Learn the real difference between an estimate and a bid in construction. When to use each, how they affect your profit, and critical mistakes to avoid.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator: Estimate Your Project in 2026
Use our free kitchen remodel cost calculator to estimate cabinets, countertops, labor, and appliances. Get accurate pricing for any kitchen project in 2026.
Kitchen Renovation Cost Estimator: Real Pricing for 2026
How much does a kitchen renovation cost? Get real contractor pricing for cabinets, countertops, labor, and finishes. Free estimator for any kitchen size.
Asphalt Roof Shingles Cost: 2026 Pricing by Type
Asphalt roof shingles cost $70 to $250 per square for materials. Get full pricing breakdowns by shingle type, labor, and installed costs for your project.
Garage Door Replacement Estimate: 2026 Costs
Get an accurate garage door replacement estimate with real costs by door type, material comparisons, labor rates, and worked examples for any project.
Job Site AI Estimate: Why It Beats Plan Takeoff for Most Remodel Bids
A job site AI estimate can beat plan takeoff for speed and accuracy on remodels. See a real comparison table, 2 worked examples with numbers, and a practical workflow contractors can use today.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator: What to Budget in 2026
Free kitchen remodel cost estimator with real contractor pricing for cabinets, countertops, labor, and finishes. Budget any size kitchen project in 2026.
Roof Replacement Cost in 2026: By Material and Size
Roof replacement costs $5,000 to $45,000 depending on size, materials, and labor. Get real pricing breakdowns by material for contractors and homeowners.
Cost Per Lead Calculator for Contractors (With Real Numbers)
Calculate your cost per lead by marketing channel. Real contractor benchmarks for Google Ads, Angi, SEO, and referrals to find your best ROI.
Fence Material Calculator: Posts, Rails, Pickets
Fence material calculator guide with quantities and overage. Figure posts, rails, pickets, concrete, and hardware for any fence with worked examples.
Change Orders in Construction: The Contractor's Complete Guide
Learn what a change order is, when to use one, and how to protect your profit. Includes types, examples, markup guidelines, and a free template.
Drywall Estimate: Contractor's Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to estimate drywall for any project. Covers material takeoff, labor rates, worked examples, and common mistakes contractors make on drywall bids.
Drywall Taping Cost Per Square Foot (2026)
Drywall taping cost per square foot broken down by finish level, job size, and region. Real labor rates, material costs, and worked examples for contractors.
LVP Flooring Cost Per Square Foot Installed (2026)
Luxury vinyl plank flooring costs $2 to $14 per square foot installed. Full breakdown of LVP material grades, labor rates, and total project costs.
Mulch Cost Per Yard Installed: 2026 Pricing Guide
Mulch costs $40-$100 per cubic yard installed in 2026. Get a full breakdown of material, delivery, and labor costs for residential mulch jobs.
Paint Calculator: How to Calculate Paint for Any Project
Use a paint calculator to estimate gallons needed for walls, ceilings, and trim. Coverage rates, waste factors, and worked examples for contractors.
Construction Estimates: Types and What Wins
Learn the different types of construction estimates, what to include in each one, and how contractors can present estimates that win more jobs.
Interior Painting Cost Per Square Foot: 2026 Rates
Interior painting costs $1.50-$5 per square foot of wall area in 2026. Full breakdown of labor, materials, prep, trim, and ceiling costs.
Bathroom Remodel Labor Cost Breakdown by Trade
A trade-by-trade bathroom remodel labor cost breakdown with real numbers for plumbers, electricians, tile setters, and more. No fluff, just what it actually costs.
Concrete Calculator: How to Calculate Cubic Yards for Any Pour
Learn the math behind concrete calculations for slabs, footings, columns, and walls. Covers waste factors, worked examples, and how to use a concrete calculator to verify your numbers before you order.
Concrete Driveway Cost: Real Numbers for Every Variable
Concrete driveway cost runs $8-$22 per square foot installed. This guide covers thickness, reinforcement, finish types, demolition, and regional pricing with worked examples.
How to Create a Complete Concrete Estimate: Every Line Item Contractors Need
Learn how to build an accurate concrete estimate from scratch. Covers site prep, forming, reinforcement, concrete material, finishing, curing, and overhead. Real numbers, worked examples, and common mistakes to avoid.
Concrete Patio Cost Per Square Foot: Labor & Materials
Real contractor pricing for concrete patios: $4-$8/sf for materials, $5-$15/sf for labor. Includes forms, base, rebar, finish options, and waste factors.
