TerraTech delivers premium surface solutions crafted to elevate every space - indoors or out. Powered by Venux, collections are rooted in natural beauty and engineered for lasting performance.
Remodeling - Bathrooms
11-50
Job win rate doubled, AutoCost enabling repeat business for clients with different job needs
Eric Maki founded Terra Tech Surfaces with a clear focus. His construction business specialized in bathroom systems: sintered stone panels, solid surface pans, premium shower assemblies, and controlled scopes that he understood deeply. In the early days, the company’s construction projects stayed intentionally narrow.
Bathrooms were predictable. Labor requirements were known. Material costs were familiar. Profit margins were repeatable. The estimating process felt manageable.
But growth in the construction industry rarely stays contained.
As Terra Tech built momentum, clients began asking for additional work. Kitchens. Decks. Painting. Small remodels. Eventually, full-home scopes started appearing in conversations. Each request represented revenue potential, but also risk.
For many construction firms, this is where confidence breaks down.
Quoting a job you’ve never completed before introduces uncertainty in accurately determining project costs across multiple cost elements. Labor costs are unclear. Material costs fluctuate. Productivity assumptions may be wrong. Skilled workers may require more time. Subcontractors may price differently than expected.
Without accurate estimates, even strong construction companies can lose control of profit.
Eric didn’t fear the work itself. He trusted his ability to manage a job site and oversee quality construction. What worried him was pricing.
How do you confidently create estimates for unfamiliar construction projects without guessing?
How do you protect profit margins when estimated costs are based on limited experience?
How do you avoid turning growth opportunities into expensive lessons?
Many construction professionals rely on experience to price work. Over time, that experience becomes intuition. But intuition has limits, especially when construction firms expand beyond their original niche.
Eric understood this clearly.
No single contractor can memorize every material cost. No company can track every labor scenario in their head. The construction industry is too broad, and pricing changes too fast.
Before adopting construction estimating software, Eric relied on a familiar approach. He would work backward from a price that “felt right.” He would adjust labor, tweak markup percentage, and hope the final pricing covered total cost.
This approach works — until it doesn’t.
Working backward hides individual line items. It masks how labor costs relate to material costs. It makes profit calculations fuzzy. It increases human error, especially when construction projects include new tasks or unfamiliar materials.
Eric noticed the cracks forming.
Terra Tech relied heavily on subcontractors. When subs asked how much they would be paid for specific tasks, Eric sometimes struggled to answer confidently. He knew the total project price, but not always how each cost broke down.
That uncertainty put pressure on profit margins.
When one line item runs over budget, many construction companies compensate by pulling profit from another line. This keeps the project moving but erodes long-term control.
Eric had seen this pattern before. He knew it wasn’t sustainable.
Eric didn’t want to become a walking price book. He wanted a system—comprehensive solutions that could scale with future projects and address the challenges of unfamiliar work. Something repeatable.
That’s when he turned to construction management software designed for estimating, pricing, and project control.
For Eric, estimating software wasn’t about speed alone. It was about structure. It was about reducing human error. It was about creating accurate cost estimation without pretending to know everything.
Construction estimating software became the backbone of Terra Tech’s pricing model.
Instead of relying on memory, Eric started using data. Material catalogs. Auto-cost logic. Assemblies. Historical project data. Each piece reduced uncertainty. The construction estimating software enabled detailed cost analysis, allowing construction professionals to make data-driven decisions for more accurate project planning.
The goal wasn’t perfection. The goal was precise estimates that protected profit.
Eric began by identifying what Terra Tech truly understood. Bathroom assemblies. Demo work. Basic carpentry. Plumbing changes. These were known quantities.
For these scopes, Eric built custom assemblies inside his estimating software. Labor costs were refined. Material costs were updated regularly. Markup percentage was intentional.
These assemblies became reliable estimate templates.
For unfamiliar work — painting, cabinetry, exterior scopes — Eric stopped guessing. Instead, he relied on auto-cost data inside his construction estimating software.
This wasn’t blind trust. It was informed trust.
Auto-cost didn’t replace judgment. It provided a baseline. A realistic estimate of material costs and labor assumptions based on broader construction industry data.
