Best Insulation Estimating Software Of 2024

By Riya Jamble, Technical Content Writer at SelectHub

Manually creating estimates is tedious and error-prone. Insulation estimating solutions help you generate realistic quotes, simplify workflows and maximize profits. They provide secure cloud storage, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining physical files.

Insulation estimating software is your best bet if you’re looking to replace your current systems or are on a quest to achieve estimating accuracy. We’ve designed this buyer’s guide to help you in your software selection journey.

Executive Summary

• Insulation estimating systems help HVAC contractors produce precise quotes and streamline workflows.
• Some key features you should consider while evaluating insulation estimating software are built-in calculators, labor and material cost databases, takeoff modules, and integrative capabilities.
• You should ask vendors questions about the software before making a purchasing decision.

• What Is Insulation Estimating Software?
• Primary Benefits
• Key Features & Functionality
• Software Comparison Strategy
• Cost & Pricing Considerations
• The Most Popular Insulation Estimating Software
• Questions To Ask
• Next Steps
• Product Comparisons

We’ve outlined the process for estimating insulation requirements below.

Learn About Your Zone

The U.S. Department of Energy established seven climate zones based on R-values (the measure of insulation’s capability to restrict heat flow) to help contractors install the proper insulation. Higher value means better insulation.

Determine Insulation Type

Once you identify your project’s zone, you can determine your insulation materials. You should create a list of required materials depending on the type of insulation you wish to install. You can use more than one material to increase thermal performance.

Some commonly used insulation types include:

• Batts and rolls
• Foam board
• Reflective system
• Cellulose

Take Measurements

Now it’s time to calculate the amount of insulation needed to complete the project. You can start by measuring the wall’s length and height. Don’t forget to note down the spacing between studs to determine your required insulation size.

For instance, for 16” on-center studs, you’ll require an insulation that’s 15” wide.

Remember to measure windows and door openings to compensate for non-standard framing distances and odd cavities.

Calculate Roll Requirements

It’s time to figure out roll requirements. You can calculate it by dividing the measurements by the square footage supplied per package. Remember, every manufacturer has different insulation package sizes. So, always check with them before calculating the number of rolls needed.

You should follow the above steps to estimate insulation needs accurately.

To make the process easier, you can leverage insulation estimating systems. They come with built-in calculators to help you avoid mathematical errors.

Did You Know? The average cost for installing insulation ranges between $3,000 to $10,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home or $1.50 to $5 per square foot.

Primary Benefits

Submitting inaccurate estimates to clients is not an option. They might not consider you for future jobs. Digital applications help you automate estimating tasks and streamline business processes.

We’ve listed a few benefits of implementing insulation estimating solutions below.

Reduce Estimating Errors

There’s no room for errors in estimating. Though clients understand an estimate is just a ballpark figure, they might reject your bid proposal if you present an unrealistic quote. It can also tarnish your reputation in the marketplace.

Insulation estimating applications provide labor and material cost databases to assist you in generating accurate and detailed estimates.

No matter the insulation type you wish to install (fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool or foam), these solutions provide drag-and-drop functionality to help you speed up estimating processes. You can also automate repetitive tasks to reduce administrative burdens.

Some vendors offer smart labor technology to help determine workforce requirements, allowing you to estimate precise labor costs.

Perform Precise Takeoffs

Estimating systems integrate with third-party takeoff solutions to help you capture precise measurements. Some provide an auto-count tool to calculate the materials required to complete a specific job.

These apps enable you to upload 2D plans and detect identical insulation symbols using symbol detection functionality to save time spent on performing repetitive takeoffs.

Win Profitable Jobs

With estimating applications, you can digitize project files and blueprints and store them securely. You can analyze historical data to identify and resolve estimating issues. You can also duplicate and modify past quotes to save time.

Boost Collaboration

Digital tools enable multiple estimators to work on the same quote in real time. You can update job statuses on the dashboard to keep everyone on the same page. You can notify workers about project changes through Android or iOS mobile devices.

Grant role-based access permissions to protect confidential information from cyberattackers.

Key Features & Functionality

Software Comparison Strategy

With hundreds of insulation estimating software on the market, the task of evaluating them becomes challenging. Below, we’ve provided a list of criteria for evaluating applications.

• Company Size: Most vendors categorize their systems according to company sizes because small companies won’t need the advanced features required by large-sized organizations. For instance, Corecon serves small and medium-sized companies while Sage Estimating caters to all organizations.
• Accuracy: One arithmetic mistake and you might have to wave goodbye to the job. You should always consider an application that helps you generate accurate estimates.
• Specialty Type: Not every construction quoting product will suffice estimating needs of HVAC contractors. You should ask vendors whether or not their systems provide functionalities to support your company’s workflows.
• Core Functionalities: Some major features to look for in estimating systems are cost databases, built-in calculators, takeoff modules and integrative capabilities.
• OS Compatibility: If the software isn’t meant for your organization's operating system, you’ll end up eating the cost of the software or having to switch operating systems and potentially hardware. You should select an app compatible with your OS.
• Data Encryption: Sometimes, you might undertake confidential projects. And to protect sensitive data, you need an application that offers data encryption capabilities and a secure cloud environment.
• Deployment: Cloud-based solutions enable you to access data from remote locations. They also provide unlimited storage space to help you save project documents. On the other hand, you install on-premise solutions on your company servers. No one can access the software outside of your organization.
• Learning Curve: Investing in a system that’s difficult to navigate can disrupt your workflows. You should ask vendors whether they provide trials to test the user-friendliness of their applications.
• Peer Reviews: You can contact professionals currently using the application to gather honest feedback. You can also read online reviews and industry guides before making a buying decision.

