Washington, DC
WINDOWS ESTIMATING.

## Window Estimating in Washington, DC Takes More Than a Tape Measure DC window work is not like suburban replacement jobs. You are dealing with historic rowhouses in Capitol Hill and Georgetown, mid-century apartment blocks in Columbia Heights, and Class A commercial builds near the Navy Yard. Every project layer adds scope: historic preservation review, DCRA permitting, energy code compliance under DC's stretch energy code, and lead paint disclosure requirements on pre-1978 structures. If your bid process still relies on spreadsheets and gut math, you are leaving money on the table — or winning jobs you shouldn't have taken. ## What Makes DC Window Bids Harder **Historic district constraints.** A significant share of DC's housing stock falls under Historic Preservation Review Board jurisdiction. That means window replacements in Capitol Hill Historic District, Georgetown Historic District, and Old Anacostia must match original profiles, muntin patterns, and glazing character. Your scope of work needs to capture these spec requirements explicitly or you will eat the cost of non-compliant materials. **DC's stretch energy code.** The District adopted its own building energy performance standards that go beyond ASHRAE 90.1 minimums. For replacement windows on commercial projects over 25,000 sq ft, you may need to document U-factor and SHGC compliance for the whole assembly. Your estimate needs line items that reflect compliant product selection, not just the cheapest IGU available. **Lead paint work practices.** DC enforces EPA RRP rules strictly, and DCRA can inspect. Any window replacement on pre-1978 housing requires certified renovators, containment, and disposal documentation. That labor overhead belongs in your bid. **Parking and access costs.** DC's parking enforcement is aggressive. Crew time lost to parking logistics, zone permits, and truck placement on narrow Capitol Hill blocks is a real job cost. Most estimating tools ignore it. Yours shouldn't. ## How Estimate.Pro Handles DC Window Jobs Estimate.Pro supports 25 trades including window contracting. The workflow is built around a jobsite walkthrough — you walk the opening, capture measurements, and the AI drafts a scope of work with line items already populated. **AR measurement on supported devices.** On phones that support it, the app uses ONNX-assisted live AR measurement to size rough openings, track quantities, and flag non-standard dimensions. On other devices, camera and photo measurements are clearly marked as estimates so nothing slips past QC. **Material cost workspace.** You maintain your own saved material cost data — your supplier pricing, not generic national averages that don't reflect DC-area distributor markups. Window units, IGU upgrades, historic-profile wood or aluminum-clad options, sill pans, flashing, and hardware all carry your actual numbers. **Scope-of-work AI.** After the walkthrough, the AI generates a draft scope covering demolition of existing units, lead containment line items if flagged, installation, flashing, interior trim, and caulking. You review and edit. Median time from walkthrough start to a sendable bid is 8 minutes. **Stripe Connect invoicing.** On Pro+ plans, the platform fee on payments drops to 0%. On the Free tier it is 3%. Elite tier users get full invoice export options for their accounting workflow. ## Pricing That Fits a Single-Crew Shop or a Multi-Truck Operation - **Free:** Core estimating, no credit card required, 3% Stripe Connect fee - **Pro — $39/seat/month:** Full AI scope generation, AR measurement, saved cost workspace - **Elite — $79/seat/month:** Stripe Connect at 0% platform fee, invoice exports - **Crew — $399/month flat:** Unlimited seats, suited for multi-crew window operations running multiple DC jobs simultaneously ## Built for the DC Market, Not the National Average Window contractors working the District face a specific set of constraints that a generic estimating spreadsheet will not capture. Historic district compliance, RRP labor overhead, DC energy code documentation, and the logistical cost of working a dense urban environment all affect your margin. Estimate.Pro gives you a field operating system that captures those costs at the walkthrough, not after the fact when the job is already underbid. Start free. No credit card. Build your first DC window bid in under 10 minutes.