This allowed Eric to create estimates confidently, even when the job type was new.
Construction professionals don’t need to know everything. They need systems that fill gaps responsibly.
For Eric, this mindset shift was crucial.
Kitchens represented Terra Tech’s first major expansion. The company didn’t have years of kitchen data. Countertops varied. Cabinets introduced new material costs. Material costs continue to rise and fluctuate, making accurate estimation even more important for new scopes. Labor requirements differed from bathrooms.
Instead of avoiding kitchens, Eric used his estimating process to expand carefully.
Eric anchored each kitchen estimate in what he already knew. Demo. Framing. Plumbing. These assemblies were reused from bathroom projects.
This reduced risk immediately.
For countertops and cabinetry, Eric used catalog pricing and auto-cost logic. Material costs were realistic. Estimated costs were transparent.
Nothing was hidden.
The first kitchen estimate took longer. It was time consuming. But that time spent created a reusable estimate template.
That one hour investment dramatically increased project value.
What started as a $20,000 bathroom scope grew into $50,000–$60,000 kitchen projects. The difference wasn’t guessing. It was structure.
Accurate estimates made growth possible.
Material costs fluctuate, but labor costs destroy profit margins when underestimated. Labor shortages amplify this risk across the construction industry.
Eric focused heavily on labor.
Construction estimating software allowed Eric to tie labor costs directly to time. This helped sanity-check productivity assumptions.
If labor hours didn’t make sense, pricing was adjusted before the job started.
As Terra Tech adopted more advanced tools, Eric began using work orders to allocate tasks. Each subcontractor received clear line items.
No ambiguity. No overlap. No confusion.
When subs accepted pricing quickly, Eric knew estimates were realistic. When they pushed back, it revealed potential issues early.
This feedback loop strengthened future estimates.
Most profit loss doesn’t happen at the total project level. It happens in small line items. A missed task. An underestimated material. Extra labor hours.
Eric wanted line-item control.
Each estimate included true costs. What Eric would actually pay. What labor would actually require. What materials would realistically cost.
Profit calculations became transparent.
With clear line items, Eric stopped subsidizing mistakes. No more borrowing from one task to cover another.
Profit margins were protected by design.
Construction management software didn’t just help with creating estimates. It supported project management, follow up, budgeting, and resource allocation by helping manage resources such as labor, materials, and equipment to improve efficiency and profitability.
Estimates flowed into project workflows seamlessly.
Clear pricing improved communication. Crews knew expectations. Subs understood scope. The job site ran smoother.
Productivity improved.
Clear estimates reduce rework. They reduce questions. They reduce delays.
That clarity significantly impact outcomes.
AI tools helped Eric reduce human error. Auto-cost logic prevented missing items. Templates reduced manual entry.
Estimating became an easy task compared to the old process.
New team members ramped faster. The easy to use interface lowered the learning curve.
Knowledge lived in the system, not in Eric’s head.
Saving time didn’t mean cutting corners. It meant removing repetition.
Accurate estimates came faster.
Permitting and compliance are often overlooked until they become a roadblock, but they play a crucial role in the success of construction projects—especially when tackling unfamiliar scopes. For construction companies expanding into new types of work, understanding the maze of local regulations, permits, and compliance standards is essential. Missing a required permit or misinterpreting a zoning law can lead to costly delays, unexpected fines, or even a complete project shutdown.
To avoid these pitfalls, it’s important to research all relevant regulations before creating estimates. This means identifying which permits are needed, what documentation must be submitted, and any specific compliance standards that apply to the project. Accurate estimates should include the costs associated with permitting and compliance, from application fees to the time spent on paperwork and inspections.
Construction management software can be a game-changer here, offering a centralized platform to track regulatory requirements, deadlines, and documentation. By integrating permitting and compliance into the estimating process, construction companies can ensure that these costs are accounted for upfront, reducing surprises and protecting project profitability. In short, making permitting and compliance a standard part of your process is not just about staying legal—it’s about keeping your projects on track and your business in control.
