THE ESTIMATING ANSWER
For one small dwelling ventilation unit, start with a defined scope and measurement basis. Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs. Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning. Price the listed tasks separately and state the condition that would require a revision: Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour.
This guide follows one small dwelling ventilation unit in Launceston, Tasmania. The matching itemised estimate and PDF show how the job brief becomes measured quantities and separate AUD amounts. The responsible role in this scenario is mechanical contractor. Check the actual site, selected products, supplier figures and labour plan before issuing a client quote.
HRV and ERV installation quotes: compare the full ventilation scope
An HRV or ERV quote should identify the proposed ventilation equipment, served spaces and the specialist's system design. These descriptions should not be reduced to the equipment name alone. Record whether the project replaces an existing unit or adds a new supply-and-extract arrangement. Existing routes may be reusable, require alteration or be unsuitable; each outcome produces a different installation scope and should be explained.
Separate the unit allowance, duct routes, supply and extract points, external terminals, controls, access and commissioning. Count the points and measure the proposed routes without treating those quantities as an airflow design. Ask who is responsible for selecting the system and for documenting the performance check. Ceiling repairs and decoration should be named when work will disturb finished rooms.
When comparing heat or energy recovery ventilation quotes, request the same design brief and clearly specified equipment from each supplier. Keep HRV and ERV alternatives separately identified rather than silently swapping products in one allowance. Product details, controls and installation constraints belong alongside the price. A specialist review should resolve the proposed arrangement before the measured takeoff becomes an installation commitment.
A separate worked planning example
Illustrative estimating schedule: one selected unit, six specified room points and 24 m of proposed duct route. Price fittings, terminals and commissioning separately. The quantities are hypothetical and do not set a ventilation rate or decide between HRV and ERV equipment.
Cost and scope questions
Is a ventilation unit price the installed cost?
No. Installation can also include ducts, room points, external terminals, controls, electrical work, access, commissioning and finish repairs. Compare those named inclusions.
Can an ERV and an HRV share the same estimate line?
Keep the selected equipment and design basis explicit. Ask the specialist to describe each alternative, any changed installation scope and the reason it is proposed.
1. Define the measured job
Install a selected heat-recovery ventilation unit with defined supply and extract points in an accessible area, subject to system design. Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs. Record the measurements and existing condition in the estimate before turning quantities into line items. The scope should make clear why this is a separate project from a broader renovation or maintenance quote.
Measure for this job: Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs. Put that measured basis beside the relevant PDF lines so area, fitted length and product purchase quantities stay distinct.
2. Build a product and labour schedule
Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning. This example has 7 distinct lines, including ventilation design allowance, hrv unit allowance, duct and insulation allowance. Use actual supplier prices and labour inputs for a customer job; the displayed amounts are fictional document inputs.
Choose before pricing: Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning. The fixture separates ventilation design allowance, hrv unit allowance and duct and insulation allowance rather than hiding all work in one figure.
3. Sequence the work and handoffs
Confirm airflow design and duct routes before cutting openings. Show which task depends on access, a selected product or another trade. If that dependency is still open, label the price preliminary and identify the information needed before a firm quote.
Plan the handoffs: Confirm airflow design and duct routes before cutting openings. Note which stage needs access, a selected product or another trade before the next stage can be priced confidently.
4. Set a change boundary
Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour. The example excludes whole-house retrofit, structural openings or unreviewed regulatory certification. Record the discovery, agree the revised work and update the estimate before adding it to the job.
Change trigger: Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour. Record the revised task and quantity before it changes the amount your client sees.
Review the Australian job
Inspect the existing surface, access, product schedule and handoff conditions. Resolve unknown work and confirm any specialist requirements before giving a client a final quote.
The duct and insulation allowance line uses 54.86 m. Keep the site measurement and supplier's selling unit together; a material purchase allowance can differ from installed coverage. The amounts are fictional AUD inputs, not current prices for Launceston, Tasmania or another location.
Worked project calculation
The paired PDF has 7 cost lines. For example, HRV unit allowance is 1 each × A$3,484.00 = A$3,484.00; Duct and insulation allowance is 54.86 m × A$79.00 = A$4,333.94. Each amount comes from the stated quantity and unit rate, so you can trace the arithmetic back to the job scope.
| Work item | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventilation design allowance | 1 job | A$871.00 | A$871.00 |
| HRV unit allowance | 1 each | A$3,484.00 | A$3,484.00 |
| Duct and insulation allowance | 54.86 m | A$79.00 | A$4,333.94 |
| Supply and extract terminals | 6 each | A$180.90 | A$1,085.40 |
| Duct installation labour | 30 hours | A$127.30 | A$3,819.00 |
| Power and control allowance | 1 job | A$964.80 | A$964.80 |
| Airflow balance and handoff | 1 job | A$750.40 | A$750.40 |
| Illustrative total | A$15,308.54 | ||
Adding every exact-cent line gives A$15,308.54. The PDF uses a 0% tax input only to make its fictional arithmetic visible. Confirm the GST treatment that applies to the actual job and set your own markup before sharing a client quote. A fictional rate is a document input, not a market quote or a recommended selling price.
Scope and pricing boundaries
Install a selected heat-recovery ventilation unit with defined supply and extract points in an accessible area, subject to system design.
Outside this example: No whole-house retrofit, structural openings or unreviewed regulatory certification.
Separate product allowances, supply, installation, disposal and any specialist work where the actual project needs them. If access or a hidden condition changes, document the affected scope and agree a revised price instead of silently extending the base amount.
Before you send the estimate
- Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs.
- Separate unit, duct, terminals and controls from commissioning.
- Confirm airflow design and duct routes before cutting openings.
- Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour.
Check business and client details, address, dates, scope, units, line amounts and PDF notes. The heat recovery ventilation installation PDF example shows how this fictional project is presented. Its short PDF note is not a substitute for the detailed exclusions above.
Questions about this estimate
Which quantity controls this heat recovery ventilation installation estimate?
Count terminals, measure duct routes and available plant space, and record condensate and power needs.
When should this heat recovery ventilation installation quote be revised?
Concealed route conflicts or inadequate plant space change layout and labour. No whole-house retrofit, structural openings or unreviewed regulatory certification.
TURN THE SCOPE INTO AN ITEMISED PDF
Make your own heat recovery ventilation installation estimate.
Describe the actual job in Estimates on iPhone or Android or use AI assistance to start a draft. Check every measurement, quantity, rate, allowance, client detail and note before exporting your PDF. Some app features may require an in-app purchase.
