What goes in a concrete estimate
Two concrete bids can be thousands of dollars apart and both be honest, because they're pricing different slabs. A good concrete estimate shows exactly what's being poured:
- Size and thickness, in square feet and inches, and the cubic yards that works out to.
- Removal of the old slab, including haul-away.
- Base prep: excavation, grading and how much compacted gravel goes underneath.
- Reinforcement: rebar with its size and spacing, wire mesh or fiber.
- The mix, such as 4000 psi with fiber.
- The finish: broom, stamped, colored or exposed aggregate, and whether it's sealed.
- Joints, permit, schedule and deposit.
Typli drafts all of this from the notes you'd jot down while you measure. You check the prices, change anything you like, and send it.
Working out the yards
Length times width times thickness in feet (inches divided by 12), divided by 27, gives cubic yards. A 20 by 40 driveway at 5 inches is about 333 cubic feet, or 12.3 yards.
Add 5 to 10% for an uneven subgrade, form flex and what's left in the chute, then round up to the next half yard: 12.3 plus 8% is 13.3, so order 13.5. Put the overage in the quantity rather than the rate, so the numbers add up when the homeowner checks them.
Four inches is standard for walks and patios and common for driveways, with 5 or 6 inches where pickups, RVs or delivery trucks will park.
Base, reinforcement and joints
A slab is only as good as what's under it. Price base prep on its own line: dig to depth, compact the subgrade, and put down compacted gravel, commonly 4 inches and more on soft soil. If an old slab is coming out, note its thickness. A 6-inch slab with rebar takes far longer to break out and haul than a 4-inch walk.
Name the reinforcement. "#3 rebar at 18 inches on center, on chairs" tells the homeowner what they're paying for, and it's the first thing to check when two bids don't match.
Concrete cracks, and control joints decide where. A common rule is joint spacing in feet of two to three times the slab thickness in inches (8 to 12 feet for a 4-inch slab), cut a quarter of the way through. Add a line to the terms saying hairline cracks are normal.
Minimums, pumps and repairs
Ready-mix plants charge a short-load fee on small orders, and your crew costs the same to set up for 2 yards as for 10. Set a minimum job charge or show the short-load fee as its own line. If the truck can't reach the pour, list the pump truck or the extra labor separately too. That's usually why a backyard patio costs more per square foot than the driveway.
For repairs, replace whole sections between joints rather than patching. Patches rarely match, and thin ones tend to break loose.
Tips for estimates that win the job
- Say what happens if you hit something. Buried stumps, old footings and soft spots get priced before you pour, not after.
- Tell them when they can use it. Foot traffic after a day or two, cars after about a week. It heads off tire marks in fresh concrete.
- List what's not included, like sprinkler line repair, sod and landscaping, or sealing.
- Mention the weather. Rain and freezing temperatures move pour dates. Saying so up front keeps a delay from looking like a broken promise.
Frequently asked questions
Is the concrete estimate generator free?
Yes. Drafting is free, with no account needed. To download the PDF or send a link, create a free account; free accounts can save 3 documents a month. Paid plans save unlimited documents, add your logo and remove the Typli footer.
Can I use my own prices?
Yes. Save your hourly rate and price list in your details and every estimate uses them exactly. You can also put prices in your notes ("concrete $185 a yard, place and finish $4.50 a square foot") and the draft uses them. Every line and price can be edited before you send it.
Can I send it to the homeowner?
Yes. Download a PDF to email or print, or send a link the homeowner can open on their phone.
Does it do stamped or decorative concrete?
Yes. Describe the pattern, color and sealer (ashlar slate, tan with charcoal release) and the estimate prices the decorative finish as its own line per square foot.