The price per metre follows the scope
Two halls with the same panel area may require different installation arrangements. One has repetitive walls and clear access; the other has many openings, phased work and nearby operating production. We therefore treat the online calculator as a starting point for discussion. A binding offer requires review of documentation, location, dates and responsibilities. We tailor the price to the agreed scope and delivery conditions.
A quotation must also establish whether it covers panels only or the complete agreed installation scope including flashings. ‘Full installation’ does not automatically include material supply, the load-bearing structure or building services.
Measurements that can be checked
A calculation example, not a PM project: a wall is 30 m long and 4 m high, giving 120 m² gross. Two 4 × 4 m openings occupy 32 m², leaving 88 m² net. Reveals and heads also require separate description. This shows why reducing panel area does not necessarily reduce labour proportionally.
- Separate walls, roofs, ceilings and internal envelopes.
- Record how openings and cut panels are measured and charged.
- List flashings by type and length, and show non-standard details on drawings.
- State working height, access around the facility and staged work area handovers.
- Provide the country, town, required dates and expected continuity of work.
Organisational costs also need an owner
Use a simple table: materials, unloading, access equipment, lifting equipment, crew travel, accommodation, site facilities and waste. Identify who organises and pays for each item. An apparently cheaper offer can then be assessed without overlooking items left to the client.
Lifting plans must consider equipment, people and foreseeable hazards. UK HSE describes this as part of operational planning; projects elsewhere are subject to relevant local requirements. A cost plan should identify who organises the operation and resources, rather than merely name a machine. HSE — planning lifting operations.
Fixed price or time-based work
A defined scope can support a fixed-price proposal. With incomplete documentation or changing tasks, hourly terms may be a starting point. Both require rules for reporting additional work. A change should identify the addition, approving person and effects on timing and payment. Reaching agreement after the work is harder for both sides.
For an initial discussion, the location, planned dates, approximate measurements and available drawings are enough. Identify missing documentation so we can establish which parts can be quoted and which need further agreement.
What to do when documentation is incomplete
You do not need every drawing before the first discussion. Separate confirmed and estimated area, dates, sectors and product choices in your enquiry. Then ask for the information still needed for an offer. Mobilisation and the working model can be discussed while detailed flashings await elevations. This gives an initial estimate clear assumptions. When documentation changes, it is clear which items need updating and why the earlier result is not yet a binding price.
Sources and documentation
Editorial update: 9 October 2026. The manufacturer and institutional sources used to check this information are listed below. The checklists and workflow examples were prepared by Panel Montage.
Information about the team's work is based on project documentation from 2025–2026. The public list of locations and scopes is available on our project map.