Every opening in a construction project is a three-part assembly, including the door leaf or window unit, frame, and complete hardware set. Estimating any one component without the others creates scope gaps that will generate change orders and delay procurement. Our openings estimating services provide contractors complete, assembly-accurate CSI Division 08 cost data before bidding begins.
Counting door leaves and frames without pricing the complete hardware set is one of the most common and costly errors in Division 08 estimating. Hinges, closers, locksets, panic hardware, door stops, silencers, kick plates, and electrified access control hardware together frequently cost more than the door and frame combined on commercial and institutional projects. We estimate every hardware item from your hardware schedule by opening location.
A 20-minute-rated hollow metal door assembly, a 45-minute-rated wood door assembly, and a 90-minute-rated fire door assembly all look similar on a door schedule but carry completely different material specifications, frame gauge requirements, and hardware restrictions. Estimating fire-rated assemblies without reading the fire rating column in your door schedule produces a number that is non-compliant before the first door is ordered and delivered.
Hollow metal doors and frames carry lead times of six to twelve weeks from order placement. Specialty wood doors, custom storefront systems, and curtain wall assemblies carry even longer lead times. Accurate opening estimates that are procured late disrupt framing sequences, delay MEP rough-in, and push interior finish schedules back, compounding across every trade following the openings' installation on your project.
Our openings estimating services support every contractor and owner who needs assembly-complete Division 08 cost data before bidding begins.
Learn MoreWe give door and frame contractors assembly-complete estimates built from door schedules and hardware sets so every bid covers the full opening scope without gaps.
We give GCs complete Division 08 cost packages covering doors, frames, hardware, windows, and specialty openings so subcontractor buyout starts with quantities that hold through procurement and installation.
We estimate storefront systems, curtain wall assemblies, and window units with component-level detail, giving glazing contractors complete, fabrication-ready scope documents for competitive bidding and accurate material procurement.
We produce hardware schedules counted set by set from your architectural hardware schedule, giving suppliers complete, opening-by-opening hardware lists ready for direct quotation without additional counting required.
We give commercial and residential developers accurate opening cost data covering doors, windows, hardware, and glazing systems to anchor development budgets before finish specifications are locked in.
A four-step process delivering assembly-complete opening estimates on your bid and procurement schedule.
Upload your drawings and project documents.
We analyze every detail of your project scope using industry-standard tools, ensuring nothing is missed
We build a precise, itemized estimate covering all materials, labor, and trade-specific costs.
Your completed estimate lands in your inbox.
With nearly a decade of hands-on experience in construction cost estimating, David has helped hundreds of contractors, subcontractors, and developers across the USA and Canada bid smarter, win more, and build profitably. Working with industry-standard tools including Bluebeam, PlanSwift, and RSMeans, David brings the same level of precision and speed to every estimate, whether it's a single-trade subcontractor bid or a full commercial project breakdown.
We hired Federal Estimating for openings estimating on a university construction project, and the quality of the estimate was exceptional. The report included detailed counts and specifications for doors, frames, hardware, and glazing systems. Their thorough approach allowed us to prepare an accurate bid and avoid costly omissions. The deliverables were clear, organized, and submitted ahead of schedule.
Federal Estimating assisted us with openings estimating for a multi-story residential development, and their expertise was evident from the beginning. The estimate accurately captured all interior and exterior openings, including specialty doors and hardware sets. Their detailed breakdown streamlined our procurement process and improved overall project planning. We were highly satisfied with both the quality and turnaround time.
Our subcontracting firm needed a dependable estimate for doors, frames, and hardware on a hospital expansion project. Federal Estimating delivered a comprehensive and well-structured report that aligned perfectly with the project specifications. Their attention to detail reduced our estimating workload significantly and gave us confidence in our final pricing. We look forward to partnering with them again on future projects.
Openings estimating fees are based on door and window count, hardware schedule complexity, and required turnaround. Residential openings estimates for single-family homes typically start at $150 to $300. Commercial Division 08 packages covering hollow metal doors, hardware schedules, windows, and storefront systems on mid-sized projects range from $400 to $1,200. Curtain wall, specialty door, and large institutional openings packages are quoted individually after reviewing your door and hardware schedules. We provide a fixed price before any work begins.
A complete openings estimate covers every component of every opening assembly from door schedule to hardware group. Door leaves are counted by type, size, material, and fire rating. Frames are counted by profile, gauge, welded or knockdown configuration, and anchoring condition. Hardware is counted item by item from your hardware schedule by opening location, including hinges, closers, locksets, panic hardware, door stops, kick plates, and electrified hardware. Windows are counted by type and size with glazing specification confirmed. Storefront and curtain wall systems are measured in linear footage and glazing area by component type.
A welded hollow metal frame is fabricated as a complete unit in the shop with all corners welded and ground smooth before delivery. It carries higher shop fabrication cost but requires minimal field labor at installation; the frame arrives ready to set in the rough opening. A knockdown frame ships in three separate pieces and is assembled on-site at the rough opening, carrying lower fabrication cost but requiring higher field labor for assembly, shimming, and adjustment. The door schedule and specification determine which type is required at each opening, and we price each type using the appropriate fabrication and installation cost methodology.
Commercial hardware estimating requires working through the hardware schedule systematically; each hardware group or set number is listed with every hardware item required for that group, and the schedule assigns each group number to specific door locations on the floor plan. We count every item in every hardware group, confirm which groups are assigned to fire-rated assemblies requiring NFPA 80-compliant hardware, identify openings with electrified hardware requiring coordination with the electrical scope, and compile a complete hardware list organized by group number and door location that your hardware supplier can use for direct quotation without additional counting work.
Fire-rated openings are governed by NFPA 80 and IBC Section 716. The required fire-resistance rating, 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes, determines the door core construction, frame gauge, glazing restrictions, and hardware requirements for each opening. A 90-minute fire-rated assembly requires a solid mineral core door, heavier gauge frame, labeled fire-rated hardware, and automatic closing hardware that a standard opening does not require. Estimating fire-rated assemblies without reading the fire rating column in your door schedule produces costs that are non-compliant and will require remediation before the project passes fire inspection.
