Questions we get
asked every day.

Yes — and we can prove it. SNZ has completed 300+ hydraulic estimates across every sector of the Australian construction industry. High-rise residential towers, government hospitals, Tier 1 rail infrastructure, national retail, universities, industrial facilities — the full range.

Our project case studies show the actual work — not claims. Gran Central in Western Sydney — 373 apartments, 25 storeys, 5-level basement. Queensland Rail station upgrades for Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure. Finley Hospital Redevelopment for NSW Health. Woolworths Belmont North for Woolworths Group.

If you are wondering whether we have experience in your specific sector, browse our case studies or call us directly — we will tell you honestly what experience we have in your project type and whether we are the right fit for your scope.

We will be honest with you — we are human, and no estimate is ever perfect. Construction is complex, drawings change, site conditions vary and markets move. Anyone who promises you a guaranteed-accurate estimate is overpromising.

What we can tell you is this: every SNZ estimate is produced from your actual drawings using PlanSwift — not industry benchmarks or averaged rates. Every line item is individually measured and priced. Every estimate is reviewed by a second estimator before it leaves our office. That process gives you the most accurate number we can produce from the information available.

Our track record — 65+ five-star Google reviews, 300+ projects completed and clients who return to us project after project — tells us our numbers hold up. When the numbers didn't hold up, clients don't come back. Ours do.

The best evidence of our accuracy is our case studies — particularly projects like Gran Central where the estimate held up through full design development.

No — and this is standard practice across the entire estimating industry. The fee is for the work done — the hours spent measuring your drawings, pricing every line item, reviewing the estimate and delivering a complete, submission-ready package. That work is completed regardless of whether you win the tender.

Think of it the same way you think about a structural engineer's fee, a hydraulic consultant's fee or a lawyer's fee — you pay for the professional service, not the outcome.

What we can tell you is that our estimates give you the best possible chance of winning. Accurate pricing means you are not losing on margin and not losing on price. The estimate is an investment in a competitive tender — and across 300+ projects, our clients win tenders with our numbers.

If you have questions about our fee structure before engaging us, call us directly on +61 451 404 645 — we are always happy to talk through what is involved for your specific scope.

It depends on the scope — and we will always tell you upfront before we start.

Small to medium projects — a single building, a standard commercial fit-out, a residential development under 10 storeys — typically within 72 hours.

Large and complex scopes — a 25-storey residential tower, a hospital redevelopment, a multi-site government programme — we confirm the timeline at the start of every engagement before work begins. That timeline might be 1 week, 2 weeks or more depending on the scale and complexity. We always tell you exactly how long it will take and we meet that commitment.

We never rush accuracy to meet a deadline. If a scope genuinely requires 2 weeks to price correctly, we tell you that upfront — not on day 6 when you are expecting delivery. If you have a tight tender deadline, tell us when you get in touch and we will tell you immediately whether we can meet it.

To get an estimate started, send us your plans here or call +61 451 404 645.

Our fees are based on the scope and complexity of your project — not a fixed rate card. A straightforward residential renovation and a 25-storey tower with a 5-level basement are fundamentally different amounts of work, and the fee reflects that.

We provide a fee quote before we start any work. Send us your plans or a description of your scope and we will come back to you with a clear fee — no surprises, no hidden costs.

What we can tell you is that our fees are competitive for the level of detail and accuracy we deliver. An estimate that is too cheap is often too fast — and a fast estimate on a complex scope is an inaccurate estimate. The cost of an inaccurate estimate, once you are on site and the numbers fall apart, is always far greater than the cost of getting it right upfront.

To get a fee quote, send us your project details here and we will respond within a few hours.

The more information you can provide the better — but even if you only have preliminary drawings, get in touch and we will tell you what we can and cannot estimate from what you have.

Ideally we need: hydraulic drawings, architectural drawings, the project specification and any hydraulic engineer's notes or schedules. For complex projects — hospitals, government buildings, industrial facilities — any additional technical documentation helps us price more accurately.

If you only have early-stage drawings, we can provide a feasibility estimate based on what is available — clearly flagged with the assumptions made so you understand the limitations.

The simplest way to start is to fill in our enquiry form, tell us what you have and what you need, and we will come back to you with what we can do and what we need from you.

All seven states and territories and the Northern Territory. SNZ has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with estimating capability covering NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA and NT.

We estimate projects in every state with locally accurate pricing — not a national benchmark rate applied to a different market. A project in Rockhampton is priced to Rockhampton market conditions. A project in Perth is priced to Perth conditions. Regional projects are priced to regional rates — as we demonstrated with the Finley Hospital Redevelopment in regional NSW for NSW Health.

Plumbing and hydraulic estimating exclusively — across every project type and every sector.

High-rise residential — apartment towers, mixed-use developments, basement carparks, social housing.

Commercial and retail — national retailers, shopping centres, office towers, industrial facilities, oil refineries, fuel stations.

Hospitals and healthcare — public and private hospitals, aged care, medical centres, mental health facilities.

Government and infrastructure — rail, transport, government buildings, water authorities, defence, social housing.

Schools and universities — primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, universities, TAFEs, childcare.

We also do variation assessments and design change comparisons for live projects. If you are unsure whether your scope fits, call us — we will tell you honestly.

Yes — both. These are two of the most valuable services we offer for contractors who are already on site.

Variation assessments — when a design change or site instruction creates additional scope, you need a fast, accurate cost for the variation. SNZ prices variations from the revised drawings against the original scope, giving you a defensible, accurately priced variation claim.

Design change comparisons — when the hydraulic design changes during a project, you need to know exactly what changed and exactly what it costs. SNZ compares the two drawing sets and produces a clear, priced breakdown of the difference.

Both services are available as standalone engagements — you do not need to have had your original estimate done by SNZ to use these services.

Three things separate SNZ from most other estimating firms:

1. We only do plumbing and hydraulics. Not electricals, not structure, not fitout. Every hour we work is focused on one trade. That specialisation produces a depth of knowledge that a generalist estimating firm — no matter how large — simply cannot replicate.

2. We measure from your actual drawings. Every pipe, every fitting, every riser — individually measured using PlanSwift from your specific drawings. No benchmark rates. No template pricing. Your project, your numbers.

3. Every estimate has a second set of eyes. Before any estimate leaves our office it is reviewed by a second estimator. On a hospital or a 25-storey tower, this is non-negotiable. Most firms skip it. We never do.

Beyond the methodology — SNZ was founded by a civil engineer with 15+ years of hands-on construction experience across Australia, the Middle East and South Asia. That real-world site experience is built into every number we produce. We know what things cost to install — not just to price on paper.