Tile Estimating – Establishing Costs from the Ground Up

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In the construction business one of the most important features is being able to provide potential clients with an accurate estimate for the every aspect of a particular job. Failing to take all variables into consideration may result in a bid that is too low – and a loss of money; bid too high and the risk of losing a lucrative contract increases.

When providing an estimate for installing tile on a project there are many dedicated particulars that must be taken into consideration. One of the main stumbling blocks to providing a mutually acceptable tile estimate is generally that many of the necessary decisions have not been finalized by the homeowner. Often they are not sure of what they want or exactly how they want the job completed.

To rectify this problem, many tile contractors issue proposals that provide the customer with an 'allowance' for the items in debate. For the contractor, this means he is tapping into his many years of experience and knowledge in order to present an estimate which he feels the owner can cover financially. Tile estimating contractors use this technique all the time, however some purchasers, especially if they are first time buyers, fail to understand the concept behind allowances.

As far as the tile estimator is concerned this price usually includes his labor costs, but far too often he fails to specify this with the owner. Should the owner choose a less expensive tile he will then expect to be reimbursed for the difference in price, however because labor was a determining factor in the amount of the allowance, the cost of the total project does not go down – in fact, it may increase. This results in a very unhappy customer.

This problem could have been avoided had the tile estimator been specific in his estimate, clearly stating that the 'allowance' encompasses both time and material costs. A reputable tile estimator will make sure his tile estimation contains a complete and true breakdown for any allowance items that clearly indicate whether labor is included in the computations of if it includes material only.

In many cases, some contractors are so anxious to provide potential clients with a proposal in order to impress them with their responsiveness that their estimate is more like a guestimate of what the job will cost – far too often the result is devastating losses and/or customer dissatisfaction.

Regardless of whether a tile contractor provides a fixed-price estimate or one based on knowledgeable approximations of what a particular job will cost, every tile estimating proposal must consider the costs relative to labor, specific equipment, material, sub-contractor fees and all other direct costs relative to the job. In addition, a realistic tile estimating contract will include other variables such as insurance, taxes, permits, travel/accommodation and any other expense that will impact the final cost of the job.

Many experienced contractors spend years perfecting the art of presenting a realistic and acceptable estimate. Construction estimating software, which includes modules designed to assist with every aspect of a contractor's business including tile estimating procedures, can often prove to be the difference between profit and loss on any particular job.