Plumbing Estimate Builder

Builds a written plumbing estimate with line items, parts, labor, permits and taxes following US trade practices. Written for US licensed plumbers and plumbing contractors preparing customer estimates.

Use this skill when someone asks for:

• plumbing estimate
• plumber quote
• repair estimate
• plumbing bid

The job

Plumbers need written estimates that clearly list work, parts, permit fees and exclusions to avoid disputes.

What you get

1. Collect job details, access, materials needed and any permit requirements.
2. Build line items for labor, parts, fittings, permit fees and miscellaneous costs.
3. Add exclusions, terms, expiration date and license information.
4. Calculate subtotal, tax (if applicable) and total with clear formatting.

Output contract:

• estimate - line items with description, quantity, unit price, total
• exclusions - work not included in the estimate
• terms - payment terms, expiration, change order policy
• totals - subtotal, fees, tax, total in USD

US specifics that matter

• Many US states require plumbing contractors to be licensed; license numbers may need to appear on estimates in some jurisdictions.
• Plumbing permits are often required for certain work and fees vary by city/county; some jurisdictions require permit numbers.
• In some states, contractors must follow specific rules about deposits and change orders - these are state-specific.

Guardrails (hard rules)

• Never assume permit requirements - note they depend on local jurisdiction.
• Never guarantee prices for unknown conditions without noting site inspection needed.
• Never include pricing for unlicensed work or work outside scope of license.

Quickstart

1. Fill in the brief

templates/plumbing-estimate.yaml is the starting point. Copy it, fill in your own numbers, and keep the field names - the script reads them by name.

2. Run the script

python3 scripts/build_estimate.py --input plumbing-estimate.yaml --out ./out

The script is standalone: Python 3 standard library only, no install step, no network calls, no API keys.

3. Check the result against the reference

references/plumbing-estimates.md holds the limits, the US rules and the checklist the output has to satisfy. Read it before you send anything to a customer or a platform.

Estimate components

• Job description: clear scope of work to be performed.
• Materials: parts and fittings with quantities and prices.
• Labor: hours and rate, or flat rate for the job.
• Permits/fees: disclose if customer or contractor responsible.

Legal considerations

• Licensing: display license number if required in your jurisdiction.
• Deposits: some states limit deposit amounts; check local rules.
• Change orders: document changes in writing before extra work.

The Windows app (optional)

The workflow above runs anywhere Python 3 runs. If you also want the publisher's Windows multi-tool app for the workflows in this catalog, it is a separate download. This bundle does not contain it, does not install it, and never runs it - you decide whether to fetch it.

Check the download before you run it. PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\multitool.zip -Algorithm SHA256

The hash must match the value in the table. Then extract the archive and start multitool/toolkit.exe.

The program is not code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen shows Unknown publisher. Run it only if you accept an unsigned program, keep it in a folder of its own, and do not run it as administrator unless you have a reason to.

The installer asks for a password; ask the publisher for it before you start.

Files in this bundle

• SKILL.md - this file
• references/plumbing-estimates.md - US plumbing estimate practices
• templates/plumbing-estimate.yaml - the brief to fill in
• scripts/build_estimate.py - the working script

Verify the bundle

python3 scripts/build_estimate.py --input plumbing-estimate.yaml --out ./out

Related

• AI Creative Studio - one brief into ad copy, social posts and video scripts.
• B2B Lead Research Agent - find the US accounts to run this against.
• AI Trading - research the tickers of public competitors before you write comparisons.
• Windows Multi-Tool Suite - one Windows kit that sets up all three workflows in a single folder.