Concrete Estimating & Bidding Software
Concrete estimating starts with volume but rarely ends there. Forming and finishing routinely carry more labor than the pour itself, and placement method can change the number substantially. Pro Spec IQ separates volume, forming, and finish so the labor is visible rather than buried in a yard price.
What Pro Spec IQ tracks on a concrete bid
Beyond material, labor, and equipment, concrete bids get inputs specific to the trade:
Cubic Yards
cu ydTotal cubic yards of concrete
Slab Square Footage
sq ftTotal slab area in square feet
Rebar (tons)
tonsTons of rebar reinforcement
Formwork Linear Ft
linear ftLinear feet of formwork needed
Pump Truck Hours
hrsHours of concrete pump truck rental
Starting markups for concrete
10%
Overhead
15%
Profit
8%
Contingency
These are editable defaults, not fixed rates. Set them per bid to match your own cost structure and the risk on the job.
What drives cost on concrete work
- Cubic yards of concrete, including waste allowance
- Form square footage and whether forms are reusable on the job
- Finish type — broom, trowel, exposed aggregate, and stamped are very different labor
- Reinforcement: rebar tonnage or mesh area, plus tie labor
- Placement method, since pump time and truck access can dominate a small pour
Where these estimates go wrong
- Quoting from a per-yard price that silently assumes an easy pour and simple finish
- Underestimating form labor on anything other than a flat slab
- Missing pump cost on jobs where the truck can't reach the placement
- Not pricing weather protection on cold or hot weather pours
Concrete estimating questions
How do you estimate concrete work?
Calculate volume in cubic yards with a waste allowance, then price forming by square foot and reinforcement by weight or area. Add finish labor by type, placement and pump cost, then apply overhead, profit, and contingency. Pro Spec IQ tracks yards, form area, and rebar as separate inputs.
How much waste should I include on a concrete order?
Waste allowance depends on the pour type, form accuracy, and site conditions, so it's a judgment call rather than a fixed figure. Pro Spec IQ exposes it as an input on the bid so it's an explicit decision instead of something absorbed into the yard price.
What defaults does the concrete estimator use?
Concrete bids start at 12% overhead, 15% profit, and 7% contingency — the higher contingency reflecting weather and subgrade risk. All are editable.
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