What Is an Award Window in Construction? When Each Trade Is Bought, Not When It Installs
Start free trial 7 days, 10 projects: permitted projects in your trade's award window, with the decision maker named.
An award window is the part of a build in which a trade is chosen, measured as a share of the build. It comes before the trade's install window, often well before: cabinetry is typically bought at 25% to 45% of the build and installed at 65% to 85%. Builtie keeps a window for each trade it serves and puts a project in your feed while it is inside your window.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
Award windows by trade
| Trade | Award window (share of the build) | Install window |
|---|---|---|
| Site Work / Excavation | before the permit to 0% | 0% to 10% |
| Concrete / Foundation | before the permit to 5% | 5% to 25% |
| Framing | 0% to 20% | 15% to 45% |
| Windows, Doors, Glazing | 5% to 25% | 30% to 55% |
| Roofing | 10% to 30% | 30% to 55% |
| Plumbing | 10% to 35% | 35% to 65% |
| Electrical | 15% to 35% | 35% to 65% |
| HVAC / Mechanical | 15% to 35% | 35% to 65% |
| Drywall | 25% to 45% | 50% to 75% |
| Cabinetry / Millwork | 25% to 45% | 65% to 85% |
| Flooring | 30% to 50% | 65% to 85% |
| Painting | 5% to 35% | 65% to 90% |
| Landscaping | 45% to 75% | 85% to 100% |
From Builtie's trade windows, read October 24, 2026. They are typical for a mid-size project; a small builder may buy everything at once, a large GC package by package.
The buying-time window
A finishing trade installs late but is bought early: the general contractor or builder locks in cabinetry, flooring and tile while the structure is still going up, because those packages have long lead times and fixed prices. A window set at install time put trades in front of projects that had already chosen. That is why Builtie's windows now sit at buying time.
Why it matters for a trade
Your outreach works only inside your window. Before it, the buyer has no reason to talk about your scope; after it, the job is awarded. Sorting projects by your window instead of by permit date shows what to chase this week. Try a project's numbers in the award window calculator.
Where it applies
Every market Builtie covers, from the permit onward. In Toronto and the GTA, planning applications show projects before the window opens; see how early a Toronto project is public.
Source. Builtie's trade windows, the share of the build in which each trade it serves is bought and installed, read October 24, 2026.
The definition says what the term is first and why it matters to a trade second; counts are dated and come from Builtie's own records, never from an estimate of the whole market.
More terms: the construction glossary.
Plans and coverage
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month 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 $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Builtie's deepest coverage is in the Greater Toronto Area, where it started; depth in any city depends on what that municipality publishes. Ask for live sample projects in your own service area before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an award window and an install window?
The award window is when the trade is chosen; the install window is when it works on site. For cabinetry, Builtie's windows put the award at 25% to 45% of the build and the install at 65% to 85%.
When is electrical awarded on a construction project?
Typically at 15% to 35% of the build, before the rough-in starts at about 35.%.
What does Builtie cost?
Starter is $79 per seat per month 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.