Framing reference

How to read a framing quote

A framing quote is mostly a scope document with a number at the bottom. Two quotes for the same house can differ by $10,000 and both be honest, because they include different work. Read the inclusion list before you read the price.

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  • Last updated: September 2026

Here is what should be in it and what should worry you.

What a complete framing quote contains

1. The scope, written out.
Floors, walls, roof system, sheathing, openings. Each one named. "Frame house per plans" is not a scope, it is a hope.

2. Labor or labor plus material, stated plainly.
If it does not say, ask. This is the single largest source of quote confusion and it is a one-word fix.

3. A plan reference with a revision.
"Per plans dated 8/14/26, sheets A1 through A6." Plans get revised. A quote that does not name which set is unpriceable six weeks later.

4. Exclusions.
What is not in the number. Permits, foundation, concrete, equipment, trades after framing. A quote with no exclusions list is not simpler, it is less finished.

5. Equipment as its own line.
A telehandler or Skytrak should be a line you can see, not folded into the labor rate. If it is buried, you cannot tell whether removing it saves you anything.

6. Alternates, priced separately.
"Relocate collar ties, add $1,200." Options you can say yes or no to, each with its own number.

7. Schedule availability.
A start window, in writing. A price with no date is half a quote.

8. Payment terms.
When money moves and against what. Deposit, progress, completion.

Red flags

A single number with no scope. Every disagreement later becomes your problem to prove.

No exclusions. It means the exclusions exist but have not been written down yet. They will surface as change orders.

Equipment folded into the rate. You cannot compare it against a quote where the builder provides the lift.

Sheathing or house wrap not mentioned. These are commonly dropped to make a number look better. At Mavericks, house wrap is part of rough framing, never billed twice under siding. Check whether the other quote says the same.

Truss setting left ambiguous. Setting trusses is real labor and needs equipment. If a quote is silent on it, that is a conversation to have now, not on delivery day.

A price given before anyone read the plans. A ballpark from a square foot count is useful for budgeting and should be labeled as a ballpark. A firm number that arrives without a plan review is a number that will change.

No mention of who pulls the permit. See who pulls the permit. This one has legal consequences, not just financial ones.

How to compare two quotes fairly

Do it in this order. Price last.

  1. Line up the scopes. Write both inclusion lists side by side. Differences almost always explain the gap before you get to rates.
  2. Check labor only against labor only. If one includes material, price the material yourself before comparing.
  3. Check the equipment assumption. Is each quote assuming you provide the lift, or they do?
  4. Check the plan revision. Same set?
  5. Check the exclusions. The shorter list is the more expensive quote in disguise.
  6. Then compare the numbers.

A quote that is 15 percent lower with half the inclusions is not lower. It is a deposit on a series of conversations.

What a Mavericks quote looks like

One page. Scope written out by system. Labor only unless you asked otherwise. Plan set and revision named. Exclusions listed. Equipment as a separate line with the rental basis shown, $2,000 a week or $4,000 a month, and a note that most builders provide their own. Alternates priced individually. A start window. Paperwork available same day: certificate of insurance, W-9, SAM.gov registration.

Turnaround is 24 hours from receiving plans. The rest of the process is on the builders page, or send plans from the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What should be included in a framing quote?

A framing quote should include the scope by system (floors, walls, roof, sheathing, openings), whether it is labor only or includes material, the plan set and revision it was priced from, an exclusions list, equipment as a separate line, any alternates priced individually, schedule availability, and payment terms.

Why are two framing quotes so different?

Two framing quotes almost always differ on scope, not labor rate. One includes sheathing and house wrap, the other does not. One assumes the builder provides a telehandler, the other includes rental. Line up the inclusion lists first and the gap usually explains itself.

Should equipment be included in the framing price?

Equipment should be visible in a framing quote either way. At Mavericks, equipment is always a separate line item rather than folded into the labor rate, so you can see the cost and decide whether to supply your own lift.

What is the difference between a ballpark and a quote?

A ballpark is a range from square footage and basic inputs, and it should be labeled preliminary. A quote is a firm number produced after reading the plans. Mavericks gives a ballpark in about 60 seconds and a firm quote within 24 hours of receiving plans.

How long should a framing quote stay valid?

A labor only framing quote normally stays valid for 30 days. Labor plus material is shorter, because lumber pricing moves. Ask for the expiration to be written on the quote.

What is a red flag in a framing quote?

The biggest red flag in a framing quote is a single number with no scope and no exclusions. It is not simpler, it just means the disagreements have not happened yet.