Estimate Exterior Work: Decks, Fences, Hardscaping, and Landscaping

A. Finished-Project Specification

Quantity: one exterior-work cost-code section within the master workbook, containing reconciled deck, fence, hardscape, planting, soil, and mulch zones; equipment and labor entries for every zone; dated pricing for materials, plants, and equipment; a risk register for concealed and seasonal conditions; and a completed independent review.

B. Zone and Component Schedule

Zone	Components	Basis	Purpose
Deck and stairs	Footprint, framing grid, beams, joists, posts, stairs, guards, screens, decking, footings, connectors, fasteners, fascia, rails	Section F, Steps 1–3	Purchase-ready deck material and footing list
Fence and gates	Posts, rails, panels, pickets, caps, concrete, gates, hinges, latches, braces, hardware	Section F, Steps 4–5	Purchase-ready fence material list by type, height, and exposure
Hardscape	Pavers, slabs, stone, excavation, geotextile, base, bedding, joint material, edging, compaction	Section G, Steps 1–4	Reconciled hardscape area and base material list
Planting	Plants by schedule, size, container, species, location, substitution and mortality assumptions	Section H, Steps 1–2	Documented plant count and substitution basis
Soil and mulch	Beds, lawn, seed, sod, mulch, topsoil, compost, amendment, edging	Section H, Steps 3–4	Purchase-ready soil and mulch quantity by supplier unit
Equipment and labor	Augers, compactors, excavators, skid steers, trenchers, saws, mixers, lifts, trucks; labor by task	Section I	Priced equipment and task-based labor for every zone

C. Waste and Conversion Basis

• Deck and fence lumber: convert net lengths to stock lengths and apply waste based on stock length, defects, and framing complexity, consistent with the Chapter 5 framing conventions.
• Hardscape units: apply waste based on pattern, border, curve, and cut complexity; do not apply a single waste rate to both rectangular and curved layouts.
• Aggregate and soil: convert compacted or settled depth into purchase volume using the supplier's stated compaction or settlement factor; never apply a loose-volume factor to a compacted-depth requirement.
• Plants: apply no waste factor to plant counts; instead document a separate mortality-replacement assumption from the nursery's stated terms.
• Mulch: apply waste based on bed shape, edging condition, and supplier bag or bulk unit.

D. Zone-to-Formula Schedule

Zone	Type	Formula Basis
Deck footprint and framing	Formula	Framing grid quantity from plan dimensions, converted to stock lengths per Section C
Fence length and posts	Formula	Measured length divided by approved post spacing, rounded up to whole posts, plus corner and gate posts
Hardscape area	Input	Measured net area by pattern, border, and cut condition
Hardscape base volume	Formula	Area × compacted base depth, converted to supplier unit per Section C
Plant count	Input	Direct count from the planting schedule by tag
Mulch and soil volume	Formula	Bed area × settled depth, converted to supplier unit per Section C

E. Preparation — Documents and Constraints

1. Review site, landscape, grading, drainage, structural, deck, fence, planting, and irrigation documents. Confirm the controlling revision for each before measuring any zone.
2. Confirm property, setback, easement, utility, access, HOA, permit, and environmental constraints. Record each confirmed constraint on the exterior-work scope record.
3. Separate deck, stair, guard, fence, gate, paver, wall, walk, patio, drainage, planting, soil, mulch, irrigation, and restoration into distinct zones. Do not combine zones that will be priced, waste-adjusted, or scheduled differently.

F. Deck and Fence Takeoff

1. Measure deck footprint, framing grid, beams, joists, posts, stairs, guards, screens, and decking. Record the source plan sheet or detail for each measured element.
2. Count footings, bases, connectors, fasteners, fascia, rails, and finishes. Confirm footing size and depth against the structural detail rather than assuming a standard footing.
3. Include treatment compatibility, field treatment, delivery, lifting, and waste. Confirm fastener and connector compatibility with the specified treated-lumber chemical.
4. Measure fence length by type, height, material, grade, and wind exposure. Separate each fence type and height into its own line.
5. Count posts, rails, panels, pickets, caps, concrete, gates, hinges, latches, braces, and hardware. Calculate post count from length divided by approved spacing per Section D, adding corner and gate posts separately.

G. Hardscape Takeoff

1. Measure paver, slab, stone, and hardscape area by pattern, border, curve, cut, and waste. Record the source dimension or verified scale for each area.
2. Calculate excavation, geotextile, base, bedding, pavers, joint material, edging, and compaction. Confirm each layer's specified thickness before calculating volume.
3. Calculate aggregate and soil by compacted depth and approved conversion. Apply the Section C conversion basis and confirm it against the supplier's stated coverage.
4. Identify drainage, slope, step, retaining, utility, root, and accessibility conditions. Flag any condition not clearly assigned in the documents as a clarification.

H. Planting, Soil, and Mulch Takeoff

1. Count plants by schedule, size, container, species, and location. Reconcile the plant count against the planting plan symbol legend.
2. Identify substitution, availability, warranty, establishment, and mortality assumptions. Record the nursery's dated terms for each on the scope record.
3. Measure beds, lawn, seed, sod, mulch, topsoil, compost, amendment, and edging. Record area and the source plan sheet for each.
4. Calculate mulch and soil by area, depth, settlement, and supplier unit. Apply the Section C conversion basis and confirm settled versus as-placed depth.
5. Include tree protection, clearing, demolition, hauling, excavation, backfill, grading, and restoration. Confirm these are assigned to this chapter's scope and not carried in the Chapter 3 sitework takeoff.
6. Include irrigation changes only where assigned. Do not price irrigation scope that has not been explicitly assigned in the documents; flag unassigned irrigation work as a clarification.

I. Equipment, Labor, and Pricing

1. Identify augers, compactors, excavators, skid steers, trenchers, saws, mixers, lifts, and trucks. Match each piece of equipment to the zone and task requiring it.
2. Include equipment mobilization, attachments, fuel, operator, standby, and minimum rental. Record the rental source and date for each rate.
3. Include traffic, pedestrian, neighbor, weather, heat, cold, and site-protection controls. Identify which controls apply to which zone.
4. Estimate labor by layout, excavation, footing, framing, fence, hardscape, planting, irrigation, cleanup, and maintenance. Assign each task to a zone and crew consistent with the Chapter 17 labor conventions.
5. Adjust production for slope, soil, access, roots, weather, occupancy, handling, and layout complexity. Record the adjustment basis for each affected task.
6. Include water, temporary irrigation, establishment, cleanup, and maintenance where required. Confirm the duration and responsibility for any establishment period.
7. Price materials, plants, delivery, and equipment from dated local sources. Record supplier, date, and quotation number for each priced item.
8. Confirm truck access, minimum loads, dumping, pallet deposits, returns, and unloading. Record each supplier's terms on the pricing log.
9. Obtain and level specialty subcontractor proposals where needed. Level each proposal to the same zone scope before comparison.

J. Reconciliation and Closeout

1. Reconcile areas, linear quantities, volumes, plant counts, and loads. Use an independent measurement or count method for at least the two highest-value zones.
2. Prepare the estimate by zone, system, material, labor, equipment, subcontract, and total. Enter each zone's totals into the exterior-work cost-code section of the master workbook.
3. Document seasonal, soil, utility, drainage, boundary, and hidden-condition assumptions. Link each assumption to the affected zone.
4. Create allowances or unit prices for rock, unsuitable soil, roots, contamination, irrigation conflicts, and concealed utilities. State exactly what each allowance or unit price includes and excludes.
5. Complete independent review of foundations, base depths, drainage, conversions, and logistics. Record the reviewer, date, and disposition of any correction.