THE ESTIMATING ANSWER
Estimate heat recovery ventilation installation by measuring the defined one small dwelling ventilation unit, separating product allowances from labour and setting out the work sequence and exclusions. This fictional Oxford example uses 7 itemised lines totalling £9,143.28; its exact quantities and rates appear in the paired app PDF.
The worked job is one small dwelling ventilation unit in Oxford. The written scope is: Install a selected heat-recovery ventilation unit with defined supply and extract points in an accessible area, subject to system design. Its matching itemised example shows how that description becomes quantities, allowances and a PDF. These figures are fictional inputs for learning the method, so check the real site, specification and supplier or subcontractor costs before quoting.
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. Record the measured basis next to the relevant cost lines, since a room count, fitted length and purchased product quantity may each use a different unit.
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. Keep a named allowance when the selection is open, and replace it once the actual product and delivery terms are known.
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. State which stage needs access or inspection before the next can begin, especially if a concealed condition might stop the work.
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. If this happens, write down the revised quantity and responsibility before adding an item to the customer estimate.
Worked project calculation
The paired PDF has 7 cost lines. For example, Duct and insulation allowance is 54.9 metres × £47.20 = £2,591.28; Supply and extract terminals is 6 each × £108.00 = £648.00. Each amount is the stated quantity multiplied by its unit rate. Recheck whether a line describes installed work, a material purchase allowance or a distinct visit before changing its quantity.
| Work item | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventilation design allowance | 1 lump sum | £520.00 | £520.00 |
| HRV unit allowance | 1 each | £2,080.00 | £2,080.00 |
| Duct and insulation allowance | 54.9 metres | £47.20 | £2,591.28 |
| Supply and extract terminals | 6 each | £108.00 | £648.00 |
| Duct installation labour | 30 hours | £76.00 | £2,280.00 |
| Power and control allowance | 1 lump sum | £576.00 | £576.00 |
| Airflow balance and handoff | 1 lump sum | £448.00 | £448.00 |
| Illustrative total | £9,143.28 | ||
Adding the 7 exact line amounts gives £9,143.28. The PDF uses a 0% tax input and no markup solely to display this arithmetic. Decide the appropriate tax, overhead and profit treatment for an actual job; the fictional rates are not local averages or price recommendations.
Scope and price 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.
The role in this brief is mechanical contractor. Confirm who supplies the selected products, makes the site safe, removes waste and signs off the work. Where opening up reveals a different condition, document it and issue a revised scope and price rather than silently extending the base estimate. Also check access, drying or curing time, and the client handoff described in the work sequence.
Before you send
- 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.
Compare the written scope with every line in the heat recovery ventilation installation PDF example. The preview below is the first page of the actual app export; open the PDF to inspect its full scope, notes and amounts.
Questions about this job
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.
FROM SITE NOTES TO AN ITEMISED PDF
Build your own heat recovery ventilation installation estimate
Enter the project boundary and your measured lines in Estimates on iPhone or Android. Edit the fictional quantities and rates, add the actual business and client details, then inspect the PDF before sharing it.
