Raleigh, NC
WINDOWS ESTIMATING.

## Window Estimating in Raleigh Moves Fast — Your Bids Should Too Raleigh's residential market has been one of the fastest-growing in the Southeast for years. New construction in Wake County, infill projects in North Hills, and full replacement jobs across established neighborhoods in Cary and Apex keep window contractors busy. That volume is an opportunity, but only if you can turn quotes around before the next contractor does. Estimate.Pro takes you from job walkthrough to a sendable bid in 8 minutes. Not a ballpark figure. A priced, itemized estimate you can put in front of a homeowner the same day. --- ## What Makes Window Estimating Different in Raleigh **Energy code compliance is not optional.** North Carolina enforces the 2021 NC Energy Conservation Code, which aligns with ASHRAE 90.1 baselines. Window contractors here need to spec U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) values that meet or beat the code minimums for Climate Zone 4, which covers most of the Triangle. Getting that wrong means a failed inspection and a return trip. Estimate.Pro lets you attach spec notes and code references directly to line items so your bids document compliance from the start. **Labor rates in the Triangle run higher than the NC average.** The Raleigh-Durham metro commands a premium for skilled glazing and fenestration work. A competitive window installer in Wake County is billing $55–$75 per hour for labor in 2024, versus a statewide average closer to $45–$50. Build those numbers into your saved material cost workspace once and they populate every future estimate automatically. **Permit fees add up on larger replacement projects.** Wake County and the City of Raleigh require building permits for structural window replacements and most egress window modifications. Factoring permit costs into your estimate upfront — rather than absorbing them later — protects your margin. --- ## How Estimate.Pro Works for Window Contractors **Walk the job, measure in the app.** On supported devices, ONNX-assisted live AR measurement lets you capture rough opening dimensions on-site. On any device, photo measurements give you estimates flagged clearly as estimates so you know what to verify. No separate laser measure app, no transferring numbers between tools. **Scope of work written for you.** After the walkthrough, the AI generates a draft scope: window type, quantity, size, frame material, glazing spec, installation method, trim work, and disposal. You review and edit. You are not starting from a blank page. **Priced in minutes.** Your saved material cost workspace holds your supplier pricing for vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and wood units — whatever you stock or source locally. Labor rates, permit allowances, and your margin targets are already in the system. The estimate builds itself. **Send it before you leave the driveway.** PDF or digital link, client-ready formatting, your logo. No going back to the office to type it up. --- ## Raleigh-Specific Costs to Know Before You Bid Raleigh sits in IECC Climate Zone 4A (mixed-humid). The 2021 NC Energy Conservation Code sets a maximum U-factor of 0.30 and maximum SHGC of 0.25 for fenestration in residential new construction. Replacement projects follow similar baselines under the existing-building provisions. Spec ENERGY STAR Most Efficient certified windows and you cover those thresholds with room to spare — and you give homeowners a selling point. Material costs in the Triangle reflect both demand and supply chain distance from major distribution hubs. Budget vinyl double-hung units run $180–$320 per window at contractor pricing. Fiberglass and wood units push $400–$900 or more depending on size and manufacturer. Get those numbers into your workspace so your estimates reflect your actual cost of goods, not national averages from a spreadsheet someone built in 2019. --- ## Pricing That Works for Independent Contractors and Crews Estimate.Pro has a free tier with no credit card required. If you are running a solo operation or small crew and want to see whether the 8-minute estimate workflow holds up on your actual jobs, start there. Pro is $39 per seat per month. Elite is $79 per seat per month and adds Stripe Connect invoicing with 0% platform fee, plus invoice exports. Crew is $399 per month flat for unlimited seats — built for established window companies adding estimators or running multiple crews across Wake, Durham, and Johnston counties. No percentage taken from your revenue on Pro and above. No lock-in. --- ## Built for 25 Trades, Including Yours Estimate.Pro supports 25 trades. Window contractors get a workflow purpose-built for fenestration work: rough opening dimensions, unit count, glazing specs, labor by unit type, trim and casing, haul-away. Not a generic construction template you adapt by hand. If you also run siding, doors, or insulation work alongside your window business, those trades are in the same account. One walkthrough, one estimate, one send. --- Raleigh's growth is not slowing down. The contractors who win the next job are the ones who send a professional bid while the competitor is still driving home to open a spreadsheet.