Foundation to wall
Below-grade waterproofing must lap onto the above-grade air/water barrier.
Division 07, Envelope
Thermal & Moisture Protection Estimating (CSI Division 07)
Division 07 is where the building gets its skin: below-grade waterproofing, wall insulation and air barriers, siding and cladding, roofing, flashing, sealants, and fire protection. Each piece has its own subcontractor. The problem is that water, air, and heat don't respect those boundaries, and neither do the gaps in a bid.
Our thermal and moisture protection estimating prices Division 07 as one package, with particular attention to the transitions between systems, where envelope scope most often gets missed.
Division 07The full envelope package
Excel + PDFWith marked-up drawings
ZIP-code pricedLocal material and labor rates
24 to 48 hoursTypical turnaround
One Estimate for the Whole Envelope
A Division 07 estimate typically covers:
- Dampproofing and waterproofing
- Building insulation
- Air barriers and vapor retarders
- Siding, cladding, and wall panels
- Roofing and roof insulation
- Flashing and sheet metal, including gutters
- Fireproofing and firestopping
- Joint sealants and expansion joints
Pricing the division together lets us check that the systems connect: that each transition belongs to someone.
Where Envelopes Leak, and Estimates Miss Scope
The field of each system is rarely the problem. The transitions are:
Wall to window
Sill pans, jamb flashing, and the air barrier tie-in around every opening. Window installers, cladding subs, and air barrier subs each may assume another covers it.
Wall to roof
The air barrier must connect to the roof membrane at parapets and eaves.
Penetrations
Pipes, vents, and brackets through the envelope need sealing in both the air barrier and the cladding.
Dissimilar cladding junctions
Where brick meets metal panel, or panel meets storefront.
We take off these transition details explicitly and note who should carry them, so they're priced once, not zero times or twice.
Air Barriers and Vapor Retarders
- Fluid-applied air and water-resistive barriers
- Self-adhered sheet membranes
- Mechanically fastened building wraps
- Vapor retarders on walls, roofs, and under slabs
Quantities include field area, transition membranes, primers, and the detail work at openings and penetrations. Whether a vapor retarder is needed, and where, depends on climate and assembly: we price what the design specifies.
Siding, Cladding & Panels
- Fiber cement and vinyl siding
- Metal wall panels and insulated metal panels
- Composite and phenolic panels
- Wood and engineered wood siding
- Trim, soffits, and accessories
Rainscreen systems add girts, clips, furring, and ventilation details, which we take off separately.
Flashing and Sheet Metal
Through-wall flashing, window head and sill flashing, copings, counterflashing, and trim: measured by the foot and counted by shape. Gutters and downspouts are covered in our gutter estimating. Gutter estimating →
Joint Sealants
Sealant joints around windows, at cladding joints, at control joints, and at dissimilar materials, measured by linear foot with backer rod, primer, and joint size from the details.
Division 07 Trades in Detail
For single-trade bids, see the specific pages:
Waterproofing
below-grade, plaza, and interior systems Waterproofing estimating →
Insulation
batt, spray foam, rigid, and mechanical insulation Insulation estimating →
Roofing
steep-slope and low-slope systems Roofing estimating →
Fireproofing
SFRM, intumescent, and firestopping Fireproofing estimating →
Gutters
gutters, downspouts, and drainage accessories Gutter estimating →
Who Uses Division 07 Estimating
- General contractors pricing the whole division
- Envelope contractors carrying multiple Division 07 scopes
- Building envelope consultants checking bids
- Owners comparing cladding or wall assembly options Preliminary estimating →
Checklist
What to Send
- Architectural drawings, wall sections, and envelope details
- Roof plans and details
- Division 07 specifications
- Window and storefront details
- Addenda
Send Your Files
Upload the drawings through our quote form, share a Google Drive or plan-room link, or email them. Large sets travel best as a shared folder.
Upload Your Plans →Or email info@primeestimation.com.
Excel + PDFWith marked-up drawings
Deliverables
What You Receive
- Quantities by Division 07 section
- Transition and detail counts
- Scope-split notes for interfaces
- Labor and material pricing
- Excel and PDF files
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What does thermal and moisture protection include?
CSI Division 07 covers waterproofing, dampproofing, insulation, air and vapor barriers, roofing, siding and cladding, flashing and sheet metal, fire protection, and joint sealants.
Can you estimate only part of Division 07?
Yes. Each trade can be priced on its own.
Why do envelope transitions matter in an estimate?
Because they're the details most likely to be excluded by every subcontractor. Pricing them explicitly prevents gaps and change orders.
Ready to Get Started?
Price the Whole Envelope, Including the Seams
Send your envelope drawings and Division 07 specs. We'll quote the estimate and delivery date.