Project cost readiness

A range that moves
with the design.

Change the home, site, utility strategy or delivery path and the range changes with it. Assumptions and missing quotes stay visible.

The cost story

The same home, two ways of getting it built.

Reference build: 800 sq ft, off-grid SIP, Part 9, owner-builder eligible, rural Alberta, land excluded on both sides. Comparing unlike homes would make the whole exercise worthless, so this is one home, priced twice.

Owner-orchestrated$199,100 to $443,900Midpoint $301,280, ex-land

Builder-delivered$450,000 to $650,000Same home, same exclusions, ex-land

In exchange for 12 to 24 months of your own labour and coordination. That is where the difference comes from, and it is the whole of the trade. Aura orchestrates the sequence, the quotes and the record; it is never your general contractor and it does not swing a hammer on your behalf. If you cannot give the project those months, price the builder column and plan from there.

Basis, verbatim from the model: Same home builder-delivered ex-land at $250-450/sqft hard + 25-40% soft; owner-builder saves 30-40% ($150-250K) for 12-24 months of labour

This comparison is an estimate, not a quote, on both sides. Every figure is read from data/alberta/cost-model.json, the researched Alberta model this whole site prices against.

What the owner column is actually made of

Each bar is the running total once that line has landed, drawn against a single axis that ends at the top of the builder range. Lines marked your hands are the ones those months of labour are spent on. The bar shows where the running total has reached; the figure beside it is what that one line costs.

Driveway, clearing, site prepyour hands

$8,000

Screw-pile foundation (16-24 piles)trade or supplier

$10,000

SIP shell kit + erectionyour hands

$45,000

Metal roof, triple-pane windows, doors, sidingyour hands

$32,000

Interior fit-out (kitchen, bath, drywall, floor)your hands

$35,000

HRV, plumbing, electrical, wood stove + WETTyour hands

$30,000

Off-grid solar 8-12kW + 20-40kWh LiFePO4 + generatortrade or supplier

$48,000

Water: buried cistern (or well)trade or supplier

$12,000

AWG summer water module (recommended on every Aura home)your hands

$5,000

Private sewage incl. greywater (septic field or Ecoflo biofilter + subsurface drip)trade or supplier

$18,000

Wood-fired hot tub + deckyour hands

$14,000

Permits, design, engineering, insurancetrade or supplier

$12,000

Subtotal, all lines

$269,000

Contingency, as the model carries it

$32,280

Owner-orchestrated, published band$301,280

The gap that survives a bad runtop of the owner band to the bottom of the builder range — no figure printed, read it off the two bands—

Builder-delivered, sourced range$450,000–$650,000

Where the two columns nearly meet: the top of the owner band, $443,900, is within touching distance of the bottom of the builder range, $450,000. An owner-orchestrated build that goes badly is not a cheap build. The saving is real and it is earned, not granted.

Lean path$194,650including 12% contingency · tax excluded

Working midpoint$302,500including 12% contingency · tax excluded

Risk envelope$471,800including 12% contingency · tax excluded

Working midpoint rollup

Subtotal: $270,100
Contingency: $32,400
Project tax allowance: $0
Total: $302,500

Tax basis

0% planning assumption — project sales taxes are excluded.

Shape the scenario

Planning range — not a quote

Site conditionUtility strategyFinish levelDelivery pathAWG summer waterDelivery distance (km)Contingency

12%

Project tax allowance0% — project sales taxes excluded

03 · Cost basis

See what makes the number.

