Material prices shift weekly, subcontractor availability changes daily, and clients expect fixed numbers yesterday. In this climate, estimating construction costs for a new-build or renovation can feel like aiming at a moving target. Inaccurate estimates erode margins, strain client relationships, and delay schedules. CountBricks was built to solve that problem for residential builders, remodelers, and specialty trades.
CountBricks brings AI, voice recognition, and a live materials database together in one platform so you can generate job-ready figures while you walk the site.
• Speak naturally into your phone; our AI converts the conversation into structured line items
• Real-time links to regional suppliers keep unit prices current to the hour
• Automated blueprint takeoffs slash hours of manual counting
• One click exports the numbers into branded quotes, invoices, and scheduling tools
Learn more at CountBricks.com/services.
Before diving into software, you still need a solid grasp of the inputs that move an estimate up or down. CountBricks structures every project around these pillars:
• Scope of work: square footage, number of levels, architectural complexity
• Material selection: commodity lumber versus engineered timber, entry-level fixtures versus designer ranges
• Labor market: trade rates in your postcode, weekend or night premiums, union considerations
• Site conditions: access, topography, existing utilities, local ordinances
Our AI prompts you for each factor while you talk, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
1. Open the mobile app and create a new project profile
2. Walk the site or review plans while describing tasks aloud—“Frame 220 m² of external wall with 140 mm studs.”
3. The AI assigns CSI codes, quantities, and default crew hours in real time
4. Pull live material and labor rates from your linked suppliers or CountBricks’ regional tables
5. Adjust mark-ups, contingencies, and overhead percentages on the fly
6. Auto-generate a client-ready PDF, detailed BOQ, and a Gantt schedule
7. Sync the approved budget to your field teams for seamless production tracking
• Keep supplier APIs connected so lumber and concrete spikes are reflected instantly
• Record voice notes in the same order you build—foundation to finish—for logical grouping
• Add photographs in-app; CountBricks’ vision module can detect quantities from images
• Build template libraries for repeatable house types to cut admin by 60%
• Revisit allowances every two weeks; CountBricks flags items exceeding tolerance thresholds
Overlooked minor materials—nails, adhesive, flashing—are auto-suggested based on assembly rules.
Labor creep is caught early through productivity benchmarks embedded in our database.
Duplicated scope is flagged when the AI detects similar voice entries or overlapping plan regions.
Once the client signs, the original estimate becomes the backbone of procurement and billing. Because CountBricks stores every task with a unique ID, purchase orders and progress invoices populate automatically. No double typing, no spreadsheet errors—just one source of truth from handshake to handover.
Independent builders tell us they recover the platform fee within the first two projects thanks to:
• 75% faster takeoffs
• 2–4% improvement in gross margin through reduced allowance overruns
• 30% higher bid-to-win ratio due to professional, same-day proposals
Visit CountBricks.com/portfolio to see recent residential success stories.
If you’re tired of juggling notebooks, spreadsheets, and last-minute supplier calls, it’s time to centralise your process. Sign up for a free demo at CountBricks.com/consultation and discover how estimating construction costs can become the most predictable part of your build.
A family in Surrey wanted a two-storey rear extension and loft conversion—classic residential scope with plenty of unknowns. Here’s how CountBricks kept the numbers tight.
• 68 m² ground-floor extension and 45 m² loft dormer
• Mixed steel and timber structure to accommodate wide bi-fold openings
• Seven-month programme, £325K contract value
1. On-site voice session captured 112 tasks in 38 minutes, including structural steel, plumbing reroutes, and bespoke joinery.
2. Live material feed revealed a 6% rise in C24 timber; we substituted engineered joists after consulting the engineer, trimming £2,100.
3. Automated plan takeoff measured roof areas and tile counts, freeing the estimator from half a day of manual tracing.
4. The client received a branded proposal the same afternoon, beating two competitors who quoted a week later.
• Project awarded within 48 hours; speed signalled professionalism and built trust
• Final cost variance at completion: +0.8%, well inside the 3% contingency
• Builder reported an additional £9,400 in retained margin compared with prior, spreadsheet-based jobs
• Early detection of price shifts lets you offer value-engineered alternatives, providing savings the client notices.
• Single-source data eliminates scope gaps that often surface after contracts are signed.
• Fast, detailed proposals can be the decisive factor in a crowded residential market.
Ready to replicate these results? Schedule a walkthrough demo at CountBricks.com/consultation and see how effortless estimating construction costs can be.
