How our estimates work
Repair Cost Calc methodology
Our calculators are homeowner planning models, not live contractor bid databases. Each model turns the project inputs shown on the page into a planning range. Scope planners show a lower and upper subtotal for covered work, with unknown items kept separate.
Scope-based drywall model
The new drywall scope planner separates repair, painting, excluded work and unresolved work. Reference rates require a source, an applicability range, a validity date and a recorded source review. Current planning bands use AI-assisted editorial synthesis; they are not professional price certifications or local quotes. Reference prices apply to selected repair examples; custom work may need a contractor quote. Other calculators still use their existing planning models.
Labor minimums apply once to compatible work in a crew/visit group. Installed packages retain their documented coverage; we do not invent a labor/material percentage. Reference line amounts round outward to whole dollars before totaling. User quotes retain cents. Unknown items remain unpriced; completed work is recorded separately from planned work.
Local drafts keep the calculation version and original result. Loading an old result does not silently recalculate it. Dimensions, quote amounts and drafts are not placed in public share links.
Source records and release status
Drywall, siding and water-damage scope planners keep their reference packages separate. A source link is research evidence, not approval to use its figures as calculator rates. User-supplied quotes are recorded independently and do not become public reference data.
Current scope-reference bands are AI-assisted editorial estimates drawn from published US repair scopes. We keep source markets and scope mappings with each record; these are not national averages, local bids or professional price certifications. Small jobs use a whole-job allowance rather than scaling a large-project square-foot price down to a patch. Unconfirmed disposal, paint, tax and hidden work are additional. Local minimum charges can exceed a shown band.
drywall
Package: drywall-2026-10-01-editorial-v1 · status: approved · approved rate records: 5.
- ELF Home Services — DFW medium 6–12 inch repair: $185–285; separate full-sheet wall and ceiling examples. Scope comparison only; no national/local-rate claim. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Fast Patch Drywall — Seattle published job packages: single small repair $399; three or four one-square-foot patches $599. Paint is separate. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Goliath Drywall — South Florida wall-only packages: up to two 12-inch patches $399.99; up to four larger patches $699.99. Ceilings are separately quoted. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Proud Paintbrush — Sugar Land: 1–3 sq ft hole $195–259 per repair, $650 job minimum, paint-ready. Three such holes imply $650–777 before additional work. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Fast Patch Drywall — Seattle ceiling article: small under-2-sq-ft band $399–499; up-to-6-sq-ft band $599–699. Original article dated 2025-10-25; source is an anchor, not a fresh guaranteed quote. Checked 2026-10-01.
- The Patch Guyz — Southeastern Michigan: medium 4–16 sq ft repair $200–500 per project. Does not establish a strip-specific bid or include mitigation/demolition. Checked 2026-10-01.
Review record: Editorial source reconciliation for limited planning scopes, authorized by the site owner. No independent human price certification is claimed.; reviewed 2026-10-01.
water damage
Package: water-damage-2026-10-01-editorial-v1 · status: approved · approved rate records: 2.
- Fast Patch Drywall — Seattle ceiling article: small under-2-sq-ft band $399–499; up-to-6-sq-ft band $599–699. Original article dated 2025-10-25; source is an anchor, not a fresh guaranteed quote. Checked 2026-10-01.
- ELF Home Services — DFW medium 6–12 inch repair: $185–285; separate full-sheet wall and ceiling examples. Scope comparison only; no national/local-rate claim. Checked 2026-10-01.
- The Patch Guyz — Southeastern Michigan: medium 4–16 sq ft repair $200–500 per project. Does not establish a strip-specific bid or include mitigation/demolition. Checked 2026-10-01.
Review record: Editorial source reconciliation for limited planning scopes, authorized by the site owner. No independent human price certification is claimed.; reviewed 2026-10-01.
siding
Package: siding-2026-10-01-editorial-v1 · status: approved · approved rate records: 2.
- SkyLuxe Construction — Eastport, NY: straightforward replacement of one or two vinyl panels $200–600, labor and materials. Substrate work is additional. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Ponte Vedra Handyman — Northeast Florida small siding section repair $200–600 with labor/materials; vinyl 1–5-panel work $150–400. Used as scope comparison, not an averaged local price. Checked 2026-10-01.
- OConnor Contracting — Buffalo contractor guide: loose vinyl reattachment $100–200. No replacement panel or whole-wall scope is inferred. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Fixr — Editorial cost guide: loose vinyl reattachment $100–200. Cross-check of work type; no per-panel conversion. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Siding Cost Wise — Editorial guide: accessible loose vinyl reattachment without panel replacement $100–400. Two-panel application is this site’s scope assumption, not a source quote. Checked 2026-10-01.
Review record: Editorial source reconciliation for limited planning scopes, authorized by the site owner. No independent human price certification is claimed.; reviewed 2026-10-01.
Corrections and editorial responsibility
Repair Cost Calc maintains this site's models, source records and scope explanations. Price review records are listed per package above. Editorial source review does not establish trade certification.
To report an error, email the site's existing contact with the page address, model version and the specific statement that needs review. Avoid sending addresses, contracts or personal quote details. A reported correction must be checked against the cited scope before changing a reference package; no response time is promised.
For local drafts, deletion and analytics choices, read the privacy policy.
Visible assumptions
Every range is driven by the area, quantity, material, access, region, and allowances displayed in the calculator.
Comparable quotes
Use the result to ask each contractor for the same labor, material, permit, disposal, cleanup, and contingency scope.
Clear limits
A calculator cannot diagnose hidden damage, set local permit requirements, or replace an on-site professional inspection.
How a planning range is built
Each model starts with a project size or quantity, then adjusts for the material, complexity, access, regional labor market, and specific allowances selected in the inputs. The result is a range because a written contractor scope can legitimately vary before the work is inspected.
Where relevant, models account for labor, common materials, access, disposal, basic permit or code allowances, and project-specific contingency. Exact quote line items vary by contractor, building conditions, and local requirements.
We review model assumptions when calculator inputs or quote-comparison needs change. This methodology was reviewed in August 2026. We do not represent any result as a live local price or guaranteed contractor price.