Division 07: Thermal protection and fireproofing
Insulation estimating services and fireproofing takeoffs
Bidmere’s insulation estimating services measure every assembly by type, R-value and thickness, and take off fireproofing by member and rating. Quantities are priced at the rates you approve.
Fixed price in 2 business hours. Pay only after you accept.
- Fixed price and delivery date before any work starts
- Plan review is free, and no files are needed to get a quote
- You pay only after you accept the fixed price
- Single-trade estimates in 48 hours from complete documents
- Priced at your rates; your team sets the final number
Quick answer
Insulation estimating services from Bidmere give insulation, fireproofing and envelope contractors measured takeoffs and priced estimates from plans, sections and specifications. We measure batt, board, spray foam and blown insulation by assembly and R-value, plus air barriers and fireproofing by member. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and ready in 48 hours.
What do insulation estimating services cover?
An insulation estimate covers thermal insulation, air barriers and, when in your scope, applied fireproofing and firestopping. Bidmere organizes it by CSI section and assembly.
- 07 21 13 Board Insulation: polyiso, XPS and mineral wool board
- 07 21 16 Blanket Insulation: batts and blankets in walls, ceilings and floors
- 07 21 19 Foamed-in-Place Insulation: open-cell and closed-cell spray foam
- 07 21 26 Blown Insulation: loose-fill in attics and cavities
- 07 27 00 Air Barriers: fluid-applied and sheet systems
- 07 81 00 Applied Fireproofing: cementitious (07 81 16) and intumescent (07 81 23)
- 07 84 00 Firestopping: penetrations and joints, when assigned to you
Roof insulation in 07 22 00 usually belongs to the roofer, and pipe and duct insulation sits in Divisions 22 and 23.
What does an insulation takeoff measure, and in which units?
| Scope | Unit |
|---|---|
| Batt and blanket, by R-value and framing depth | SF |
| Rigid board, by type and thickness | SF |
| Spray foam, by cell type and thickness | SF and board feet |
| Blown insulation, by R-value or depth | SF, converted to bags |
| Sound attenuation batts in partitions | SF |
| Air and vapor barriers | SF |
| Sprayed fire-resistive material, by member and rating | LF, SF or EA |
| Intumescent coating | SF by dry film thickness |
| Firestopping | EA by penetration type, LF for joints |
One board foot of spray foam is one square foot at one inch thick. Fireproofing thickness comes from the listed fire-resistance design for each member and rating.
How do you estimate an insulation job from the plans?
Start from the assemblies, not the floor area.
- Read every wall, roof and floor section and list each assembly with its insulation type and R-value or thickness.
- Measure each assembly’s area from plans and elevations.
- Deduct openings by the rule you choose.
- Separate continuous insulation from cavity insulation, since they price differently.
- For fireproofing, list members by size and required rating, then the thickness from the design.
- Convert areas to bags, bundles, boards or sets, and price labor at your production rates.
Your team reviews the numbers, sets markup and submits the bid.
Which plan and spec conflicts change an insulation estimate?
Insulation values are scattered across sections, schedules, the specification and the energy compliance notes. Common conflicts include:
- An assembly on the plans has no R-value or thickness in the sections or specification.
- The wall type legend and the energy compliance notes show different R-values.
- Continuous insulation thickness differs between wall sections and details.
- Spray foam is drawn at rim joists but not specified.
- Sound batts are called for in some partition types but not the legend.
- Fireproofing ratings on the life safety plan do not match the structural notes.
Each conflict is logged with the sheet and the area it affects. We do not decide energy code compliance; we flag the conflict for your team and the design team.
Which insulation scope gaps lose bids?
Insulation sits between framing, roofing, cladding and MEP. These splits cause most disputes:
- Roof insulation: roofing contractor or insulation contractor.
- Sound batts: drywall contractor or insulation contractor.
- Air barrier: a separate envelope sub, the cladding installer or you.
- Firestopping: each trade for its own penetrations, or one firestopping contractor.
- Pipe and duct insulation: mechanical scope in Divisions 22 and 23, not building insulation.
- Under-slab and foundation insulation: concrete contractor or insulation contractor.
- Fireproofing patching: after other trades damage SFRM, who repairs it.
For partition scope, see drywall and framing estimating. For roof assemblies, see roofing estimating.
What drives insulation cost per square foot?
On a commercial job, these drivers move the number more than the material price alone:
- Assembly type: continuous insulation with fasteners costs more to install than cavity batts.
- Spray foam thickness and cell type: closed-cell at higher thickness uses far more material.
- Access and height: lifts, scaffolding and work above ceilings slow production.
- Fireproofing ratings: higher ratings need thicker SFRM or more coats of intumescent.
- Protection and cleanup: masking for spray work in finished areas.
- Inspection hold points: waiting on inspections between layers.
These drivers are written into the assumptions so you can see what the price depends on.
Have plans for this scope? Send them over. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteIs an online insulation estimator enough for a bid?
An online insulation calculator gives a quick number from an area and a material. It is useful for a single attic or a rough budget. Try the free insulation calculator for that.
A commercial bid needs a number from the actual job: the assemblies on the plans, the R-values in the specification and your own crews and suppliers. That is what an insulation takeoff from the plans gives you.
What should you send for an insulation estimate?
- Floor plans, elevations, wall sections and roof or attic sections
- Wall, ceiling and roof assembly types with R-values or thicknesses
- Insulation, air barrier, fireproofing and firestopping specification sections
- Structural framing plans and the life safety plan, if fireproofing is in your scope
- Addenda, your bid form and your labor, material and markup rates
Start with a short description on the quote form. We arrange document sharing after confirming the work.
