Early-stage budgets for concept and preliminary designs, broken down by building element so you can test affordability before the drawings are finished.
At concept or preliminary stage the drawings are not detailed enough to measure every item. An elemental estimate prices the building by major element, such as substructure, frame, envelope, services and fit-out, using rates calibrated to similar work.
This gives you a defensible early budget, and a way to see which design decisions drive cost.
Substructure, superstructure, envelope, internal finishes, services and external works.
Rates calibrated against comparable residential work.
Design and construction contingency suited to the stage.
Compare design alternatives early.
Highlights where savings are realistic and where they are not.
The same structure carries through to a full-rate estimate.
Not sure what you have? Send what is available and we will confirm exactly what is needed.
This guide is general information only and does not replace advice on your specific project. Costs, building rules and lender or insurer requirements change and every project is different, so please speak to us about your own circumstances before acting.
It is an early-stage estimate, so it carries a wider allowance than a measured estimate. It is designed to guide decisions, not to replace a full-rate estimate once the design is complete.
Yes. We can refine the estimate at each design stage and move to a full-rate estimate when drawings are complete.
Yes. It helps you test whether a project is likely to work financially before you commit.
The earlier you test the budget, the cheaper it is to change the design. Here is how elemental estimates work at concept stage.
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