THE ESTIMATING ANSWER
For one wet garden run, start with a defined scope and measurement basis. Record run length, trench depth, fall, soil conditions and discharge location. Separate perforated pipe, aggregate and geotextile quantities from digging and reinstatement. Price the listed tasks separately and state the condition that would require a revision: Unexpected utilities or no feasible outlet can stop the base design.
This guide follows one wet garden run in Toowoomba, Queensland. 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 general contractor. Check the actual site, selected products, supplier figures and labour plan before issuing a client quote.
1. Define the measured job
Install a shallow subsurface drain across an accessible garden run and connect it to a confirmed lawful discharge point. Record run length, trench depth, fall, soil conditions and discharge location. 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: Record run length, trench depth, fall, soil conditions and discharge location. 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 perforated pipe, aggregate and geotextile quantities from digging and reinstatement. This example has 7 distinct lines, including drain route survey, service check and protection, trench excavation. Use actual supplier prices and labour inputs for a customer job; the displayed amounts are fictional document inputs.
Choose before pricing: Separate perforated pipe, aggregate and geotextile quantities from digging and reinstatement. The fixture separates drain route survey, service check and protection and trench excavation rather than hiding all work in one figure.
3. Sequence the work and handoffs
Trace buried services and confirm discharge before excavation. 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: Trace buried services and confirm discharge before excavation. Note which stage needs access, a selected product or another trade before the next stage can be priced confidently.
4. Set a change boundary
Unexpected utilities or no feasible outlet can stop the base design. The example excludes basement waterproofing, drainage approval or major landscape reconstruction. Record the discovery, agree the revised work and update the estimate before adding it to the job.
Change trigger: Unexpected utilities or no feasible outlet can stop the base design. Record the revised task and quantity before it changes the amount your client sees.
Review the Australian job
Verify the existing water and waste connections, access and selected fittings on site. Assign any specialist work and check approval requirements that apply to the actual address.
The trench excavation line uses 27.43 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 Toowoomba, Queensland or another location.
Worked project calculation
The paired PDF has 7 cost lines. For example, Trench excavation is 27.43 m × A$59.00 = A$1,618.37; Perforated pipe allowance is 27.43 m × A$32.00 = A$877.76. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drain route survey | 1 job | A$252.00 | A$252.00 |
| Service check and protection | 1 job | A$192.00 | A$192.00 |
| Trench excavation | 27.43 m | A$59.00 | A$1,618.37 |
| Perforated pipe allowance | 27.43 m | A$32.00 | A$877.76 |
| Stone and fabric allowance | 1 job | A$744.00 | A$744.00 |
| Pipe bedding and connection | 27.43 m | A$47.00 | A$1,289.21 |
| Backfill and turf reinstatement | 1 job | A$624.00 | A$624.00 |
| Illustrative total | A$5,597.34 | ||
Adding every exact-cent line gives A$5,597.34. 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 shallow subsurface drain across an accessible garden run and connect it to a confirmed lawful discharge point.
Outside this example: No basement waterproofing, drainage approval or major landscape reconstruction.
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
- Record run length, trench depth, fall, soil conditions and discharge location.
- Separate perforated pipe, aggregate and geotextile quantities from digging and reinstatement.
- Trace buried services and confirm discharge before excavation.
- Unexpected utilities or no feasible outlet can stop the base design.
Check business and client details, address, dates, scope, units, line amounts and PDF notes. The garden subsoil drain 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 subsurface garden drain installation estimate?
Record run length, trench depth, fall, soil conditions and discharge location.
When should this subsurface garden drain installation quote be revised?
Unexpected utilities or no feasible outlet can stop the base design. No basement waterproofing, drainage approval or major landscape reconstruction.
TURN THE SCOPE INTO AN ITEMISED PDF
Make your own garden subsoil drain 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.