Scope	Basis	Status	Low	Mid	High
FoundationProtected galvanized screw piles, installedTrade or supplier	AC228-compliant galvanized helical piles, Alberta installed rate $380–700/pile. Grouted variants excluded — they reintroduce cementitious material.	Modelled	$6,850	$9,350	$12,600
ShellSip shell kit + erectionOwner-buildable	SIP kit incl. panels, splines, sealant; 12–20 week lead time from approved drawings.	Modelled	$31,150	$43,650	$57,150
RoofStanding seam metal roof + underlaymentOwner-buildable	Metal roof $8–15/sq ft installed; required for the rainwater catchment.	Modelled	$12,100	$17,450	$24,200
GlazingTriple-glazed windows and glazing walls, black anodised frames (3 openings)Owner-buildable	Alberta reference-size planning proxy, source date 2026-08: triple-pane $900–1,800 per window (Lux Calgary, All Weather Edmonton and Duxton Winnipeg, via data/alberta/cost-model.json), divided by an explicit 16 sq ft (4 ft × 4 ft) reference-size assumption to give $56.25, $84.38 and $112.50 per sq ft. The source does not state a reference window size: this is derived by division, not separately sourced, and is not a supplier quote or construction take-off. Quantity is glazed area with doors excluded; doors carry their own line. One rate covers punched windows and glazing walls: a large fixed lite buys glass more cheaply per square foot, while large-format framing, safety glazing, and installation cost more, and this codebase has a sourced figure for neither. NBC 9.36's prescriptive zone 7A FDWR reference is 22 percent, and nothing here checks a design against it.	Modelled	$9,900	$14,850	$19,800
GlazingInsulated exterior doorsOwner-buildable	Entry and secondary egress at $700–1,600 per door, the previous two-door allowance of $1,400–3,200 divided by the two doors it assumed. Quantity is the exterior doors the design draws.	Modelled	$700	$1,100	$1,600
EnergySolar array, 4.5 kWTrade or supplier	Off-grid array incl. racking + MPPT. Wiring is licensed work (CEC s.64).	Modelled	$9,450	$12,150	$15,300
EnergyLiFePO4 battery bank, 12 kWhTrade or supplier	Cold-rated LiFePO4 with heated enclosure.	Modelled	$5,150	$6,700	$8,650
EnergyWood stove + WETT-inspected chimneyOwner-buildable	WETT inspection required for insurance.	Modelled	$3,200	$5,000	$7,500
WaterAtmospheric water generator (summer producer)Owner-buildable	Recommended on every Aura home, not mandatory. 10–20 L/day Jun–Sep; ZERO outdoors in winter.	Modelled	$3,500	$5,000	$8,000
WaterBuried cistern, 5,000 L + pump and filtrationTrade or supplier	Poly tank, never concrete. Carries winter water.	Modelled	$8,000	$12,000	$18,000
WaterRainwater catchment — gutters, first-flush, filtrationOwner-buildable	Roof catchment to the cistern; metal roof makes it potable-capable.	Modelled	$2,200	$3,600	$5,400
WasteEcoflo-class septic + greywater biofilter, subsurface dripTrade or supplier	Certified installer by law. Greywater to subsurface drip irrigation, SOP 8.5.	Modelled	$12,000	$18,000	$28,000
MechanicalHeat-recovery ventilator + ductingOwner-buildable	An airtight envelope requires mechanical ventilation.	Modelled	$3,200	$4,800	$7,000
MechanicalPlumbing + electrical rough-in and finishOwner-buildable	Homeowner may pull their own permits under an Owner Builder Authorization.	Modelled	$11,200	$16,000	$22,350
InteriorInterior fit-out — kitchen, bath, partitions, finishesOwner-buildable	Owner-buildable. Ranges swing hardest here.	Modelled	$20,750	$33,550	$52,750
InteriorCork flooringOwner-buildable	Renewable, warm underfoot, quiet. Harvested without felling the tree.	Modelled	$4,450	$6,400	$8,950
InteriorReclaimed timber interior joineryOwner-buildable	Salvaged stock; availability drives price.	Modelled	$3,500	$6,500	$12,000
OutdoorWood-fired cedar hot tub + deckOwner-buildable	A first-class costed line item, not an afterthought. Deck $25–45/sq ft; no permit under 24in height.	Modelled	$8,000	$14,000	$22,000
SiteSite preparation allowanceTrade or supplier	Broad allowance until slope, access, soil, clearing, drainage and driveway are known.	Quote needed	$8,000	$20,000	$50,000
DeliveryDelivery and mobilization allowanceTrade or supplier	Broad allowance until the manufacturing or staging origin and road route are known.	Quote needed	$3,000	$8,000	$20,000
Soft CostsPermits, design coordination, engineering and build insuranceTrade or supplier	Alberta pilot allowance. Authority fees, professional scope and insurance are reconciled when the parcel and delivery method are known.	Allowance	$7,500	$12,000	$20,000

FoundationModelled

Protected galvanized screw piles, installed

AC228-compliant galvanized helical piles, Alberta installed rate $380–700/pile. Grouted variants excluded — they reintroduce cementitious material.

Low: $6,850
Mid: $9,350
High: $12,600

ShellModelled

Sip shell kit + erection

SIP kit incl. panels, splines, sealant; 12–20 week lead time from approved drawings.

Low: $31,150
Mid: $43,650
High: $57,150

RoofModelled

Standing seam metal roof + underlayment

Metal roof $8–15/sq ft installed; required for the rainwater catchment.

Low: $12,100
Mid: $17,450
High: $24,200

GlazingModelled

Triple-glazed windows and glazing walls, black anodised frames (3 openings)

Alberta reference-size planning proxy, source date 2026-08: triple-pane $900–1,800 per window (Lux Calgary, All Weather Edmonton and Duxton Winnipeg, via data/alberta/cost-model.json), divided by an explicit 16 sq ft (4 ft × 4 ft) reference-size assumption to give $56.25, $84.38 and $112.50 per sq ft. The source does not state a reference window size: this is derived by division, not separately sourced, and is not a supplier quote or construction take-off. Quantity is glazed area with doors excluded; doors carry their own line. One rate covers punched windows and glazing walls: a large fixed lite buys glass more cheaply per square foot, while large-format framing, safety glazing, and installation cost more, and this codebase has a sourced figure for neither. NBC 9.36's prescriptive zone 7A FDWR reference is 22 percent, and nothing here checks a design against it.

