Landscape construction estimating software for hardscape and design-build
Hardscape estimates carry more material, more labor and more risk per square foot than any maintenance visit. Landscapeestimating is landscape construction estimating software that turns a traced patio, wall or walkway into excavation, base, bedding, units, labor and disposal, then presents it as good / better / best options the client signs online.
The problem
Where hardscape margin disappears under the pavers.
Where design-build estimates lose money
On a patio, the visible pavers are rarely the problem. The margin disappears underneath them and around them.
- Base depth priced by eye, or compaction left out of the gravel volume.
- Waste on cuts ignored on curved and herringbone layouts.
- Excavation and disposal charged as a round number that never matches the haul.
- Labor quoted as "two guys, three days" instead of a production rate tied to the area.
- One option presented, so the client either says yes or shops around.
Takeoff
Measuring patios, walks and walls from aerial imagery.
Hardscape takeoff from satellite imagery, verified on site
Trace the patio footprint, walkway runs and wall lengths on aerial imagery. Areas calculate in square feet, walls and edges in linear feet, steps and fixtures as counts. The traced map goes straight into the proposal, so the client sees exactly what is being priced. Aerial imagery is a strong start for design-build work, but tree cover, roof overhangs and the imagery date can all affect a traced edge: for anything built to a dimension, verify critical measurements on site before the proposal becomes a materials order. Our landscape takeoff software page covers tracing in more detail.
- Layers per service: pavers, base, wall block, cap, lighting, plantings.
- Wall face area from traced length times height you enter on site.
- A note field per measurement for grade, access and anything the image does not show.
Worked example
A paver patio priced line by line from base up.
A paver patio priced from base to cap
Worked example for a 16 ft by 20 ft patio (320 sq ft). The assembly "Paver patio" applies a 6 in. compacted gravel base with a 20 percent compaction factor, 1 in. bedding sand, 5 percent waste on units and a laying production rate of 12 sq ft per man-hour including base preparation.
| Line | Math | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation and disposal | 320 sq ft x 0.67 ft (8 in. total) / 27 | 7.9 cu yd hauled |
| Gravel base | 320 sq ft x 0.5 ft / 27 x 1.20 compaction | 7.1 cu yd, ordered as 7.5 |
| Bedding sand | 320 sq ft x 0.083 ft / 27 | 1.0 cu yd |
| Paver units | 320 sq ft plus 5 percent waste | 336 sq ft |
| Labor | 320 / 12 | 26.7 man-hours |
The estimate then offers three paver options on the same base, so only the unit line changes.
| Option | Unit cost | Units, 336 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Good: standard concrete pavers | $4.10 per sq ft | $1,377.60 |
| Better: tumbled concrete pavers | $5.60 per sq ft | $1,881.60 |
| Best: natural bluestone | $11.50 per sq ft | $3,864.00 |
Base, sand, excavation and labor are identical in all three, and each option carries overhead recovery and your target margin. Bluestone can take a separate laying rate in your library if your crews install it slower, and the Best price follows automatically.
Options
Three priced versions that help close larger jobs.
Good / better / best options that close larger jobs
Three options change the question from yes or no to which one. Each option is a full, priced version of the scope, and optional add-ons (seat wall, low-voltage lighting, polymeric sand upgrade, sealing) sit beside them with their own prices. The client picks an option and add-ons online, signs, and you receive a deposit request link on the Company plan and above. Proposal design, e-sign and statuses are covered on landscaping proposal software.
- Options share the same measurement and base lines, so they never contradict each other.
- Add-ons are priced from the same library as the main scope.
- The signed option is the one that becomes the job budget.
Job costing
Seeing which hardscape lines ran over the estimate.
Estimate versus actual on every hardscape line
Design-build firms learn the most from the jobs that went long. Once the proposal is signed, crews log hours and materials against the budget and every line shows estimate versus actual: base tons, units delivered, man-hours per phase. Margin reports per job and per estimator show whether your laying rate of 12 sq ft per man-hour holds on curved work or needs its own assembly. See landscape job costing software for how the budget is built, and landscape estimating software for the full flow from measurement to QuickBooks Online.
FAQ
- Can I price retaining walls and steps?
Yes. Walls are traced as linear feet, face area comes from the height you enter, and assemblies add block, cap, drainage aggregate, pipe, geogrid and labor by the face square foot. Steps and fixtures are counts with their own assemblies.
- Is satellite imagery accurate enough for hardscape?
It is accurate enough to prepare a first proposal quickly. Tree cover and the imagery date can move an edge, so verify critical dimensions on site, and adjust the traced measurement before ordering material.
- Can each estimator use different production rates?
Rates live in the company cost library, so everyone prices from the same numbers. On the Operations plan each branch keeps its own library, and margin guardrails send bids above a set amount to a manager for approval.
- Which plan do hardscape firms usually choose?
Assemblies, waste factors, good / better / best options, job costing and the QuickBooks Online export start on the Company plan at $299 per month. Full details are on the best landscaping software page.
Get started
Send the patio proposal before the competitor measures
Trace it, price it with your base and laying rates, offer three options and collect the signature and deposit online.