Sheet & board cladding
- Fibre cement sheet and weatherboard
- Composite and metal panels
- Timber cladding and battens
- Compressed sheet
ASMM / ANZSMM · Cladding & Weatherproofing · NPWC 05 RF
Cladding & Weatherproofing Estimating
External cladding, sealants and flashings measured in m² and lineal metres, in 24 to 48 hours
The external envelope keeps water out and the building cool, and it is full of small items: sarking, battens, flashings, sealants, corners and openings. Each one has a labour cost that a simple m² rate hides.
We measure cladding by type and elevation, schedule the flashings and sealants in lineal metres, and give you the supporting quantities for waterproofing, insulation and fire-rating requirements.
m² by cladding typePer elevation
Lineal metresFlashings and sealants
NCC fireCombustibility noted
Openings deductedPer the documents
Deliverables
What You Actually Receive
| Deliverable | Format | Detail level |
|---|---|---|
| Cladding areas | Excel, m² | By cladding type and elevation |
| Framing and battens | Excel, m | Cavity battens and sub-frames |
| Flashings and sealants | Excel, m | Window heads, sills, junctions and corners |
| Corners and trims | Excel, m / No. | Internal, external corners and capping |
| Render and coatings | Excel, m² | Where specified |
| Priced estimate | Excel + PDF | Supply and installation, with GST on its own line |
Australian Framework
How This Work Fits Into the Australian Standards
Every estimate is structured to the trade sections used for tendering and to the elements used for early cost plans, so one set of quantities serves both.
| Trade section (ASMM / ANZSMM) | Element (NPWC / AIQS) |
|---|---|
| Roofing / Waterproofing / Cladding | 05 RF Roof / Insulation & Cladding |
Scope Coverage
Envelope Work We Measure
From the wrap to the final coat.
Render & coatings
- Cement and acrylic render
- EIFS and rendered systems
- Texture coatings
- Sealers
Sealants & flashings
- Window and door flashings
- Control joints and sealant
- Parapet capping
- Penetration seals
Building wrap
- Sarking and vapour permeable wrap
- Taping and sealing
- Cavity battens
- Insulation behind cladding
Facades
- Curtain wall and glazing links
- Aluminium composite panels
- Louvres and screens
- Shading devices
Our Process
Start a Project →
How We Prepare Your Estimate
Five steps from your drawings to a cladding and weatherproofing number you can defend in a scope review.
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01
Scope review
An estimator reads the elevations, wall sections, facade details and the external envelope specification before touching a takeoff tool, and lists every assumption, exclusion and missing item as a query for you to confirm. Nothing is priced on a guess.
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02
Digital measurement
Quantities are measured digitally in Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff, in metric: square metres of cladding by type, lineal metres of flashing and sealant, and counts of corners and openings. Each measurement sits on a named layer, so the marked-up PDF you receive is a visual audit trail.
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03
Pricing
We price the quantities using current Australian supplier quotes, subcontract rates and published benchmarks such as Rawlinsons, adjusted for your postcode and state. If you give us your own rates or a preferred supplier schedule, we use those.
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04
Senior QA review
Before anything is sent, a second estimator compares the takeoff with the drawings and verifies the measuring rules, deductions, wastage allowances and productivity assumptions.
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05
Delivery
Excel and PDF files reach your inbox within one to two days for standard jobs. One round of changes is included, and we remain available for tender queries and scope questions after the tender.
Tooling
Software We Work In
You do not have to hold a licence for these tools. We do the measuring with them and hand over the results.
Bluebeam Revu
Measuring, marking and comparing drawings on screen.
PlanSwift
Takeoffs made from ready-built assemblies, with quantities you can export.
On-Screen Takeoff
Layer-based measuring on big commercial drawing sets.
Rawlinsons-benchmarked rates
Up-to-date Australian unit rates, compared with supplier and subcontractor quotes.
Microsoft Excel
The final file, set out to match your cost codes and trade sections.
If you use Buildsoft, CostX, Estimate One, Procore or your own template, let us know and we will prepare the file so it imports straight in.
Turnaround & Pricing
Cost and Delivery Time
We quote a fee for each project before starting, in AUD excluding GST. We never bill by the hour, and you are never charged more than the quote.
Small / residential scope
24 hoursHouses and small extensions.
Typical fee A$350 to A$850
Mid-size commercial
24 to 48 hoursTownhouses and commercial facades.
Typical fee A$850 to A$1,800
Large / complex
48 to 72 hoursHigh-rise and complex facade packages.
Typical fee A$1,800 to A$3,600
Monthly takeoff package
OngoingA set number of estimates every month, with your jobs placed first in the queue.
Flat monthly rate from A$2,200/mo
Cost vs. Capacity
Why Builders Hand Cladding & Weatherproofing Estimating to Us
A full-time estimator is a salary, super, software seats and training. A cladding and weatherproofing takeoff from us is a per-project cost that only appears when you are actually tendering.
- No software licences. Takeoff and cost-data subscriptions cost thousands of dollars per user each year. With us, you use ours.
- Tender more, more selectively. Most builders do not lose jobs through bad pricing. They lose them because they run out of time to reach enough tenders before closing.
- Site time stays site time. Items get overlooked when estimating at 9pm after a long day on site.
- Independent accuracy check. Even builders with in-house estimators use us to sanity-check large or unfamiliar cladding and weatherproofing scopes before they submit.
- Moves up and down with how busy you are. Five takeoffs in a busy month and none in a slow one. You never carry a fixed cost.
Who We Work With
Made for Anyone Pricing Cladding
Cladding installers
Area and detailing takeoffs.
Builders
Facade allowances.
Facade engineers
Cost feedback on systems.
Developers
Facade cost plans.
Suppliers
Sheet and trim counts.
Quantity surveyors
External wall element costs.
Sample Output
Sample Line Items
Every estimate has this much detail: quantities tied to elements and measured in metric, never lump sums.
| Item | Unit | Qty | Material | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre cement sheet cladding | m² | 412.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Cavity battens | m | 1,820 | $ | $ | $ |
| Window head and sill flashings | m | 186.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Sealant to joints | m | 640 | $ | $ | $ |
| Building wrap | m² | 412.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Aluminium capping | m | 72.0 | $ | $ | $ |
These example items show only the layout and units. They do not come from a client project.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do you deduct openings?
Yes, to the rule in the documents, with flashing and trim added around each opening.
Can you handle NCC fire requirements?
We measure the system shown on the documents and flag where combustible cladding rules may apply, so you can confirm with the certifier.
Do you price render systems?
Yes, by m² per coat and system.
Can you split by elevation?
Yes.
Which states and territories do you cover?
Every one. Prices are set for your project postcode and state, so a job in Darwin and a job in Melbourne get their own unit costs instead of one national average.
What does it cost?
A fee is quoted per project, in AUD excluding GST, before any work starts. You approve it in writing first. There is no hourly billing and no invoice larger than the quote.
How fast is turnaround?
Standard scopes ship in 24 to 48 hours. Large packages take 48 to 72 hours. If you are against a closing time, say so when you upload and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Are my project details kept confidential?
Yes. We keep drawings, specifications and tender figures private, and if you prefer we will sign your NDA before we receive any documents.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready for Your Next Cladding & Weatherproofing Tender?
Send your drawings along with a short note on what the job covers. A fee and delivery date come back the same working day, and the finished estimate follows within one to two days of your approval.