What the estimate includes
The PDF has your business name and contact line at the top, the client and project, the date and how long the price holds, then an itemised table with quantity, unit price and line amount, subtotal, tax and total. Below that are your notes (deposit terms, exclusions, payment schedule) followed by two standard clauses: that hidden conditions or scope changes will be priced in writing before work continues, and that the client's signature authorises scheduling. Signature and date lines for both parties close the document.
Writing line items that get accepted
Group work the way the client thinks about it, not the way you buy materials: "Remove and dispose of existing deck", "Frame new 12 x 16 deck, pressure-treated, 16 in centres", "Install composite decking and fascia". Put materials and labour in the same line unless the client has asked for a split. Quantity can be 1 with the full price for a lump-sum item, or square feet, linear feet or hours with a unit rate. State what is excluded in the notes (permits, electrical, painting, landscaping repair) because unlisted work is the usual source of disputes.
Validity and tax
Thirty days is the normal validity for residential work; shorten it when lumber or metal prices are moving. Whether sales tax applies to construction labour, materials or both depends on your state and on whether you are the retailer or the consumer of the materials. Leave tax at zero if you price tax-inclusive, and check with your accountant on the right treatment.
Privacy
Everything runs in your browser. The form is not sent to a server, nothing is stored, and the PDF is generated on your device with an open-source library. Refreshing the page clears the form, so download before you leave.