Pricing and Assumptions

How pricing works in SurfaceIQ

SurfaceIQ does not guess ZIP-level pricing. It uses region tiers and a pricing table that you can customize.

When you build an estimate, the system pulls pricing from:

1. Your region pricing (if configured).
2. Default pricing (if no region is configured).

You will see a message if default pricing is used.

What is a region tier

A region tier is a pricing band such as:

• State
• Metro
• Urban / Suburban / Rural

You can create any region name and tier in Pricing Admin. Estimates use the region tied to your project or organization.

Pricing table basics

Each pricing item has:

• Item type (asphalt, base, tack, sealcoat, striping)
• Unit (sqft, ton, lf, etc)
• Low, mid, and high price

The estimate uses the mid price by default and then applies your margin.

Assumptions you control in the estimate

• Area (sqft)
• Thickness (inches)
• Asphalt type (HMA, WMA, RAP)
• Base layer inclusion
• Add-ons (tack, sealcoat, striping, crack fill)
• Custom items
• Margin percent

Default pricing vs regional pricing

If no region is configured, SurfaceIQ uses default pricing. This is useful for early testing but should not be used long term.

To move from default to regional pricing:

1. Create a region in Pricing Admin.
2. Import or refresh pricing data.
3. Re-run your estimate.

How to increase accuracy

• Use accurate measurements.
• Set thickness based on traffic load.
• Update pricing tables monthly.
• Add custom items for unique site conditions.
• Use margin that reflects risk and overhead.

Common pricing mistakes

• Using default pricing for all regions.
• Forgetting base layer on new asphalt.
• Ignoring mobilization or hauling costs.
• Using the wrong asphalt type.

If your pricing looks wrong

1. Check the area and thickness.
2. Verify the project type.
3. Confirm your pricing region.
4. Review custom items.
5. Adjust margin.