Costimated was founded on a simple principle: homeowners deserve transparent, uninflated cost estimates calculated from open mathematical formulas rather than mysterious black-box algorithms. Every figure in our system traces to verifiable public datasets and national retail shelf benchmarks.
Every pricing figure in our calculators is derived from independent, verifiable public and commercial datasets (56 verified source citations across our active calculator registries). We never accept contractor payments to skew estimates higher or lower.
Sourced directly from nationwide home improvement retailers (Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards) and major building material manufacturers (Trex, Owens Corning, Sakrete). Prices reflect retail shelf rates with standard contractor bulk purchase assumptions and 5%–10% typical waste factors.
Contractor labor rates are anchored to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for carpenters, cement masons, roofers, painters, and general construction laborers. We apply standard licensed contractor billing multipliers (wages + payroll tax + overhead + profit margin).
Building materials (dimensional lumber, asphalt shingles, rebar, bagged concrete) exhibit minimal price divergence across state lines. In contrast, trade labor wages and municipal permitting fees vary drastically by metropolitan location.
Regional multipliers (0.85× to 1.40×) are applied strictly to professional labor, municipal permits, and disposal fees. Material costs remain tied to national baseline retail prices.
| Regional Tier | Multiplier | Typical Geographic Context |
|---|---|---|
| Low-Cost / Rural | 0.85× | Rural Midwest, Southeast non-metro counties |
| US National Average | 1.00× | Mid-sized metropolitan areas, national median baseline |
| High-Cost Metro | 1.20× | Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Washington D.C. |
| Premium Metro | 1.40× | San Francisco Bay Area, New York City Metro, Boston Metro |
The following 10 project categories are actively maintained in our structured data repository:
| Project Registry | Pricing Unit | Verified Sources | National Installed Range | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Slab | sqft | 5 citations | $6.00 – $ 12.00 /sqft | Calibrated |
| Concrete Driveway | sqft | 5 citations | $6.50 – $ 18.00 /sqft | Calibrated |
| Deck Installation | sqft | 7 citations | $25.00 – $ 65.00 /sqft | Calibrated |
| Fence Installation | linear_ft | 7 citations | $15.00 – $ 50.00 /linear_ft | Calibrated |
| Roof Replacement | square | 7 citations | $420.00 – $ 1100.00 /square | Calibrated |
| Gravel & Crushed Stone | cu_yd | 5 citations | $48.00 – $ 115.00 /cu_yd | Calibrated |
| Mulch Delivery & Spreading | cu_yd | 5 citations | $35.00 – $ 95.00 /cu_yd | Calibrated |
| Interior Painting | sqft | 5 citations | $1.50 – $ 3.50 /sqft | Calibrated |
| Tile Flooring & Backsplash | sqft | 5 citations | $8.00 – $ 22.00 /sqft | Calibrated |
| Sod Grass Installation | sqft | 5 citations | $0.90 – $ 2.20 /sqft | Calibrated |
Price data integrity is maintained through a systematic two-tier verification schedule:
If you spot a material price discrepancy, an outdated formula, or an unrealistic labor multiplier in your region, we encourage you to contact our editorial team. We review contractor receipts, supply store invoices, and municipal fee schedules to adjust our models promptly.
Report data corrections to: [email protected]