Still wondering where to begin? You can refer to our Lean Selection Process to select a system that best suits your company’s needs.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Investing in an estimating solution shouldn’t overthrow your budget. Below are some pricing factors you should consider while evaluating systems.

• Pricing Options: Most providers offer two pricing plans — subscription and perpetual license. You have to pay on a monthly basis if you select a subscription-based option. On the contrary, the perpetual license plan requires you to pay upfront, providing lifetime software access.
• Trials: Some vendors enable you to access trial versions of their systems. You should always ask providers if they charge extra for such trials.
• Deployment Type: What deployment method do you prefer? Generally, cloud-based products cost less compared to on-premise solutions upfront. You should decide on the best deployment type for your company beforehand to avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Company Size: Most vendors employ price discrimination strategies to charge different costs for different company sizes. You should determine your organization's size to avoid overspending.
• Additional Feature Requests: Sometimes, you might have to request extra functionalities. But make sure to ask vendors about the costs of requesting additional modules.
• Training Costs: Most vendors offer on-site, online and hybrid training options. They also provide training resources to help you implement their system best. But they might charge you extra to access such training materials.
• Support Charges: Most providers offer phone, email and live chat support. Some allow you to submit tickets via the support portal. Some vendors might also assign a dedicated account manager to handle your queries. But be careful, as such services might come at an additional fee.

The Most Popular Insulation Estimating Software

Should I pick a solution with many features? Or should I select an app providing mobile access? Better, I’ll just invest in a system that my colleagues recommend. All these questions might flood your mind while searching for an estimating system. And we don’t want you to drown in this flood of confusion.

Below, we’ve provided a list of the best estimating applications to help you jumpstart your software search.

Note: The systems listed below may or may not serve HVAC estimating needs. However, they offer basic estimating functionalities to help you create winning bid proposals.

HeavyBid

Developed by HCSS, HeavyBid provides takeoff, estimating and project management modules to help managers, contractors and estimators streamline bidding processes. It assists you in analyzing supplier quotes and building meaningful relationships with clients. It enables multiple estimators to work on the same estimate.

Duplicate and modify past estimates within seconds using HeavyBid. Source

You can create professional proposals in minutes. Furthermore, you can access the activity dashboard to know whether or not clients viewed or downloaded your proposals.

The vendor provides three pricing options — basic ($185 per month), advanced ($275 per month) and comprehensive ($325 per month). You can contact the provider via phone or email to uncover annual billing charges.

B2W Software

B2W Software is an estimating solution designed for heavy civil industries. It provides bid managing, resource scheduling, dispatching and reporting modules to help managers, contractors and subs speed up estimating processes.

Export estimates with just a few clicks using B2W Software. Source

It integrates with DOT bidding systems, enabling you to export DOT items within minutes. You can also integrate with third-party construction accounting tools like QuickBooks, Vista by Viewpoint and Foundation.

It provides material, labor and equipment cost databases to help you create accurate estimates. You can grant role-based access to authorized individuals to protect confidential files.

The Estimating Edge

The Estimating Edge offers takeoff, estimating and project management functionalities to help estimators and contractors simplify business processes and avoid arithmetic mistakes. It assists roofers in creating insulation estimates for single-ply and built-up roofing.

Perform takeoffs using The Estimating Edge. Source

The tapered insulation functionality enables you to extract in-depth tapered details such as the number of individual fillers and cricket boards, adhesive requirements and fastener lengths.

Questions to Ask

You should determine your company needs to identify areas of improvement. You can conduct surveys or discussion sessions to uncover your employees' concerns. Use these guiding questions to initiate conversations with your teams.

• What estimating issues do we need to address?
• What technical resources do we require to implement a new system?
• Do we need a scalable solution?
• Do we require multiple user licenses?

Let’s be real. Vendors want to sell their products. So, they’ll showcase them in the best light possible. You need to prepare a list of questions to ask providers beforehand so you don’t fall into their traps. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question. Use these questions as a starting point to initiate conversations with vendors.

• Does the software serve insulation estimating needs?
• Is the platform user-friendly?
• Does the vendor offer data migration assistance?
• Does the vendor’s customer base consist of HVAC contractors?

Next Steps

Insulation estimating software helps you streamline estimating and bidding processes. They enable you to gain valuable insight into your company’s operational and financial performance.

Are you ready to drive your business towards success with estimating systems? If yes, you should check out our construction estimating comparison report to narrow your options.

You can also leverage our Decision Platform to validate and compare vendor responses and make budget-friendly decisions.

We hope this buyer’s guide helps you choose a solution that best suits your needs. For further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email mentioned on our website. Good luck!

Product Comparisons

• HeavyBid vs. The Estimating Edge
• B2W Software vs. HeavyBid
• B2W Software vs. The Estimating Edge