Division 06 · Rough Carpentry
Framing estimates built wall by wall, floor by floor and truss by truss
A framing bid goes wrong when the crew reaches the second floor and discovers shear walls with hold-downs, three-ply headers and fire blocking nobody priced. Our framing estimators measure every wall by length and height, floor and roof systems by square foot, then add the connectors, nails, blocking and hours that the structural sheets demand, so your number reflects the building on the drawings.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
framing labor hours per SF used as a starting production rate for wood-frame walls
Scope of takeoff
Framing quantities we measure
Each assembly is tied to a wall type, floor plan or roof plan reference so your foreman can verify what was counted.
- 01
Exterior wall framingLF
2x4 and 2x6 studs at 16 or 24 inches on center, double top plates, bottom plates and corner assemblies
Wall length by height from floor plans and elevations
- 02
Interior partitions and bearing wallsLF
Non-bearing and bearing partitions, backing for cabinets, rails and grab bars
Partition types from the wall legend
- 03
Headers and beamsEA / LF
Built-up LVL, glulam and dimensional headers with king and jack stud packages
Opening schedule and structural framing plans
- 04
Floor framing and subfloorSF
I-joists, dimensional joists, rim board, blocking and glued-and-screwed sheathing
Floor framing plans and span tables
- 05
Roof framing and trussesSF / EA
Rafters, ridge beams, truss sets, gable ends, outlookers and roof sheathing
Roof plan with pitch factor applied
- 06
Wall and roof sheathingSF
OSB or plywood with shear nailing patterns and edge blocking at braced panels
Wall elevations and shear wall schedule
- 07
Structural connectors and hold-downsEA
Simpson straps, hangers, hurricane ties, post bases and hold-downs by model
Structural notes and connector schedule
- 08
Fire blocking and draftstoppingLF
Blocking at soffits, chases, stair stringers and concealed floor-ceiling spaces
Code review against IRC and IBC sections
- 09
Fasteners and anchor boltsLBS / EA
Framing nails by type, structural screws, sill anchors and epoxy anchors
Nailing schedule and sill plate lengths
- 10
Stair and landing framingEA
Stringers, treads supports, landings and framed guard walls
Stair sections and details
- 11
Temporary bracing and scaffoldingLS
Wall bracing, truss restraint, and fall protection at upper floors
Story count and erection sequence
- 12
Framing labor hoursHRS
Crew hours per wall, floor and roof area adjusted for height and complexity
Production rates applied by assembly
Overview
How a framing estimate is put together
Framing estimating starts with the structural system, not the lumber list. Exterior and interior walls are measured in linear feet by stud size, spacing and height, then converted into plates, studs, headers, king and jack studs, and corner and partition-intersection backing. Floor systems are taken off by joist depth, spacing and span, and roofs by pitch-adjusted area for rafters, trusses or engineered ridge beams.
The second layer is everything the framer touches that is not a stick: shear panel nailing schedules, strap ties, hold-downs, joist hangers, hurricane clips, anchor bolts, and fire blocking at soffits, chases and floor lines. These items are counted from the structural details and general notes because they carry real labor and a large share of fastener cost.
Labor is built in crew hours per square foot of wall, floor and roof area, adjusted for wall height, plan complexity, lift sequencing and whether the lumber is stick-framed on site or panelized in a shop. The result is a framing number your superintendent can schedule against.
Estimate types
What type of framing estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Complete framing package bid
Lumber, sheathing, connectors, fasteners and labor priced as a single framing subcontract, organized by floor level for multi-story wood-frame jobs.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
Labor-only framing estimate
Crew hours and piece-rate pricing per square foot of wall, floor and roof, for framers supplied with lumber by the builder.
- Accuracy
- ±6%
- Turnaround
- 24 hours
Panelized framing budget
Wall panel and floor cassette counts with shop labor, delivery loads and crane time for projects built from prefabricated components.
- Accuracy
- ±8%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
Framing scope check at schematic stage
Assembly-based board-foot-per-square-foot budgets for early pricing, refined as structural engineering is released.
- Accuracy
- ±12%
- Turnaround
- 24 hours
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Step 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Step 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Step 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Step 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Estimators who have run framing crews and
Know what a three-story podium wood frame costs to stand up per floor.
Wall heights, plate counts and stud spacing
Read from wall sections, not assumed from a flat board-foot ratio.
Every Simpson connector
hold-down and strap counted from the structural notes and matched to its model number.
Shear wall nailing schedules priced separately
because 3-inch edge nailing takes longer than field nailing.
Fire blocking and draftstopping captured
From code requirements and the architectural details.
Labor rates split between stick-framed and
Panelized assemblies so you can compare build methods.
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
On site and on the drawings
The work behind every framing estimating
Tap any image to open it full screen.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“Squares, underlayment, flashing lengths, fastener counts, even the ridge vent. The waste factors were right for the roof pitch. Bid-ready out of the box.”
Greg Lindqvist
Estimator, Summit Roofing Co. · Kansas City, MO
“Lumber lists, finish schedules and allowances in a format our clients actually understand. The assumptions log alone has saved us from two scope disputes.”
Luis Herrera
Project Manager, Sierra Ridge Homes · Phoenix, AZ
“We feed every lender package through LEEDS. The documentation standard is high enough that underwriting has never asked for a second opinion.”
Sarah McAllister
Director of Preconstruction, Harborline Developments · Tampa, FL
CSI divisions
CSI MasterFormat divisions we cover
Estimates are organized by division so they drop straight into your cost codes and schedule of values.
Highlighted divisions are the primary scope on this page.
FAQ
Framing Estimating FAQs
Do you price framing labor per square foot or per hour?
Both views appear in the workbook. We build crew hours by assembly, then express them as a cost per square foot of wall, floor and roof so you can sanity-check against your own history. You can swap in your crew's production rates and burden in minutes.
Can you break the framing estimate out by floor level?
Yes. We organize quantities by level, and by building when a project has several, so lumber drops, crane picks and labor draws line up with how the job is sequenced. Podium and stick-built levels are separated when both occur on one project.
How do you handle trusses and engineered lumber?
Truss counts come from the truss layout when the manufacturer supplies it, otherwise from roof plans with spacing and span assumptions flagged. LVL, glulam and I-joist members are listed by size and length so supplier quotes can be attached directly.
Do you include Simpson connectors and hold-downs?
Every connector in the structural notes and details is counted by model number, along with the fasteners the manufacturer specifies for each. Missing connectors are a common source of change orders, so we cross-check them against the shear wall and foundation plans.
What waste factors do you apply to framing lumber?
Wall studs typically carry 5 to 8 percent, floor and roof members 8 to 12 percent depending on complexity, and sheathing 8 to 10 percent. Factors are shown by line so you can reduce them for panelized work or raise them for cut-up roofs.
How fast can you turn around a framing estimate?
Single-family and townhome sets are commonly delivered in 24 hours, and multi-story wood-frame apartment buildings in about 48 hours. Rush service is available when bids are due sooner, and we confirm the delivery date before starting.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Ready for a framing estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.