Accurate planning begins with a clear understanding of all construction estimate tasks involved in a project. Whether you’re managing a small residential renovation or a large-scale commercial build, identifying each task is critical to delivering reliable and professional results.
Breaking down these construction estimate tasks by category helps streamline budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation. It also minimizes the risk of missing key items that could affect your project’s timeline or profitability.
This guide provides a detailed overview of the most essential construction estimate tasks, grouped by project phase — from site preparation and groundwork to internal finishes and external works.
Explore the complete breakdown of tasks below.
Construction Estimate Tasks – Preliminaries & Demolition
The first phase of construction estimate tasks focuses on preparing the site and removing existing structures. These are critical early-stage activities that set the foundation for all future work. Proper planning and cost estimation here prevent unexpected delays and hidden expenses later in the project.
- Site setup – Disconnect and make safe gas, water and electrical services as necessary
- Site security – Install site security and temporary boarding as necessary
- Site protection – Cover up and protect surrounding areas during the period of work as required
- Temporary services – Install electrical and water services as necessary
- Supply and install scaffolding (single storey)
- Supply and install scaffolding (double storey)
- Supply and install temporary roofing
- Supply and install temporary fencing
- Supply portaloo
- Parking cost (allowance)
- Skip licence cost (allowance)
- Small site Health and Safety (allowance)
- Large site Health and Safety (allowance)
- Remove ceilings and clear rubbish away
- Remove flooring and clear rubbish away
- Remove skirting boards, mouldings and clear rubbish away
- Remove doors with frame and clear rubbish away
- Remove window with frame and clear rubbish away
- Remove kitchen units including appliances and clear rubbish away
- Strip down complete bathroom and clear rubbish away
- Strip down complete WC and clear rubbish away
- Remove redundant radiator and clear rubbish away
- Remove redundant boiler and clear rubbish away
- Remove roof structure including covering and clear rubbish away
- Break up and clear away concrete surface
- Demolish internal walls and clear rubbish away
- Demolish external walls and clear rubbish away (single storey)
- Demolish external walls and clear rubbish away (double storey)
- Demolish chimney breast per storey (non-structural)
These construction estimate tasks form the foundation for all subsequent stages. Completing this phase thoroughly helps maintain project momentum and avoids scope creep later on. Make sure all tasks are carefully documented in your estimate for maximum clarity.
Construction Estimate Tasks – Groundwork & Structural Foundation
This phase of construction estimate tasks includes everything below ground level — from drainage and soil excavation to laying structural floors. These tasks ensure your project has a stable, functional base to support all future work.
- Excavate and install 110mm underground drainage pipework as necessary. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and install 450mm UPVC Manhole as necessary. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and install gully as necessary. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and install cellular soakaway as necessary. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and install standard channel drain as necessary. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and cast trench foundations. Remove soil from site (standard foundation 1m x 0.6m).
- Excavate and cast pad foundations. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and cast concrete for underpinning. Remove soil from site.
- Excavate and cast reinforced retaining walls including earth support.
- Allowance for reinforcement.
- Construct footings up to DPC level as necessary.
- Excavate and remove soil from site. Allow for temporary earth support.
- Prepare levels and install structural slab with DPM, 100mm insulation and screed. Remove soil from site.
- Prepare levels and install beam and block floor with DPM, 100mm insulation and screed. Remove soil from site.
- Prepare levels and install timber suspended floor. Allow for ventilation and remove soil from site.
- Reinforce existing loft floor with 18mm tongue and groove chipboard finish.
- Install upper level beam and block floor with DPM, 100mm insulation and screed.
- Install upper level timber suspended floor with 18mm tongue and groove chipboard finish.
Ground-level construction estimate tasks are essential for long-term durability and safety. Getting these right from the beginning ensures stability for the structure and cost efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.
Construction Estimate Tasks – External Shell
This section of construction estimate tasks focuses on building the structural shell of the property — the visible framework and protective exterior that ensures insulation, security, and durability. These tasks are vital for defining the shape, layout, and energy efficiency of your project.
- Install small structural beam up to 3m long. Supply temporary support and complete all necessary prep.
- Install medium structural beam up to 6m long. Supply temporary support and complete all necessary prep.
- Install large structural beam up to 9m long. Supply temporary support and complete all necessary prep.
- Install structural column up to 3m long. Supply temporary support and complete all necessary prep.
- Allow for steelwork connections.
- Install a wall or window opening with lintel and cavity closers as necessary.
- Construct standard brick and block cavity walls (allowance per brick £1).
- Construct standard block and block cavity walls with render on the outside.
- Build a single skin solid block wall with internal insulation and external render as necessary.
- Build a single skin solid brick wall with internal insulation (allowance per brick £1).
- Construct timber walls to create dormer with 100mm Kingspan insulation or similar.
- Install external standard plain roof tiles or dormer cladding (allowance per tile £1).
- Supply and install standard coping stones.
- Supply and install aluminium or zinc coping (allowance per m £60).
- Construct a flat roof structure with 150mm insulation and GRP or EPDM roof covering.
