Framing Estimating & Bidding Software
Framing bids are labor-dominant and lumber-volatile. The crew hours are reasonably predictable from square footage and complexity; the material cost can move between bid and build. Pro Spec IQ keeps material and labor separate so a lumber swing doesn't hide what's happening to your labor margin.
What Pro Spec IQ tracks on a framing bid
Beyond material, labor, and equipment, framing bids get inputs specific to the trade:
Board Feet (lumber)
bd ftTotal board feet of lumber
Wall Linear Feet
linear ftTotal linear feet of wall framing
Trusses
trussesNumber of trusses to set
Sheathing Sheets
sheetsNumber of sheathing sheets (4x8)
Headers / Beams
headersNumber of headers and beams to install
Starting markups for framing
10%
Overhead
15%
Profit
5%
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 framing work
- Framed square footage and number of stories
- Lumber package cost, which can move significantly between bid and purchase
- Crew size and duration, the dominant labor variable
- Complexity — roof geometry, tall walls, and cut-up floor plans add hours faster than area
- Sheathing and fastener quantities, which scale with wall and roof area
Where these estimates go wrong
- Holding a lumber price too long on a bid that won't be built for months
- Estimating from square footage alone on a plan with complex roof framing
- Missing crane or lift time on tall wall panels
- Not separating material from labor, which hides where margin is actually going
Framing estimating questions
How do you estimate framing?
Take off the lumber package from the plans, then estimate crew hours from framed area adjusted for complexity. Price sheathing and fasteners by area, add equipment, then apply overhead, profit, and contingency. Pro Spec IQ tracks square footage, crew size, and material cost as separate inputs.
How do I protect a framing bid against lumber price changes?
Common approaches are a bid expiration date, a stated material escalation clause, or a contingency sized to the exposure. Pro Spec IQ puts an expiration date and a contingency percentage on every bid, so both are available without a workaround.
Can I track the job after the bid is accepted?
Yes. An accepted bid converts to a job with daily logs, change orders, and budget-versus-actual tracking, so the estimate and the build stay connected.
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