Concrete Sidewalk Cost Per Linear Foot
Concrete sidewalk cost runs $25-$75 per linear foot installed depending on width, thickness, finish, and whether you are removing an old walk. Real numbers, real line items.
Concrete Slab Cost: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026
Real concrete slab costs per square foot for 4, 6, and 8-inch slabs. Covers rebar vs wire mesh, finishing options, and regional pricing from a 20-year contractor.
Concrete Slab Cost Per Square Foot: 2026 Pricing by Type
Real 2026 pricing for concrete slabs per square foot. Covers garage floors, patios, driveways, and warehouse slabs. Includes thickness, rebar, and regional cost factors.
Contractor Estimating: Spreadsheets vs Software (An Honest Comparison)
Should contractors use Excel spreadsheets or estimating software? An honest comparison of contractor estimating spreadsheets vs AI-powered tools, with a real bathroom remodel example showing the time difference.
Contractor Overhead Percentage for Small Jobs
Small jobs cost more per dollar of work - here's why your overhead percentage must go up as job size goes down, plus how to set a minimum charge that protects profit.
Deck Framing Labor Cost Per Square Foot
Real contractor rates for deck framing labor: $15-$40/sf depending on complexity. Ledger, footings, stairs, railings, and production rates explained.
EstimationPro vs Buildertrend: Which Is Right for Your Contracting Business?
Honest comparison of EstimationPro and Buildertrend for contractors. See how AI-powered estimating compares to Buildertrend's full project management platform, with pricing, features, and real use cases.
EstimationPro vs Housecall Pro: Contractor Estimating Compared
Comparing EstimationPro and Housecall Pro for contractor estimates. See features, pricing, and which tool fits your business - whether you need AI estimates or full field service management.
EstimationPro vs Jobber: Which Is Better for Contractor Estimates?
An honest comparison of EstimationPro and Jobber for contractor estimating. See how AI-powered estimates stack up against Jobber's field service platform, with pricing, features, and use cases.
EstimationPro vs ServiceTitan: Honest Comparison for Contractors
Compare EstimationPro and ServiceTitan for contractor estimating. See how AI-powered estimates stack up against ServiceTitan's enterprise field service platform, with pricing, features, and real use cases.
Exterior House Painting Cost Estimate (2026 Pricing Guide)
Exterior house painting costs $3,000-$12,000+ depending on size and prep. See cost per square foot, prep work pricing, and when to paint vs side.
Garage Cost Estimator: What It Costs to Build a Garage in 2026
Estimate garage construction costs for 2026. Detached and attached pricing per square foot, material breakdowns, and real project examples.
How Much Concrete Do I Need for a Driveway? (Complete Guide)
Calculate exactly how much concrete you need for a driveway. Covers standard dimensions, thickness by vehicle type, cubic yard math, and waste factors.
How Much Concrete Do I Need for a Slab? (Contractor's Calculation Guide)
Calculate exactly how much concrete you need for any slab. Covers thickness options, area math, waste factors, ready-mix vs. bags, short-load fees, and two worked examples with real numbers.
How Much Concrete Do I Need? A Contractor's Calculation Guide
Learn exactly how much concrete you need for slabs, footings, posts, and walls. Covers yard vs. bag conversions, waste factors, and the mistakes that cost contractors money.
How Much Mulch Do I Need? (Formula, Depths, and Real-World Examples)
Calculate mulch by area and depth using the cubic yards formula. Covers 2-4 inch depths, bag vs. bulk comparison, mulch types, and when to refresh. Includes worked examples.
How to Calculate Square Footage of a Room (With Worked Examples)
Learn how to calculate square footage of a room for any shape: rectangular, L-shaped, or irregular. Step-by-step math, worked examples, and common mistakes to avoid.
How to Estimate a Bathroom Remodel
Learn how to estimate a bathroom remodel with real trade breakdowns, production rates, and worked examples from a 20-year contractor.
How to Estimate a Roofing Job (Contractor's Step-by-Step Guide)
Learn how to estimate a roofing job from measuring the roof to pricing materials, labor, tear-off, and waste. A contractor's complete walkthrough.
How to Estimate Fence Installation
Learn how to estimate fence installation costs using the linear foot method, including gates, demo, slope, and concrete - with real pricing ranges.
