Structure & Site
Carpentry Estimating Services in New Zealand
Measured carpentry scope beyond the frame: decks, cladding installation, interior trim, stairs, doors, hardware and fit-off.
Framing gets the attention, but a large share of a builder's labour goes into the carpentry that follows: hanging doors, fixing skirtings and architraves, installing cladding, building decks and stairs, and fitting hardware. These are the items that are easiest to underprice, because they are many small tasks rather than a few big ones.
Our carpentry estimating service measures that work in detail. Doors are counted by type and hardware set. Skirtings, architraves and scotias are measured in lineal metres per room. Decks are measured as joists, bearers, piles and decking. Cladding installation is separated from supply, so you can price labour on its own if the client is supplying materials.
The result is a carpentry schedule that reflects the real number of tasks on the job, so labour hours can be estimated with confidence.
Scope
What we measure in a carpentry takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Interior doors | no. | By type: hinged, cavity slider, barn slider, with frames and hardware. |
| Interior trim | lm | Skirtings, architraves, scotias and window reveals. |
| Decks | m² / no. / lm | Piles, bearers, joists, decking and balustrade. |
| Cladding installation | m² / lm | Weatherboards, panels, corner and soffit details. |
| Stairs | no. / risers | Timber stairs, handrails and balustrades. |
| Soffits and fascias | lm / m² | Linings and timber trims at the eaves. |
| Shelving and wardrobes | lm / no. | Site-built shelving and wardrobe fit-out. |
| Hardware | sets | Door handles, stops and hooks counted by room. |
Deliverables
What you receive
Carpentry estimates separate supply and install, so you can price labour only or a supply-and-fix package.
| Itemised quantity sheet | Excel + PDF |
| Marked-up plans | Colour-coded PDF |
| Material and labour schedule | Excel |
| Assumptions and exclusions list |
Who it is for
Built for the people who price the work
- Builders
- Price fit-off labour accurately on a new home instead of relying on a rough day rate.
- Subcontractors
- Labour-only carpenters can quote a measured scope per task.
- Developers
- Compare deck and trim specifications across units on cost.
- Architects
- Understand the cost of feature joinery and bespoke trim details.
Process
How a carpentry estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload plans, elevations, door schedule and finishing specification.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm supply versus install, trim profiles, hardware levels and deck specifications.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Each carpentry item is measured room by room, then checked against floor area ratios.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the quantity sheet, door and hardware schedule, PDF and marked-up plans.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Timber decks attached to houses must be designed to resist loads and fixed to the structure; NZS 3604 covers deck framing, pile sizes and fixings for typical decks. We measure the joist, bearer and pile sizes shown, rather than assume a standard deck.
Exterior timber exposed to weather must be treated to a suitable level under NZS 3640, typically H3.2 for decking and H4 or H5 for in-ground piles. We list treatment by item so materials are ordered correctly.
We measure and price to the drawings. Design compliance and building consent remain with your designer and building consent authority.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of carpentry work
01
Trim profile and finish
Paint-grade trims are quicker than stain-grade or feature profiles. Square-stop linings without architraves save material but need more care to install.
02
Door types
Cavity sliders, barn doors and double doors take longer than standard hinged doors. Each type is counted separately so labour can be priced properly.
03
Deck size and height
Higher decks need larger piles, bracing and balustrades. Hardwood decking costs more and takes longer to fix than pine.
04
Cladding type
Bevel-back weatherboards, vertical shiplap and sheet cladding all install at different rates. Corners and junction details add time.
Where carpentry estimates go wrong
Carpentry is easy to underprice because it is made of hundreds of small tasks. A builder might allow a lump sum for fit-off and discover that the house has forty doors, two hundred metres of skirting and a set of stairs.
Decks are another common miss. The decking area is counted, but the piles, bearers, joists, fixings, steps and balustrade are not, and these can cost more than the decking boards themselves.
Hardware fitting is also often left out of carpentry labour. Handles, locks, stops, hooks and latches are counted per door, and each one takes time to fit and adjust properly.
FAQ
Carpentry Estimating questions
Is carpentry different from framing?
We use framing for the structural frame and carpentry for the work that follows, including trim, doors, decks, cladding installation and fit-off. You can order both together.
Can you separate labour and materials?
Yes. Supply and install are measured separately so labour-only pricing is straightforward.
Do you count door hardware?
Yes. Hardware sets are counted by room and door type.
Do you estimate decks?
Yes, including piles, bearers, joists, decking, steps and balustrades.
Can you estimate stairs?
Yes. We count risers and measure stringers, treads, handrails and balustrades for timber stairs.
Related services
- Framing Estimating
Stud-by-stud framing quantities for walls, floors and roofs, with lintels, bracing elements and fixings taken from your NZS 3604 or engineered drawings.
- Doors and Windows Estimating
A full joinery schedule: every window and door by size, type, glazing and hardware, plus the flashings and trims to install them.
- Finishes Estimating
The fit-out that clients notice: tiling, splashbacks, cabinetry, fixtures, accessories and fit-off, measured from the finishes schedule.
- Residential Estimating
Estimates for new homes, townhouses, alterations and additions, measured from your consent drawings and laid out the way builders price.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a carpentry estimate
Upload your drawings and we will reply with a fixed fee and turnaround before any work starts. No obligation.
- — PDF, DWG and ZIP accepted
- — Fees in NZD, excluding GST
- — Prefer email? Use the link in the footer