Low: $9,900
Mid: $14,850
High: $19,800

GlazingModelled

Insulated exterior doors

Entry and secondary egress at $700–1,600 per door, the previous two-door allowance of $1,400–3,200 divided by the two doors it assumed. Quantity is the exterior doors the design draws.

Low: $700
Mid: $1,100
High: $1,600

EnergyModelled

Solar array, 4.5 kW

Off-grid array incl. racking + MPPT. Wiring is licensed work (CEC s.64).

Low: $9,450
Mid: $12,150
High: $15,300

EnergyModelled

LiFePO4 battery bank, 12 kWh

Cold-rated LiFePO4 with heated enclosure.

Low: $5,150
Mid: $6,700
High: $8,650

EnergyModelled

Wood stove + WETT-inspected chimney

WETT inspection required for insurance.

Low: $3,200
Mid: $5,000
High: $7,500

WaterModelled

Atmospheric water generator (summer producer)

Recommended on every Aura home, not mandatory. 10–20 L/day Jun–Sep; ZERO outdoors in winter.

Low: $3,500
Mid: $5,000
High: $8,000

WaterModelled

Buried cistern, 5,000 L + pump and filtration

Poly tank, never concrete. Carries winter water.

Low: $8,000
Mid: $12,000
High: $18,000

WaterModelled

Rainwater catchment — gutters, first-flush, filtration

Roof catchment to the cistern; metal roof makes it potable-capable.

Low: $2,200
Mid: $3,600
High: $5,400

WasteModelled

Ecoflo-class septic + greywater biofilter, subsurface drip

Certified installer by law. Greywater to subsurface drip irrigation, SOP 8.5.

Low: $12,000
Mid: $18,000
High: $28,000

MechanicalModelled

Heat-recovery ventilator + ducting

An airtight envelope requires mechanical ventilation.

Low: $3,200
Mid: $4,800
High: $7,000

MechanicalModelled

Plumbing + electrical rough-in and finish

Homeowner may pull their own permits under an Owner Builder Authorization.

Low: $11,200
Mid: $16,000
High: $22,350

InteriorModelled

Interior fit-out — kitchen, bath, partitions, finishes

Owner-buildable. Ranges swing hardest here.

Low: $20,750
Mid: $33,550
High: $52,750

InteriorModelled

Cork flooring

Renewable, warm underfoot, quiet. Harvested without felling the tree.

Low: $4,450
Mid: $6,400
High: $8,950

InteriorModelled

Reclaimed timber interior joinery

Salvaged stock; availability drives price.

Low: $3,500
Mid: $6,500
High: $12,000

OutdoorModelled

Wood-fired cedar hot tub + deck

A first-class costed line item, not an afterthought. Deck $25–45/sq ft; no permit under 24in height.

Low: $8,000
Mid: $14,000
High: $22,000

SiteQuote needed

Site preparation allowance

Broad allowance until slope, access, soil, clearing, drainage and driveway are known.

Low: $8,000
Mid: $20,000
High: $50,000

DeliveryQuote needed

Delivery and mobilization allowance

Broad allowance until the manufacturing or staging origin and road route are known.

Low: $3,000
Mid: $8,000
High: $20,000

Soft CostsAllowance

Permits, design coordination, engineering and build insurance

Alberta pilot allowance. Authority fees, professional scope and insurance are reconciled when the parcel and delivery method are known.

Low: $7,500
Mid: $12,000
High: $20,000

Assumptions

The range is tied to design 0x0c227436 and 799 sq ft of modelled floor area.
Alberta is the pricing region; supplier and trade quotes supersede these allowances.
standard finish, hybrid delivery and 12% contingency are selected.
Project sales taxes are excluded under the 0% planning assumption.

Not included

Land purchase price, financing costs and property taxes are excluded.
GST and other project sales taxes, municipal levies and utility-provider fees are excluded unless a line says otherwise.
No structural, energy, permit or contractor quote is implied by this planning range.

04 · Real quotes

Reconcile, don’t replace.

Map each vendor line to the Aura scope it covers. Missing work, allowances and stale dates remain visible.

Add a quote

Saved locally

Vendor or contractorValid until

RFQ basisNo prepared RFQ exists in this project yet; this quote will remain explicitly unlinked.

Quote lines

Line 1DescriptionAmount CADAura scopeAllowance, not fixed

NotesOriginal quote filePDF, JSON, text or image · 5 MB maximum

Saved comparisons

0 quotes

No supplier evidence yet.

Add the first quote without pretending it covers the whole build. Aura will compare only the scopes you map.