How to Estimate Gravel for a Driveway
Learn exactly how to calculate gravel for your driveway project, including depth, compaction factors, tons vs yards, and delivery planning from a contractor.
How to Estimate Insulation for Your Attic
Learn how to estimate attic insulation by calculating square footage, R-value needs, and material costs. Includes worked examples and pricing ranges.
How to Estimate Paint for a House Exterior
Learn how to estimate exterior paint for a house using the surface area method, texture waste factors, and real contractor pricing from $20 to $85 per gallon.
How to Measure a Roof From the Ground (Without a Ladder)
Learn how to measure a roof from the ground using the pitch multiplier method. Accurate square footage for estimates without climbing.
How to Measure Square Footage for Flooring (Room by Room Guide)
Step-by-step guide to measuring square footage for flooring. Covers waste factors by material, closets, hallways, open-plan rooms, and two full worked examples.
How to Measure Square Footage of a House (Room-by-Room Method)
Learn how to measure square footage of a house accurately. Covers room-by-room method, irregular shapes, what counts as livable space, and common mistakes.
How to Measure Square Footage: A Step-by-Step Guide for Every Room
Learn how to measure square footage accurately for any room shape. Covers flooring, paint, drywall, L-shaped rooms, irregular spaces, and the most common measuring mistakes.
How to Write an Estimate: A Contractor's Guide
Learn how to write a contractor estimate that wins jobs. Step-by-step guide covering line items, labor, materials, markup, and professional presentation.
Interior Painting Cost Per Room (2026 Pricing by Room Size)
Interior painting costs $300-$1,000+ per room depending on size and prep. See bedroom, living room, and kitchen costs with labor and DIY breakdowns.
Job Costing for Contractors: A Complete Guide
Learn how job costing works, why it matters for remodeling profits, and how to track labor, materials, subs, and overhead on every project.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Breakdown: Labor and Materials
A complete kitchen remodel cost breakdown covering cabinets, countertops, plumbing, electrical, flooring, and paint with real contractor numbers.
Mulch Calculator: Coverage Rates by Type, Depths, and Real Project Examples
Use a mulch calculator to get the right amount every time. Covers coverage rates by mulch type, depth comparisons, bulk vs. bag pricing, and two full worked examples.
Mulch Cost Per Yard in 2026 (Prices by Type, Delivery, and Installation)
Mulch costs $30-$120 per cubic yard depending on type. Compare hardwood, cedar, cypress, rubber, and dyed mulch prices with delivery fees and labor costs.
Overhead and Profit: What Contractors Actually Charge
Learn what overhead and profit mean for contractors, how to calculate O&P, industry benchmarks, and why every bid must include it to stay in business.
Project Estimating: A Contractor's Complete Guide
Learn how to estimate construction projects accurately using the right method for each project phase, from rough ballparks to definitive bids.
Retaining Wall Cost Per Linear Foot
Retaining wall cost per linear foot ranges from $15 to $60+ depending on material, height, drainage, and site conditions. Get accurate numbers here.
Roofing Material List for a Shingle Roof (Complete Takeoff Guide)
Complete roofing material list for asphalt shingle replacement. Covers shingles, underlayment, ice and water shield, drip edge, flashing, ridge cap, and vents.
Square Footage Calculator: How to Calculate Area for Any Shape
Learn how to calculate square footage for rectangles, triangles, circles, trapezoids, and irregular areas. Includes formulas, worked examples, unit conversions, and a free calculator.
Square Footage for Flooring: How to Calculate and Order the Right Amount
Calculate square footage for flooring with the right waste factors. Covers hardwood, tile, LVP, carpet, and how to measure hallways, closets, and odd spaces.
How to Calculate Square Footage for Flooring (With Waste Factors)
Learn exactly how to measure square footage for flooring with the right waste factor for tile, hardwood, carpet, and LVP. Covers closets, L-shaped rooms, stairs, and transitions.
Construction Estimate Template for Homeowners (Free PDF Guide)
Download-ready construction estimate template for homeowners. Includes line-item format, cost categories, and real examples contractors use.
Painting Labor Cost per Square Foot (2026 Rates)
Painting labor costs $1-$5 per square foot in 2026. See interior vs exterior rates, production speeds, and how to price painting jobs accurately.
Siding Installation Labor Cost Per Square Foot (2026 Contractor Rates)
Siding installation labor costs $2-$8 per sq ft depending on material type. Includes vinyl, fiber cement, and wood rates with production data.
