Columbus, OH
OTHER (DECKS, FLATWORK) ESTIMATING.

## Estimating decks and flatwork in Columbus is not the same as anywhere else Columbus sits on expansive clay-heavy soils — the kind that heave footings and buckle flatwork when drainage is ignored. Every deck estimate you send needs to account for proper footing depth (IRC minimum 36" below grade for central Ohio frost line), concrete volume for oversized tube forms, and the labor markup that comes with auger rentals when you hit that compacted glacial till under half the lots in Westerville and Dublin. Flatwork is its own beast here. Freeze-thaw cycles average 50+ annually in the Columbus metro, which means control joint spacing and concrete mix spec (typically 4,000 PSI air-entrained) are non-negotiable line items — not afterthoughts. If your estimate doesn't call them out, you're handing the homeowner a reason to negotiate after the pour. Estimate.Pro is built for exactly this kind of detail. ## From walkthrough to bid in 8 minutes You open the app on the job site. You walk the deck or slab area. The AR measurement tool — powered by ONNX-assisted live AR on supported devices — captures linear footage, square footage, and elevation changes as you move. Camera and photo measurements are flagged as estimates so your client understands what's measured vs. calculated. The app then pulls your saved material cost workspace: your lumber supplier's current pricing, your concrete rate per yard, your post hardware SKUs. You set those once. The scope-of-work draft writes itself from the measurements and your trade defaults. You review, adjust the margin, and send. Median time from walkthrough to a sendable bid: 8 minutes. ## What the Columbus deck and flatwork market looks like Columbus is growing fast — consistently ranking among the top Midwest metros for residential permits. New subdivisions are being built across Powell, Hilliard, Grove City, and New Albany every quarter. That volume means opportunity, but it also means competitors who undercut on paper and overrun on change orders. A sharp estimate wins two ways. It closes the job because the homeowner can read it. And it protects your margin because the scope is specific: deck framing species, fastener type, ledger attachment method per IRC Section R507, concrete mix design, reinforcement schedule, and control joint locations. Estimate.Pro's scope builder handles all of it. You're not writing paragraphs from scratch. You're confirming line items the AI already drafted from your walkthrough data. ## Pricing that fits a Columbus contractor's volume If you're running solo or want to try the tool before committing, the Free tier costs nothing — no credit card, no trial clock. It gives you real estimates on real jobs. When you're ready to scale: - **Pro** — $39/seat/month. Covers the estimating workflow start to finish. - **Elite** — $79/seat/month. Adds Stripe Connect invoicing (0% platform fee on Elite vs. 3% on Free), invoice exports, and advanced workflows. - **Crew** — $399/month flat. One price for your whole crew, no per-seat math. No platform fee on Pro+ plans means the money your clients pay goes to you, not to middleware. ## The calculators Columbus deck contractors actually use **Deck framing calculator** — enter square footage, joist spacing, and species. Get board count, rim board length, and hardware quantity. Adjusts for cantilever limits per IRC R507. **Concrete flatwork calculator** — slab dimensions, thickness, and PSI spec. Outputs cubic yards with a standard 10% waste factor. Add rebar or fiber reinforcement as a toggle. **Footing calculator** — tube diameter, depth, and count. Outputs concrete volume and flags frost depth compliance for Franklin County (36" minimum). **Material cost workspace** — pull your saved pricing from local suppliers. Costs stay current because you control them. No subscription to a national database that doesn't know what Midwest lumber is trading at this week. ## Columbus-specific compliance items to include in every bid Columbus Building Division requires a permit for decks attached to the house and for detached decks over 200 square feet. Flatwork over 200 square feet may also require a zoning review depending on impervious surface limits in the specific subdivision or municipality (Powell, Dublin, Westerville, and Gahanna each have their own thresholds). IRC Section R507 governs deck construction standards adopted in Ohio. Ledger attachment, beam sizing, and guard height (42" for decks over 30" above grade) should appear as line items in your scope — not footnotes. When a city inspector opens your permit package and sees those references called out, the review goes faster. Estimate.Pro's scope templates include these code references by default. You don't have to remember to add them. ## Start on the next job Create your free account. No credit card. Run one estimate. See what 8 minutes actually looks like compared to your current process.