Envelope & Interiors
Doors and Windows Estimating Services in New Zealand
A full joinery schedule: every window and door by size, type, glazing and hardware, plus the flashings and trims to install them.
Joinery is one of the largest single costs in a New Zealand home, and one of the longest lead times. Getting the joinery schedule right early helps with both: it gives you accurate supplier quotes and lets you place an order as soon as the job is confirmed.
We prepare joinery schedules from the plans and elevations, checking each window and door against both. Each unit is listed with its size, type (awning, casement, sliding, fixed, bifold, hinged), frame material, glazing specification and hardware. Glazing areas are calculated for thermal and cost purposes.
Installation items are measured too: head, sill and jamb flashings, sill trays, reveals and air seals, so the installer's scope is clear.
Scope
What we measure in a doors and windows takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | no. / m² | By size, type and frame material. |
| Exterior doors | no. | Hinged, sliding, stacker and bifold. |
| Glazing | m² | By IGU type: double, low-E, laminated, toughened. |
| Hardware | sets | Handles, locks and stays by unit. |
| Interior doors | no. | By type and size, with frames. |
| Flashings and sill trays | lm / no. | Head, sill and jamb flashings for each opening. |
| Reveals and trims | lm | Internal reveals and architraves. |
| Garage doors | no. | Sectional or tilt doors with motors. |
Deliverables
What you receive
The joinery schedule is formatted so it can be sent to joinery manufacturers for pricing, with a reference code for each unit matched to the elevations.
| 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
- Send a complete joinery schedule to two manufacturers and compare like-for-like.
- Subcontractors
- Joinery manufacturers can quote faster from a checked schedule.
- Developers
- Lock in joinery pricing early on a multi-unit project.
- Architects
- Check glazing areas and the cost effect of thermally broken frames.
Process
How a doors and windows estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload floor plans, elevations and any joinery schedule already drawn.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm frame systems, glazing specifications and hardware levels.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Units are scheduled and checked between plan and elevation, with any discrepancies listed.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the joinery schedule, glazing summary, PDF and marked-up elevations.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Windows and doors in New Zealand are commonly specified to NZS 4211, which sets performance requirements for wind, air and water. Glazing must meet NZS 4223 for human impact safety in specific locations, such as near doors and low windows, which affects whether toughened or laminated glass is required.
Since the H1 energy efficiency changes, higher-performing glazing is required for new homes in most climate zones. Specifications often call for low-E double glazing or thermally broken frames, which we measure as specified.
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 doors and windows work
01
Frame system
Thermally broken aluminium, uPVC and timber frames cost more than standard aluminium but perform better. Frame choice is a major cost decision.
02
Glass specification
Low-E coatings, argon fill, laminated and toughened glass all add cost. Safety glazing requirements can apply to many units.
03
Unit size
Large sliders and stackers need heavier frames and glass, and may need lifting equipment to install.
04
Hardware level
Hardware ranges vary widely in cost. Matching hardware across the home simplifies ordering and installation.
Where doors and windows estimates go wrong
Joinery estimates go wrong when the plans and elevations disagree, which is more common than it should be. A window shown on one drawing but not the other, or shown at different sizes, leads to wrong quotes and wrong orders.
Safety glazing is another common gap. Units near doors, low sills and wet areas often need toughened or laminated glass, which adds cost. We check locations and flag units that are likely to need it.
Installation details are also missed, especially flashings, sill trays and air seals, which are needed for every unit. Each opening needs head, sill and jamb flashings, a sill support where specified, and an air seal around the frame. On a home with thirty openings these components are a real cost, and leaving them out of the joinery or carpentry package means nobody prices them.
FAQ
Doors and Windows Estimating questions
Do you check windows between plans and elevations?
Yes. Each unit is checked on both, and any differences are listed for you to confirm with the designer.
Can you calculate glazing areas?
Yes. Glazing areas are calculated per unit and in total.
Do you include interior doors?
Yes. Interior doors can be included in the joinery schedule or under carpentry.
Do you measure flashings?
Yes. Head, sill and jamb flashings are measured for every opening.
Can manufacturers quote from your schedule?
Yes. It is formatted for joinery manufacturers, with sizes, types and references.
Related services
- Insulation Estimating
Insulation areas by element and R-value, converted into packs and products, measured to the H1 specification on your drawings.
- Carpentry Estimating
Measured carpentry scope beyond the frame: decks, cladding installation, interior trim, stairs, doors, hardware and fit-off.
- Architectural Estimating
Design-stage cost estimates that help architects keep a client's brief and budget in step, before the drawings go to tender.
- 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 doors and windows 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