Why Contractors Lose Bids: Contractors lose bids mainly because of inaccurate takeoffs, prices that are too high or too low, missed addenda, incomplete bid packages, missed deadlines, bonding or licensing gaps and proposals that fail to show value. Most of these problems are preventable with a repeatable estimating and bid review process. Losing a bid hurts because you spent hours […]
Quick answer: To write a construction bid, review the drawings and specifications, complete a quantity takeoff, price labor, materials, equipment and subcontractors, add overhead, contingency and profit, attach any required bid bond, then present the scope, price, schedule and exclusions in a clear document before the deadline. The best bids are accurate, easy to compare and honest about what is […]
Drywall cost estimating means calculating the total price of a drywall job by adding three things together: the material takeoff (sheets, tape, mud, screws and corner bead), the labor cost to hang and finish the board and a waste factor of roughly 10% to 15% to cover cuts and offcuts. Most residential drywall runs between $1.50 and $3.50 per square […]
Lump sum estimating prices a project as one fixed total for a clearly defined scope, so the contractor carries the risk if quantities run higher than expected. Unit price estimating prices each item of work by the measured quantity (per cubic yard, per linear foot, per square foot), so the owner pays for what actually gets built and the contractor’s […]
A manual takeoff means measuring quantities by hand on printed plans using a scale ruler and a calculator. A digital takeoff means measuring the same quantities on screen using specialized software. Neither method is universally better. The right choice depends on your project size, your bid volume and how much your team can afford to spend on tools versus time. […]
Earthwork and excavation typically costs between $5 and $30 per cubic yard for common soil and $40 to $150+ per cubic yard when rock removal, dewatering or difficult access are involved. The final number depends on soil type, haul distance, site access and how much cut and fill balances out on site. Because those variables swing the price so widely, […]
Demolition typically costs between $2 and $30 per square foot, depending on whether the project is residential or commercial, full or selective and whether hazardous materials like asbestos are involved. A standard residential teardown runs $4 to $17 per square foot. Interior or selective demolition runs $2 to $8 per square foot. Large commercial demolition can reach $25 to $30 […]
Reading a construction blueprint means understanding the title block, scale, symbols and drawing types well enough to know exactly what materials and quantities a project requires. It’s a skill every contractor, estimator and serious DIY builder needs, because every measurement you take off a blueprint feeds directly into your material list, your labor hours and your final bid. Misread the […]
By David Wilson, Estimator Head at Land Mark Estimations. Reviewed by our ASPE and NIBS certified estimating team. Updated for 2026. A takeoff, an estimate and a bid are three separate stages of pricing a construction project, not three names for the same thing. A takeoff is a raw quantity count pulled from the drawings, with no dollar figure attached. […]
A construction takeoff is the process of measuring and counting every material, quantity and labor unit needed for a project directly from blueprints or plans, before any pricing is applied. It’s the first and most important step in building an accurate construction estimate. Get the takeoff wrong, and every number that follows it, material orders, labor hours, the final bid, […]
