What to send your exterior subcontractor for an accurate bid

The fastest way to get a bid you can compare — and trust — is to send the full picture up front. Here is what an exterior subcontractor needs to price EIFS, fiber cement, stone and stucco accurately.

1. The drawings

• All elevations, with the cladding materials called out.
• Wall sections, so we can see the full assembly from sheathing to finish.
• Details at windows, doors, parapets, transitions between materials and the base of the wall.
• Floor plans and building sections, to confirm heights, returns and areas that elevations don't show.

2. The specifications

Send the specification sections for every system on the wall — EIFS, stucco, siding, panels, stone, and the air and water barrier and sealants if they touch our scope. The specified manufacturer, finish, texture and color all change the price.

3. Addenda

Every addendum issued so far. A bid built on old drawings is one of the most common reasons two proposals don't match.

4. The scope boundaries

Most surprises live between trades. Tell us who is responsible for:

• The air and water barrier and the sheathing joints.
• Flashings at windows, doors and roof edges.
• Sealant at windows and between materials.
• Scaffold or lifts, and access around the building.

5. Schedule and site

• The bid due date and the expected start.
• Phasing, if the building will be enclosed in stages.
• Site conditions that affect access, staging or working hours.

6. Mockups and alternates

If the specs require a mockup, sample panels or alternates, include those so they are priced as separate lines instead of being missed.