Blanchard Cost Estimating

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Blanchard Cost is a trusted leader in construction cost estimation and preconstruction services, empowering clients in architecture, engineering, transportation, and general contracting.

A Good Estimate Should Occasionally Start a Conversation.An estimate shouldn't simply confirm what everyone already expe...
09/02/2026

A Good Estimate Should Occasionally Start a Conversation.

An estimate shouldn't simply confirm what everyone already expects.

Sometimes its greatest value comes from raising a question.

Why is this system carrying more cost than anticipated?

Is this scope clearly represented in the drawings?

Does this material choice still make sense given current market conditions?

Is there another way to accomplish the design intent without compromising the project?

Those aren't necessarily signs that something is wrong with the design. They're signs that the project team is doing its job.

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we believe an estimator should do more than measure quantities and assign costs. We should help architects, engineers and owners see the cost implications of the decisions being made as the design develops.

Sometimes that means validating the direction.

Sometimes it means identifying an opportunity.

And sometimes it simply means asking a question nobody else has asked yet.

A good estimate gives you a number. A good estimator helps you understand what to do with it.

**Some projects carry a responsibility that goes well beyond the numbers.**Blanchard Cost Estimating has been privileged...
08/27/2026

**Some projects carry a responsibility that goes well beyond the numbers.**

Blanchard Cost Estimating has been privileged to support a number of healthcare projects serving Tribal communities in the Southwest.

These projects can present unique cost challenges. Remote locations, labor availability, transportation and material logistics, specialized healthcare systems, and local market conditions can all influence what it takes to turn a design into a functioning healthcare facility.

But there's a larger purpose behind the estimate.

For the communities these facilities serve, a healthcare project isn't simply another building. It's an investment in access to care and in the long-term well-being of the people who call that community home.

That makes accuracy important—but it also makes understanding the project important.

Our role is to give owners and design teams clear, well-supported cost information so they can make informed decisions and use available resources wisely.

We're grateful for the opportunity to contribute our small part to projects with such an important mission.

Sometimes the most responsible answer an estimator can give is: “We don’t know yet.”Early in design, not every decision ...
08/24/2026

Sometimes the most responsible answer an estimator can give is: “We don’t know yet.”

Early in design, not every decision has been made.

The structural system may still be evolving. Equipment hasn’t been selected. Finish levels may not be defined. Site conditions may still need investigation.

That doesn’t mean an early estimate isn’t useful.

It means the estimate needs to distinguish between what we know, what we’re assuming, and what still carries uncertainty.

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we believe identifying those unknowns is part of the estimator’s job—not something to hide behind a single number.

Because an owner doesn’t just need to know what a project might cost today.

They need to understand what could change that number tomorrow.

That’s where an estimate becomes more than a budget.

It becomes a decision-making tool.

**What does it cost to build here?**It's a question every national cost estimator needs to be able to answer.Constructio...
08/20/2026

**What does it cost to build here?**

It's a question every national cost estimator needs to be able to answer.

Construction costs don't simply change from year to year. They change from place to place.

Labor availability and wage rates. Material pricing. Freight and transportation. Contractor competition. Local market conditions. And, in more remote locations, logistics can become a significant part of the cost equation.

We're seeing that firsthand on a project we're currently estimating in Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

Clearly, pricing a project there isn't the same as pricing an identical building in Seattle, Chicago, Charlotte, or Dallas.

That's why regional cost adjustment involves more than taking a national cost-per-square-foot number and applying a single multiplier. Good estimating requires understanding the local market—and knowing which parts of the estimate are most affected by location.

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, our work takes us across the country. That means our cost intelligence has to travel, too.

**The drawings may be the same. The cost of building them isn't.**

What regional cost differences are you seeing in your market?

A Cost Per Square Foot Is a Data Point. Not an Answer.We all use cost per square foot as a quick reference point.But two...
08/10/2026

A Cost Per Square Foot Is a Data Point. Not an Answer.

We all use cost per square foot as a quick reference point.

But two projects that look similar on paper can have very different cost profiles.

Where is it being built?
When will construction begin?
What systems are included?
What level of finish is expected?
What are labor and material markets doing in that region?

Even the type of building matters. Healthcare, higher education, offices, data centers, and other sectors haven't experienced construction inflation at the same rate.

