Practical guides for contractors and builders: quantity takeoffs, material calculators, bidding, cost control and project closeout. New articles are added every week.
Our most recent guides appear first.
Winning the bid and signing the contract does not always mean you can start digging. On many projects, especially public and commercial work, the contractor waits for one more document: the notice to proceed. It is short, but it starts the clock on your schedule, your deadlines and often your liquidated damages exposure. Short answer: […]
Running out of paint halfway through a wall is frustrating, and buying too much wastes money. Working out how much paint you need takes just three numbers: the wall area, the number of coats and the coverage per gallon. This guide walks you through the formula, a quick chart and real room examples. Short answer: […]
On almost every job, money changes hands in exchange for paperwork. One of the most important papers is the lien waiver. Owners and lenders want it to make sure nobody can file a lien later; contractors and subs need to sign the right one so they do not give up their rights before they are […]
Sod gives you an instant lawn, but it is sold fresh and cut to order, so getting the quantity right matters. Order short and you wait days for more; order too much and the extra rolls dry out. Here is how to work out how much sod you need in square feet, rolls and pallets. […]
Many public and large private projects will not accept your bid without one thing attached: a bid bond. It tells the owner your number is serious and that you will sign the contract if you win. Understanding how bid bonds work, and what happens if your estimate has a mistake, helps you bid with confidence. […]
Ordering too little mulch means a second trip; ordering too much leaves a pile on the driveway. The good news is that how much mulch you need comes down to one simple formula: area times depth. This guide gives you the formula, a quick chart, bag counts and worked examples for beds of any shape. […]
A MESSAGE FROM MEGA ESTIMATING 50% OFF Your First Construction Estimate We offer construction estimating at rates lower than most estimating companies in the USA, without cutting corners on accuracy. If you need a construction estimate or quantity takeoff for your next project, contact us today. Your first project gets 50% off. Claim 50% Off […]
Getting paid on time is just as important as winning the bid. On most commercial jobs, every monthly payment is based on one document: the schedule of values in construction. A clear, balanced schedule of values makes pay applications fast to approve. A sloppy one leads to rejected invoices, slow cash flow and arguments over […]
No construction project is built exactly as drawn. Owners change their minds, drawings miss details, and crews uncover conditions nobody expected. A change order in construction is the formal way to adjust the contract when that happens. Handled well, it protects both the owner’s budget and the contractor’s margin. Handled badly, it becomes the number […]
Every article is written for people who price and build real projects.
How many bags, sheets, bricks, blocks and studs you need, with formulas and charts.
Labor costs, overhead, contingency and how to put together a winning bid.
Punch lists, retainage, cleaning and debris costs that protect your margin.
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The Mega Estimating blog shares what our team uses every day to prepare takeoffs and cost estimates for contractors across the United States. You will find step-by-step formulas, worked examples with real numbers, and checklists you can use on your next bid.
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