When construction companies take on new types of work, safety protocols become a key factor in both project planning and pricing. Every unfamiliar task or material introduces potential hazards that must be identified and managed. Failing to account for these risks can lead to accidents, increased labor costs, and even legal trouble.
A thorough risk assessment should be part of the estimating process for every new project. This means evaluating the job site for potential dangers, determining what safety equipment and training are required, and estimating the additional labor or supervision needed to maintain a safe environment. These safety measures can significantly impact costs—whether it’s investing in specialized equipment, scheduling extra safety meetings, or bringing in skilled workers with the right certifications.
By building safety protocols into your estimates, you not only protect your team but also your bottom line. Construction management software can help streamline this process by allowing you to document safety requirements, track compliance, and adjust labor costs accordingly. Ultimately, prioritizing safety in your pricing model ensures that your projects run smoothly, your workers stay protected, and your company’s reputation remains strong.
Environmental considerations are no longer optional in today’s construction industry—they’re a necessity. When estimating costs for new construction projects, companies must evaluate the environmental impact of their work, from material selection to waste management and energy efficiency. Overlooking these factors can lead to regulatory issues, increased costs, and missed opportunities for sustainable practices.
Accurate estimates should reflect the true cost of environmentally responsible construction. This includes accounting for eco-friendly materials, specialized disposal methods, and any additional labor required to implement green building practices. Sometimes, projects may require hiring personnel with expertise in handling hazardous materials or meeting specific environmental standards, which can affect labor costs and overall project budgets.
Construction management software can simplify the process by tracking material quantities, waste output, and energy usage, making it easier to monitor compliance and control costs. By integrating environmental considerations into your estimating process, you not only reduce your project’s environmental footprint but also position your company as a responsible industry leader. This proactive approach can enhance your reputation, ensure regulatory compliance, and help secure future projects.
The project close-out phase is where all the hard work comes together—and where profitability is truly measured. For construction companies, this stage is about more than just finishing the job; it’s about confirming that every aspect of the project has been completed to the client’s satisfaction and that all costs are accounted for.
A successful close-out starts with a thorough review of project data, including costs, schedules, and deliverables. Any discrepancies or outstanding issues should be addressed promptly to avoid disputes or delayed payments. Accurate estimates and diligent project management throughout the construction process make this final review much smoother, ensuring that profit margins are preserved.
Construction management software plays a vital role here, providing a centralized platform to track project data, manage documentation, and facilitate client communication. By streamlining the close-out process, construction companies can ensure that all invoices are paid, all work is documented, and clients are happy with the result. This not only secures profitability on the current project but also builds trust and sets the stage for future projects.
Even with the best planning, disputes can arise during construction projects—whether over costs, schedules, or scope changes. How construction companies handle these disputes can significantly impact profit margins and project outcomes. Having a clear, proactive dispute resolution process is essential for protecting both your reputation and your bottom line.
The foundation of effective dispute resolution is transparency. Accurate estimates, detailed project data, and clear communication help prevent misunderstandings before they escalate. When issues do arise, construction management software provides a reliable record of all project communications, changes, and costs, making it easier to resolve disagreements quickly and fairly.
It’s also important to understand the terms of your contracts, including any dispute resolution clauses, so you can act decisively if a conflict occurs. Prolonged disputes can drive up labor costs, delay project completion, and erode profit margins. By addressing issues early and relying on solid project management practices, construction companies can minimize disruptions and keep projects—and profits—on track. In the end, a robust dispute resolution process is not just about solving problems; it’s about maintaining control, protecting your business, and ensuring long-term success.
Eric’s approach isn’t unique to one company. Construction firms across the industry face similar challenges.
Unfamiliar work. New clients. New scopes. Limited time.
Construction companies that rely on systems outperform those relying on memory. Data beats intuition at scale.
That’s the difference.
With a structured estimating process, Eric can now pursue future projects confidently. New work no longer feels risky.
It feels manageable.
Eric doesn’t pretend to know everything. He uses tools to support informed decisions.
Construction estimating software plays a key role.
By structuring estimates, controlling labor costs, managing material costs, and protecting profit margins, Terra Tech grew without gambling.
That’s how you price construction projects you’ve never done before — and still win.
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