Houston, TX
NEW ADDITIONS ESTIMATING.

## Houston Addition Contractors Need More Than a Template Houston is one of the busiest residential construction markets in the country. The metro added over 47,000 single-family permits in 2023 alone. That volume means homeowners are constantly pushing for room additions, garage conversions, and second-story builds — and they want a number fast. If you're quoting those jobs off a spreadsheet or gut feel, you're leaving money on the table or losing bids to contractors who can respond faster. Estimate.Pro gets you from site walkthrough to a sendable bid in 8 minutes. ## What Makes Addition Work Different in Houston Houston has no traditional zoning code — but that does not mean no rules. The City of Houston enforces Chapter 42 of the city code, which governs lot coverage, setbacks, and density. A room addition that works in Dallas may not clear Chapter 42 review in Houston. You need to account for setback requirements (typically 5 feet side yard, 20 feet rear in most residential plats) before you ever put a number on paper. Beyond Chapter 42, the City of Houston Building Code is based on the 2021 International Building Code with local amendments. Additions require a building permit through Houston Permitting Center (HPC), and projects over 3,000 sq ft trigger additional plan review fees. Foundation design is especially critical here — Houston's expansive clay soils demand engineered pier-and-beam or reinforced slab specs on most additions. That's a cost line that surprises contractors who don't build it into their scopes. Harris County flood zone requirements add another layer. If the existing structure or the addition footprint sits in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, finished floor elevation must meet or exceed the Base Flood Elevation plus freeboard. That can push foundation costs significantly higher and affect your framing scope. ## Build the Scope, Then Price It Estimate.Pro walks you through the addition scope room by room. The AR measurement tool — ONNX-assisted on supported devices — captures wall lengths, ceiling heights, and opening dimensions during the walkthrough. Camera and photo measurements are flagged as estimates, so nothing ambiguous slips into your bid unmarked. From the walkthrough, the app generates an AI scope-of-work covering: - Foundation type and linear footage - Framing (wall, floor, roof) - Exterior cladding and roofing tie-in - Window and door rough openings - Insulation to 2021 IECC standards - MEP rough-in allowances - Drywall, paint, and trim - Permit fee line items You edit the scope before pricing. Nothing is locked. If the homeowner wants a covered patio tacked on or the engineer specifies deeper piers, you adjust the line and the number updates instantly. ## Houston Labor Rates Built Into Your Workspace Material and labor costs in Houston move with the market. Estimate.Pro gives you a saved material cost workspace — your own pricing data, updated when you update it. You set the rates. The app applies them consistently across every bid. For addition work in Houston, typical line items to anchor your workspace include framing labor, concrete and foundation work, and roofing tie-in. Houston's construction labor market is competitive, with a large residential workforce but tight availability for experienced framing crews during peak spring and fall seasons. ## Permits, Fees, and What to Expect Houston Permitting Center charges plan review fees based on project valuation. A 500 sq ft addition valued at $120,000 typically runs $800–$1,200 in permit fees, not counting MEP sub-permits. Structural permits for engineered foundations add to that total. Building those fees into your estimate up front — not as a post-bid surprise — keeps your margin intact and your client relationship clean. ## No Platform Fee on Pro+ When you send the estimate and the client wants to pay the deposit through the app, Stripe Connect handles the transaction. On the Free tier, the platform fee is 3%. On Pro ($39/seat/month) and Elite ($79/seat/month), the platform fee drops to 0%. The Crew plan at $399/month flat covers your whole team. Start on the Free tier — no credit card required. Build your first Houston addition estimate and see the output before you commit to anything. ## Built for the Way Addition Contractors Actually Work You're doing a walkthrough, talking to the homeowner, measuring a cramped utility room, and mentally calculating whether the existing roof pitch can accept a shed dormer. You don't have time to get back to the office and rebuild a quote from scratch. Estimate.Pro runs on your phone at the site. The scope drafts while you're still in the driveway. You send the bid before you hit the freeway.