- Construct a pitched roof structure with 150mm insulation and standard plain roof tiles (allowance per tile £1).
- Supply and install standard uPVC fascia and soffit boards.
- Supply and install standard plastic rainwater goods (gutters and downpipes).
- Supply and install standard Velux window (allowance per window and flashings £750).
- Construct internal timber stud walls with 12.5mm plasterboard and wool insulation.
- Supply and install a standard MDF or softwood staircase with balustrade.
- Install standard panel door with frame, architrave, and ironmongery (ironmongery supplied by client).
- Install standard panel sliding door, architrave, and ironmongery (ironmongery supplied by client).
- Install standard MDF primed skirting boards.
- Box in pipes or steelwork as necessary.
Completing these external construction estimate tasks ensures the property is protected from weather, structurally sound, and ready for internal work. They also have a major impact on the building’s curb appeal and resale value.
Construction Estimate Tasks – Internal Systems & Finishes
This stage of the construction estimate tasks covers internal mechanical and electrical systems, plastering, decorating, and surface finishes. These tasks bring comfort, efficiency, and visual polish to the property — forming the final steps before fittings and fixtures are installed.
- Supply and install a new gas boiler with standard flue and thermostat (allowance £1900).
- Supply and install a standard 250L hot water cylinder (allowance £1500).
- Install new radiator with pipework (radiator and valves supplied by client).
- Install one zone underfloor heating with standard thermostat (additional £250).
- Install hot and cold water feed per point as necessary (1st fix only).
- Install waste pipe per point as necessary (1st fix only).
- Install 110mm soil pipe or toilet waste pipe per point as necessary (1st fix only).
- System flush per radiator.
- Supply gas certificate.
- Install electrical points (fittings to be supplied by the client).
- Install alarm points (fittings to be supplied by the client).
- Install appliance points for oven or hob (fittings to be supplied by the client).
- Install small additional fuse board for loft or extension.
- Install large fuse board for the whole house or flat.
- Install standard extractor fan or kitchen ventilation (supplied by client).
- Supply electrical certificate.
- Cover walls with standard 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover walls with fireproof 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover walls with sound block 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover walls with insulated 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover ceilings with standard 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover ceilings with fireproof 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover ceilings with sound block 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Cover ceilings with insulated 12.5mm plasterboard and skim with plaster.
- Skim only walls and ceilings.
- Complete small room decorating in white emulsion and eggshell (up to 6m²).
- Complete medium room decorating in white emulsion and eggshell (up to 10m²).
- Complete large room decorating in white emulsion and eggshell (up to 20m²).
- Complete hallway decoration in white emulsion and eggshell including balustrade.
- Apply wallpaper to walls (wallpaper to be supplied by the client).
- Install standard ceramic or similar floor tiles (tiles, grout, trims supplied by client).
- Install standard ceramic or similar wall tiles (tiles, grout, trims supplied by client).
- Tile medium size kitchen splashback up to 5m² (tiles and grout supplied by client).
- Install prefinished engineered wood flooring or similar (underlay and flooring supplied by client).
These internal construction estimate tasks help transform a project from a shell to a livable, modern space. Good planning in this phase improves both comfort and final visual appeal.
Construction Estimate Tasks – Final Works
The final set of construction estimate tasks involves fitting out the property, completing external works, and accounting for any provisional items. These tasks prepare the project for client handover, focusing on usability, appearance, and finishing touches.
- Install complete toilet (toilet to be supplied by the client).
- Install complete bath with mixer (bath and mixer to be supplied by the client).
- Install complete shower with mixer and shower screen (items supplied by the client).
- Install complete wash basin with tap (supplied by the client).
- Install kitchen sink with tap (supplied by the client).
- Install kitchen appliances, washing machine or dishwasher (supplied by the client).
- Install and connect electrical appliances (supplied by the client).
- Install pre-assembled kitchen units (units and worktops supplied by the customer).
- Install flat-pack kitchen units (units and worktops supplied by the customer).
- Prepare and install patio slabs including subbase (slabs supplied by the client).
- Prepare and install fence panels and posts (supplied by the client).
- Supply and install standard timber gates (gates allowance £120).
- Construct solid brick garden wall up to 1m high (brick allowance £1).
- Construct solid block garden wall up to 1m high with render finish.
- Render external walls with a through-colour render.
- Make good and decorate external walls with white exterior finish.
- Make good and decorate external windows with sills and white finish.
- Make good and decorate external doors with white exterior finish.
- Allowance for uPVC windows including installation.
- Allowance for timber windows including installation.
- Allowance for bi-fold or sliding aluminium door.
- Allowance for supply and install Juliet balcony.
- Allowance for external glazing including installation.
- Allowance for custom joinery (small cupboard, medium, large).
- Allowance to supply kitchen units and worktops.
- Allowance to supply floor and wall tiles.
- Allowance to supply floor finishes.
- Allowance to supply external slabs.
Completing these final construction estimate tasks ensures the property is fully equipped, presentable, and ready for client use. Including provisional sums gives flexibility to account for client preferences and evolving project requirements.
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