Trade-unit check
The result must use the unit normally discussed for that project instead of applying one house-wide square-foot rate to every trade.
Home › Methodology
Four steps from a house input to a planning range
Step 01Measure the job
Use the trade unit: roof square, system ton, window opening, linear foot, wall area, floor area or installed watt.
Step 02Build the scope
Separate equipment or material, labor, removal, disposal, permit and related repair allowances.
Step 03Apply project factors
Adjust for material, access, stories, pitch, system size, installation method, region and selected complexity.
Step 04Show uncertainty
Return lean, planning-center and complex-scope values, plus the assumptions and line items that move the result.
What the low, midpoint and high numbers mean
The low end represents a straightforward job with ordinary access and limited related repair. The midpoint is the center of the modeled range and is useful for comparing written bids. The high end allows for premium selections, difficult access, removal, code work or related repairs selected in the form. None of the three is a contractor quote, appraisal or promised insurance settlement.
Ranges are intentionally wider when the scope is difficult to know before inspection. A hidden roof deck, corroded plumbing connection, damaged window opening or wet subfloor cannot be priced reliably from an online form.
Scope check
Material and installation are separated from removal, permits and possible repair so visitors can compare like for like.
Range check
Modeled outputs are compared with current public or published reference ranges, while differences in scope are called out.
Nine tools, nine appropriate measurement systems
| Calculator | Base measurement | Major modeled drivers | Primary evidence families |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof | Roof squares | Footprint, pitch, waste, material, layers, access | BLS labor/PPI, NAIC insurance definitions |
| Solar | Installed watts | Utility use, rate, sun hours, system size, roof age | NREL, EIA, IRS |
| HVAC | Equipment and tonnage | System type, size, efficiency, ductwork, region | DOE, ENERGY STAR, BLS |
| Windows | Per opening | Count, style, frame, glazing, install method, stories | DOE, NFRC, BLS PPI |
| Water heater | Unit and connections | Tank/tankless, capacity, fuel, venting, access | DOE, ENERGY STAR, BLS |
| Siding | Exterior wall area | Material, stories, tear-off, trim, sheathing repair | BLS PPI, Census housing, NAIC |
| Gutters | Linear feet | Material, seamless work, downspouts, guards, access | BLS construction/PPI, NAIC |
| Flooring | Floor area | Material, removal, leveling, subfloor, transitions | BLS labor/PPI, NAIC |
| Claim gap | Replacement cost and age | Expected life, depreciation, deductible, ACV/RCV path | NAIC and state insurance regulators |
Regional and complexity adjustments
Regional choices apply a broad labor-and-market adjustment to labor-bearing lines; they do not claim ZIP-code precision. Material lines are adjusted only when the model has a reason to do so. Complexity factors are attached to the work they affect—for example, stories affect access-heavy installation, while glazing affects the window unit itself.
A user should still obtain at least three written local quotes. Comparing scope is more useful than comparing only the final total: product model, removal, permit, disposal, flashing, trim, deck or subfloor repair, warranties and exclusions should all be written down.
How the insurance estimate works
The insurance layer is an educational comparison. It separates replacement cost value (RCV), actual cash value (ACV), estimated depreciation, the deductible and—where the policy permits it—potentially recoverable depreciation. The calculator uses the age and expected service life supplied or selected by the visitor.
Your policy controls.
Carrier schedules, endorsements, exclusions, special roof settlements, percentage wind/hail deductibles, matching law and claim facts vary. Only the written policy and the insurer’s claim decision determine payment. A state insurance department or licensed professional can address a specific dispute.
What counts as evidence
- Primary public sources first: federal agencies, national laboratories, state regulators and standards organizations for definitions, technical factors, tax rules and national context.
- Published market references second: contractor marketplaces and cost publishers are used to compare broad ranges, with scope differences called out.
- User-reported or individual quotes as feedback: useful for finding a model weakness, but not treated as a national rate by themselves.
Construction labor and inflation
National labor context and price movement; not a local retail quote.
BLS construction occupationsBLS Producer Price IndexEnergy systems
Equipment characteristics, energy use, system benchmarks and electricity prices.
U.S. Department of EnergyEIA electricity dataNREL solar analysisWindows and performance labels
Frame, glazing and certified energy-performance terminology.
DOE window technologyNFRC ratingsInsurance terminology
Consumer definitions and the path to the appropriate state regulator.
NAIC ACV vs RCVState insurance departmentsReview cycle, corrections and versioning
High-impact legal, tax and incentive statements are checked when the governing source changes. Calculator rates and comparison ranges are reviewed on a scheduled basis and when credible feedback shows a material mismatch. Each calculator displays its review month; this methodology page carries a version and exact review date.
Material corrections should update the affected page, its visible explanation and its structured data together. If you have a current written quote or find a source that conflicts with a statement, send it through the corrections channel. Personal information can be removed before sending.
Limits in one sentence. ReplaceCost is a private planning tool, not a contractor, insurer, adjuster, appraiser, tax adviser or government service. Read the editorial policy for authorship, advertising and AI-assistance standards.