Drywall Cost Per Square Foot: 2026 Installation & Material Prices
Accurate drywall cost estimates for 2026. Material prices, labor rates, and total project costs per square foot for residential and commercial jobs.
Roofing Labor Cost Per Square (2026 Guide for Contractors)
Calculate roofing labor costs per square with real contractor rates. Includes tear-off, pitch adjustments, and production rates for asphalt shingles.
Best Construction Estimating Software in 2026 (Honest Contractor Review)
We compared 10 construction estimating software tools for contractors and remodelers. See pricing, features, pros, and cons for Buildertrend, PlanSwift, STACK, ProEst, and more.
Drywall labor cost per sheet: what contractors actually charge in 2026
Breakdown of drywall labor cost per sheet for hanging, taping, mudding, and sanding. Includes production rates and pricing by finish level.
How to estimate flooring installation labor (contractor pricing guide)
Learn how to estimate flooring installation labor using production rates, loaded costs, and material-specific pricing for accurate contractor bids.
Cost Estimating for Contractors: How to Build Accurate Job Estimates
Learn cost estimating for contractors step by step—materials, labor, overhead, profit. Includes tables, worked examples, common mistakes, and a reusable system.
Markup vs Margin: Formulas, Examples, and a Conversion Table You Can Use Today
Markup vs margin explained with formulas, a conversion table, and real examples. Learn the difference so you stop leaving money on every job.
Construction Takeoff: How to Do a Quantity Takeoff (Step-by-Step + Checklist)
Learn what a construction takeoff is and how to do a quantity takeoff fast and accurately. Includes a step-by-step process, examples, and a checklist.
How to Price a Change Order (Step-by-Step for Contractors)
A practical change order pricing process for contractors: labor + material + subs, markup, overhead, schedule impact, and client-approved paperwork—plus examples and a downloadable template.
Scope of Work for Contractors: How to Write One That Protects Your Profit
Learn how to write a clear construction scope of work. Includes templates, examples, and a checklist to prevent disputes and protect your margins.
Drywall Estimate Per Square Foot: Materials, Labor, and a Contractor Pricing Method
Learn how to build a drywall estimate per square foot (materials + labor), what drives price changes, and how to quote jobs faster with a simple method.
Tile Installation Cost Per Square Foot (Labor + Materials + Markup)
Learn typical tile installation costs per square foot, how to estimate labor and materials, and how to price jobs with markup without losing bids.
Tile installation labor cost per square foot (contractor pricing guide)
Tile installation labor cost per square foot varies by layout, prep, and tile type. Use this contractor guide to price floors and showers with confidence.
5 Best Free Concrete Calculators in 2026 (Tested by a Contractor)
We tested the top free concrete calculators for accuracy, ease of use, and features. See which ones contractors actually trust for real jobs.
10 Construction Bidding Tips to Win More Jobs (Without Cutting Profit)
Practical bidding tips contractors can use today: qualification, scope clarity, pricing structure, and presentation—plus a checklist to avoid bad jobs.
Contractor Markup vs Margin: What’s the Difference (With Examples)
Stop confusing markup and margin. Learn the formulas, see real examples, and use a simple table to pick the right markup for your target profit.
Electrical Estimate Template (Excel/Google Sheets) + Step-by-Step Pricing Guide
Download a practical electrical estimate template for Excel/Google Sheets and learn how to price labor, materials, markup, and change orders accurately.
How Much Paint Do I Need? (Contractor Formula + Room Examples)
Learn how much paint you need using a contractor’s step-by-step formula, real room examples, and paint coverage per gallon—plus a free paint calculator.
How Much Should Contractors Charge for Labor? (Rates, Burden, and Examples)
Learn how to price construction labor correctly: hourly rates by trade, labor burden, overhead, and a simple worksheet-style formula with examples.
How to Calculate Concrete for a Patio (Step-by-Step Contractor Guide)
Learn exactly how to calculate concrete for a patio with this step-by-step guide from a contractor with 20+ years experience. Covers rectangular, L-shaped, and curved patios.
How to Estimate Construction Jobs: A Step-by-Step System for Contractors
A practical construction estimating system: scope, takeoff, labor, subs, overhead, profit, and a final check—plus a simple checklist and examples.
Payment Schedules for Contractors: Templates, Deposits, and Best Practices
Use these contractor payment schedule templates to protect cash flow: deposits, milestones, progress payments, and language clients understand.
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