You receive an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions: area by assembly, type and R-value, fireproofing by member, a cost summary at your rates, and the open questions behind the number.
Insulation takeoff software and when a service fits better
Insulation takeoff software measures wall and roof areas faster, but it does not read the wall sections for you. General takeoff tools such as PlanSwift list insulation among their trades. Mechanical insulation on pipe and duct is a different scope. FastEST offers FastWRAP for mechanical insulation contractors. Neither vendor listed prices on the pages we checked in November 2026.
What software does not do:
- Match each assembly on the sections to its R-value or thickness in the spec.
- Separate continuous insulation from cavity insulation.
- Find fire-rated assemblies, firestopping and fireproofing that belong to other trades.
- Write the question log, assumptions and exclusions.
Templates and calculators. For a quick quantity on one area, use the free insulation calculator. For a full bid in a spreadsheet, the free construction estimate template works for insulation. Use one line per assembly, SF for batts and boards, board feet for spray foam, and LF for sealant and fire safing.
When a service fits better. Insulation takeoff software pays off when an estimator on your team runs it every week. When bids stack up or your estimator is in the field, Bidmere measures each assembly from your plans and prices it at your rates, from $195. See estimating software vs service.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-19 batt, 6 in. steel stud exterior walls | 14,200 | SF | Net of openings over 20 SF |
| Sound attenuation batt, 3.5 in. | 22,600 | SF | Partition types B and D |
| Polyiso continuous insulation, 2 in. | 12,800 | SF | Behind metal panel and brick |
| Closed-cell spray foam, 2 in. | 2,400 | BF | 1,200 SF at slab edges |
| XPS under-slab perimeter, 2 in. x 4 ft | 1,680 | SF | 420 LF of perimeter |
| Fluid-applied air barrier | 13,400 | SF | Open question: by others? |
| SFRM at floor beams, 2-hour | 1,940 | LF | Thickness per listed design |
| Intumescent at exposed lobby columns | 18 | EA | Rating per life safety plan |
| Firestopping, MEP penetrations | TBD | EA | Open question: not assigned |
Fictional example: insulation and fireproofing takeoff for a three-story steel-frame office. Not a customer project or pricing recommendation.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Do you check energy code compliance?
No. We measure what the documents specify and flag missing or conflicting values.
Will you price spray foam the way my supplier does?
Yes. We convert to board feet, sets or your unit and state the conversion.
Will I lose control of my number?
No. You approve the rates, set markup and decide the final bid.
Who submits the bid?
Your company. Your team reviews, signs and submits. Bidmere never signs or submits.
Insulation takeoff and estimate pricing
Insulation takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade insulation estimates at $195. The fixed quote for your job usually lands in these ranges:
| Job size | Takeoff only (quantities) | Single-trade estimate (quantities and pricing) |
|---|---|---|
| Small job: up to 10,000 SF | $149 to $295 | $195 to $395 |
| Mid-size job: 10,000 to 50,000 SF | $295 to $695 | $395 to $895 |
| Large job: over 50,000 SF, or several buildings | From $695 | From $895 |
Single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours. Rush (24 hours) adds 30%. 25% off your first estimate. Every job gets a fixed quote within 2 business hours, and you pay only after you accept. Every estimate is delivered as an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions. See pricing for the full price list and scope conditions.
Monthly estimating plans
Bid insulation every week? Put estimating on a monthly plan
A monthly plan suits contractors who price insulation work every week. It gives you a steady estimating desk without a new hire. Starter is $1,395 per month for up to 6 bids. Pro is $2,595 per month for up to 12 bids. Scale is $4,795 per month for up to 25 bids. Each bid follows the same process as a single order: your documents, your rates, your review and your final number. Ask about monthly estimating plans to compare the tiers.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much do insulation estimating services cost?
Single-trade insulation estimates are from $195, with 25% off your first estimate. Large buildings or combined insulation, air barrier and fireproofing packages are quoted to scope. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours, plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept. See pricing.
Can I get an insulation takeoff without pricing?
Yes. A takeoff-only order gives you areas by assembly, insulation type, R-value and thickness, by sheet. Your team applies its own prices. Missing R-values and scope splits are still listed as open questions. See quantity takeoff services for how takeoff-only orders work.
Do you estimate spray-applied fireproofing?
Yes, when the documents include it in your scope. We list steel members by size and required rating, then carry the thickness from the listed fire-resistance design the documents reference. Where the rating or design is missing, the member goes on the open questions list rather than being guessed.
How do you measure spray foam?
As area by specified thickness and cell type for each assembly, then converted to board feet. If your supplier or crew prices in sets or another unit, we convert the quantities to match and state the conversion. Overspray and waste stay as a separate line you set.
Do you check whether the insulation meets the energy code?
No. We measure and price the assemblies and R-values the documents specify. Missing or conflicting values are listed as open questions for your team and the design team. Energy code compliance and R-value design stay with the architect and engineer of record.
Is insulation estimating software better than a service?
Software helps if an estimator on your team runs takeoffs every week. It still needs someone to read every section and match R-values to assemblies. A service fits when bid volume swings or your estimator is in the field. Many contractors use both.
How fast can I get an insulation estimate?
Qualifying single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Larger projects get a delivery date in the fixed quote. Tell us your bid date in the request, and rush work is quoted when capacity allows.
What insulation takeoff software do contractors use?
Many use general takeoff tools such as PlanSwift, which lists insulation among its trades. Mechanical insulation contractors may use trade tools such as FastEST’s FastWRAP. Any of them still needs someone to match each assembly to the spec’s R-values and separate continuous from cavity insulation. If your team is short on hours, Bidmere does that work and prices it at your rates.
Get a fixed quote
Share the project basics. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.