That's why historical cost data becomes much more valuable when the context behind the number is preserved.

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we're continuing to build our cost intelligence around not only what projects cost—but why they cost what they do.

Because a benchmark can tell you where to start.

Understanding the story behind it helps you know where you're going.

What factors have you seen make the biggest difference between seemingly similar projects?

How Old Is Your Estimate?A construction estimate isn't necessarily wrong just because time has passed.But in today's mar...
08/07/2026

How Old Is Your Estimate?

A construction estimate isn't necessarily wrong just because time has passed.

But in today's market, it may no longer be telling you the whole story.

Material pricing changes. Labor conditions change. Project schedules move. Market conditions shift. And an estimate prepared during schematic design may be supporting a funding or construction decision months—or even years—later.

That's why one of the questions project teams should be asking isn't simply:

"What was the estimate?"

It's:

"When was the estimate prepared, and what's changed since then?"

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we believe the date, anticipated construction start, escalation assumptions, and current market conditions are increasingly important parts of the cost conversation.

An estimate should be more than a snapshot of what a project cost then. It should help owners and design teams understand what the project may cost when they're actually ready to build.

How often are you revisiting project estimates as schedules change?

The Bottom Line Isn't Always the Most Important NumberWhen people receive a construction estimate, it's natural to skip ...
08/03/2026

The Bottom Line Isn't Always the Most Important Number

When people receive a construction estimate, it's natural to skip straight to the total cost.

But experienced owners and design teams often spend more time looking at what's behind the number.

Questions like:

• Which building systems are driving the cost?
• What assumptions were made?
• Which items carry the greatest uncertainty?
• Where are the biggest opportunities to improve value?

Those answers often have a greater impact on a project's success than the final total itself.

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we believe an estimate should do more than answer "How much?"

It should help answer "Why?" and "What are our options?"

That's where informed decisions begin.

When you review an estimate, what's the first thing you look for beyond the total cost?

The Estimate Is the Deliverable. The Insight Is the Value.Anyone can read the bottom line of an estimate.The real value ...
07/29/2026

The Estimate Is the Deliverable. The Insight Is the Value.

Anyone can read the bottom line of an estimate.

The real value comes from understanding what drives that number.

- Which materials carry the most uncertainty?
- Which systems deserve another look?
- Where are the opportunities to reduce cost without compromising the project’s goals?

Those conversations often have a greater impact than the estimate itself.

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we see every estimate as the beginning of a discussion—not the end of one.

Because when project teams understand the why behind the numbers, they make better decisions.

More Than a Set of StepsNot every memorable project is defined by its size.Last week, we had the opportunity to visit th...
07/27/2026

More Than a Set of Steps

Not every memorable project is defined by its size.

Last week, we had the opportunity to visit the University of Texas at Tyler and see one of the projects we were privileged to support. Standing on these new University Steps, it’s easy to imagine students gathering between classes, celebrating milestones, attending campus events, or simply enjoying time together.

During our visit, we also heard something every estimating team appreciates: our estimate closely reflected the final project cost.

Accurate estimating is rewarding because it helps owners move forward with confidence. But what makes projects like this especially meaningful is knowing that sound cost guidance helped create a space that supports the university’s mission and the student experience for years to come.

Thank you to the University of Texas at Tyler for allowing us to be part of the journey. We always enjoy seeing a project move from drawings and quantities to a place where people gather, connect, and build community.

Construction Intelligence in ActionToday we're headed to the University of Texas at Tyler for a presentation with their ...
07/24/2026

Construction Intelligence in Action

Today we're headed to the University of Texas at Tyler for a presentation with their Planning & Construction team.

One thing we've learned over the years is that some of the most valuable estimating work doesn't happen behind a computer—it happens in conversations with owners, architects, and project teams before critical decisions are made.

We're looking forward to discussing today's construction market, emerging cost trends, and ways to reduce uncertainty early in the design process.

Safe travels to everyone who's on the road today.

Address

4126 West Sandridge Court
Peoria, IL
61615

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5am
Tuesday 8am - 5am
Wednesday 8am - 5am
Thursday 8am - 5am
Friday 8am - 5am

Telephone

+13098577189

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