Siding estimating software is bought by an exterior contractor whose estimate is wall area minus openings plus the trim, corners, starter, J-channel, flashing and fasteners that the area alone does not count; insulation takeoff software serves the crew that follows behind, counting batts by the bay or blown-in by the area and depth, with baffles, vapor retarder and the machine as equipment. Both are takeoffs by the wall from the plan or the tape, priced at the supplier's sheet with waste, the crew's hours at a loaded rate, equipment, overhead and markup, and the estimate template on this site works that price for one job at a time.
Siding: squares, and everything the squares miss
Measure each wall's area and deduct the openings, convert to squares with a waste allowance for the cuts around windows and gables, then count what the squares do not include: outside and inside corner posts by the height, starter strip and J-channel by the length, window and door trim by the opening, soffit and fascia by the foot, house wrap by the roll, flashing and fasteners. A siding bid that prices the squares and forgets the trim has given away a day of material.
Insulation: bays, area and depth
Batt insulation is counted by the bay from the stud spacing and the wall height, in the width and the R-value the specification asks for; blown-in is counted by the area and the depth for the attic or the wall, with the bags per square foot at that depth from the manufacturer's chart; baffles, vapor retarder, sealant and the dams around fixtures are pieces and lengths. The blowing machine is equipment by the day, and the hours come from the crew's own record by the bay or the square foot.
Hours, equipment and the estimate
Siding hours come from the crew's squares per day for that material and height; insulation hours from bays or square feet per hour for that method. Load the hourly rate, charge the lift, the scaffold and the blowing machine by the day, add subcontracted work at quote, then apply the overhead percentage and the markup. Pro keeps each estimate against the customer and the property with the takeoff, so the squares bought and the squares hung become the next waste allowance.
Questions people ask about siding estimating software
How is siding estimated?
Wall area minus openings into squares with waste, plus corners, starter, J-channel, trim, soffit, fascia, wrap, flashing and fasteners by the piece or the foot, hours per square at a loaded rate, equipment, overhead and markup.
How is insulation taken off?
Batts by the bay from stud spacing and height at the specified width and R-value; blown-in by area and depth using the manufacturer's coverage chart; plus baffles, vapor retarder and sealant.
Can one estimate carry both trades?
Yes, as separate material and labor blocks under one overhead and markup, so the margin on each trade can be read when the job closes.