Construction Award Window Calculator: Is Your Trade Before, Inside or Past?
The construction award window calculator tells a trade contractor whether a project is before, inside or past the stage when that trade is usually picked, how many weeks until the window opens, and who to contact. Pick your trade, enter how far along the project is (or the months since its permit was issued) and the declared value. It is free and uses the same windows Builtie, a sales automation platform for construction trades, applies automatically to every project in its permit feed.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
Every trade's award window
The window is how far through the build a trade is usually awarded, as a share of the whole build. Before the window, introduce yourself; inside it, price the work; after the last realistic approach, ask for the builder's next project. Trades are listed in the order they are usually bought.
| Trade | Award window (% of the build) | Last realistic approach | Templates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation and Site Work | Before construction starts | about 10% | toolkit |
| Construction Site Security | Before the start to 15% | about 50% | toolkit |
| Concrete and Foundation | Before the start to 5% | about 15% | toolkit |
| Structural Steel | 0% to 15% | about 25% | toolkit |
| Elevators | 0% to 20% | about 30% | toolkit |
| Framing | 0% to 20% | about 30% | toolkit |
| Painting | 5% to 35% | about 55% | toolkit |
| Masonry | 10% to 30% | about 40% | toolkit |
| Waterproofing | 10% to 35% | about 45% | toolkit |
| Roofing | 15% to 35% | about 45% | toolkit |
| Windows, Doors and Glazing | 15% to 35% | about 45% | toolkit |
| Electrical | 20% to 45% | about 55% | toolkit |
| HVAC and Mechanical | 20% to 45% | about 55% | toolkit |
| Plumbing | 20% to 45% | about 55% | toolkit |
| Fire Protection | 25% to 50% | about 60% | toolkit |
| Signage and Wayfinding | 25% to 70% | about 85% | toolkit |
| Insulation | 30% to 55% | about 60% | toolkit |
| Drywall | 35% to 60% | about 70% | toolkit |
| Low Voltage and Data | 35% to 60% | about 70% | toolkit |
| Tile | 45% to 65% | about 75% | toolkit |
| Cabinetry and Millwork | 50% to 70% | about 80% | toolkit |
| Flooring | 50% to 70% | about 80% | toolkit |
| Countertops | 55% to 75% | about 85% | toolkit |
| Finish Carpentry | 55% to 75% | about 85% | toolkit |
| Appliances and Equipment | 65% to 90% | about 95% | toolkit |
| Landscaping | 65% to 90% | about 95% | toolkit |
How months become percent complete
The calculator uses the clock Builtie's project feed uses: months since the permit was issued, divided by an assumed build length that depends on the declared construction value on the permit. Weeks are months times 4.345.
| Declared construction value | Assumed build length |
|---|---|
| Under $250k | 2 months |
| $250k to $1M | 7 months |
| $1M to $5M | 13 months |
| $5M to $25M | 20 months |
| $25M to $100M | 30 months |
| $100M and up | 48 months |
| Not stated on the permit | 7 months |
Building type does not change the build length in this estimate: Builtie's data sets it from the declared value, and there is no building-type duration to use instead. A large house and a small commercial fit-out with the same value get the same clock. If you know the real schedule, enter percent complete instead of months.
Who to contact at each stage
- Before the window: the builder or general contractor's estimator or preconstruction lead. Ask when your trade goes out to price.
- Opening soon (within 15 points of the window, the stage Builtie flags as time to introduce yourself): get on the bid list.
- Inside the window: the estimator or project manager buying the package. Send a price or ask for the drawings.
- Past it: the builder, for its next project, which will start before your window again.
Tracking it across every project
One project is a calculation; a market is hundreds of them moving at once. Builtie reads building permits in 25 markets across the United States and Canada, works out each project's stage (from the clock above, or from the inspections where a city reports them), and shows each trade only the projects inside or about to enter its window, with the builder's decision maker attached. On October 9, 2026 that was 52,111 electrical projects alone.
Templates for each trade: sales toolkits for every trade.
Plans
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds the LinkedIn and email outreach you run yourself. Opening a project spends one credit, and the decision makers, emails, phones and AI call script inside it are included. Your monthly credits reset at each renewal, and extra credit packs are valid for 30 days. The free trial runs 7 days with 10 projects. Custom, where Builtie's team runs the outreach for you, starts from CAD $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Frequently asked questions
What is a construction award window?
The stage of a build when a trade is usually picked, as a share of the build. Framing is decided in the first fifth of a build, electrical, plumbing and HVAC at about 20% to 45%, and landscaping and appliances near the end.
How does the calculator turn months since the permit into percent complete?
It divides the months by an assumed build length set from the declared construction value: 2 months under $250k, 7 under $1M, 13 under $5M, 20 under $25M, 30 under $100M and 48 above, and 7 when no value is stated. It is the same clock Builtie's project feed uses.
Does building type change the result?
Not in this estimate. Builtie sets the build length from the declared value, not the building type. If you know the real schedule, enter percent complete instead.
Who should I contact when my trade's window is open?
The estimator or project manager at the builder or general contractor who is buying your package. Before the window, introduce yourself to the estimator; after it, ask for the builder's next project.
Does Builtie track award windows automatically?
Yes. Builtie stages every permitted project in its 25 markets and shows each trade the projects inside or about to enter its window, with the builder's decision maker and LinkedIn and email outreach on Growth.
What does Builtie cost?
Starter is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds LinkedIn and email outreach. There is a 7-day free trial with 10 projects.