Outsourced Construction Estimating
& Quantity Takeoff Services
F&K Estimatings prepares quantity takeoffs and cost estimates from your plans for general contractors, subcontractors, and builders. Single-trade takeoffs typically cost $150 – $350 with 24–48 hours turnaround (see pricing); send your drawings and bid deadline for a written quote with the fee and delivery date, usually the same business day.
Serving general contractors, developers, and trade subcontractors across the United States.
Construction estimating services for contractors nationwide
Full-Spectrum Estimating Services
Itemized quantity takeoffs, detailed cost estimates, and bid preparation support for contractors bidding work anywhere in the U.S.
Construction Estimating
Comprehensive budget estimates and bid-day pricing models covering direct material costs, localized labor burdens, and general conditions across all CSI divisions.
Quantity Takeoffs (QTO)
Precision digital material takeoffs generated in PlanSwift and Bluebeam Revu. Itemized Bills of Quantities (BOQ) with dynamic formulas and waste factor calculations.
Commercial Estimating
Tailored preconstruction deliverables for office buildings, retail centers, warehouses, healthcare clinics, and commercial tenant improvement (TI) fit-outs.
Residential Estimating
Complete cost estimations for custom single-family homes, townhouses, tract housing developments, renovations, and residential multi-family subdivisions.
Industrial & Multi-Family
Heavy industrial logistics plants, manufacturing hubs, refinery piping takeoffs, and 5-over-1 podium multi-family residential housing cost modeling.
Value Engineering & Review
Forensic blueprint constructability reviews, RFI log audits, scope-gap mitigation, and strategic material substitution to maximize bid profitability.
Specialized Trade Estimating Desks
Forensic material takeoffs and localized RSMeans unit pricing calibrated for specialized trade subcontractors and general contractors across the USA.
Concrete Estimating Services
Cubic Yardage (CY) • Rebar Tonnage • Formwork (SFCA)
Expert takeoffs for continuous footings, grade beams, post-tensioned slabs, tilt-up panels, ASTM bar-by-bar rebar schedules, and ACI 301/318 compliance.
Masonry Estimating
CSI Div 04 • CMU & Brick Veneer
Granular CMU block piece-counts, architectural stone, core-grout volume, mortar bags, lintels, and structural masonry rebar reinforcement takeoffs.
Structural Steel & Metals
CSI Div 05 • AISC Weight Schedules
Linear footage and poundage tonnage for wide-flange beams, HSS columns, bar joists, metal decking, stairs, railings, and shop weld allowances.
MEP Estimating Systems
CSI Div 21, 22, 23, 26 • Multi-Trade
Coordinated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing packages eliminating scope gaps between ductwork, switchgear, fixtures, and piping.
Sitework & Earthwork
CSI Div 31 & 32 • 3D Cut & Fill
Precision 3D volumetric grading models, underground storm/water utilities, asphalt paving base, extruded curbs, and clearing square yards.
Lumber & Framing Takeoffs
CSI Div 06 • Board-Footage Lists
Piece-by-piece dimensional lumber cut lists, engineered wood (LVL, Glulam, I-Joists), roof trusses, sheathing, and Simpson Strong-Tie hardware.
Industry-Leading Estimating Software Stack
Transforming Complex Blueprints into Highly Profitable Bids
As your dedicated outsourced estimating department, F&K Estimatings fundamentally streamlines your preconstruction workflow. We produce itemized material takeoffs and localized cost estimates from your drawings. By offloading digital quantification to our estimators, contractors can spend more time on project execution and business development.
We work remotely from the plans and specifications you send, so we can support contractors in any U.S. state. Every takeoff is organized by CSI MasterFormat, marked up on the drawings so you can check each quantity, and reviewed before delivery. See published price ranges and how we review estimates.
Services are scoped to the project documents and requested trades. Contact us to discuss a current bid package.
Scope-based estimating workflow
The proposal identifies the documents reviewed, trades included, requested quantities or cost detail, assumptions, exclusions, and delivery date for the project.
Delivery date confirmed up front
The written quote confirms the expected delivery schedule after the project documents and requested scope are reviewed.
Specialized Industry Expertise
Estimates reflect the building type, local labor rates, and material specifications shown in your documents.
Government & Public Works
Navigating strict prevailing wage requirements, Davis-Bacon Act regulations, and massive municipal civil infrastructure bids.
Commercial & Retail Developments
Rigorous cost analysis for mixed-use retail developments, high-rise corporate offices, hospitality build-outs, and tenant fit-outs.
Residential & Multi-Family
Detailed material takeoffs for custom homes, sprawling multi-family apartment complexes, and high-density townhome subdivisions.
Lumber & Material Suppliers
Independent third-party quantity takeoffs that help lumberyards and suppliers prepare material quotes faster.
Industrial & Manufacturing
Complex MEP, process piping, and structural calculations for logistics hubs, manufacturing facilities, power plants, and refineries.
Trade Subcontractor Packages
Fast-turnaround division-specific takeoff sheets (electrical, plumbing, drywall, roofing, concrete) designed to maximize bid volume.
Advanced Takeoff Methodologies
Digital quantification in PlanSwift and Bluebeam Revu, organized by CSI MasterFormat division.
Strategic Bidding Workflow
A simple, documented process: you send plans, we confirm scope and price in writing, then deliver on the agreed date.
Submit Project
Upload your blueprints, project specs, and specific bidding parameters.
Review & Quote
Receive a project-specific quote with scope and proposed delivery timing.
Approval
Authorize scope of work and lock in your delivery schedule.
Forensic Estimation
Estimators perform the digital takeoff in PlanSwift or Bluebeam and apply RSMeans-based or your own pricing.
Delivery & Support
Get detailed Excel sheets and color PDF markups, plus answers to questions about the numbers.
Clear estimating deliverables
Each proposal defines the included trades, measurement basis, requested output, assumptions, exclusions, price, and delivery schedule for the submitted project.
Request A Project Quote Today
Describe your project and bid deadline. We will confirm the proposed scope, price, and delivery schedule in a written quote.
The Chief Estimator's FAQ
Straight answers about deliverables, pricing, accuracy, and turnaround.
Q. What is construction estimating and what deliverables do I receive?
Construction estimating is the process of quantifying materials, labor, equipment, and overhead from drawings and specifications. You receive line-item Excel spreadsheets organized by CSI MasterFormat, color-coded PDF takeoff markups that show every measurement, and a summary that lists the documents used, assumptions, and exclusions.
Q. How much do construction estimating services cost?
Typical ranges: a single-trade material takeoff is $150 – $350, a residential construction estimate is $250 – $450, a commercial preconstruction package is $450 – $1,200, and industrial or heavy civil takeoffs are $1,000 – $3,500+. A dedicated estimator retainer is $1,800 – $3,000 / month. The final fee depends on drawing count, trades, and whether you need quantities only or a priced estimate, and you receive a written quote with the fee and delivery date, usually the same business day. See the full pricing guide →
Q. How accurate are your material takeoffs?
Quantities are measured digitally from the documents you send and every measurement is marked up on the drawings so you can check it. Accuracy depends on how complete and current the drawings are, so each estimate lists the sheets, revisions, assumptions, and exclusions it is based on. We do not quote an accuracy percentage; if you find a quantity that does not match the documents we used, tell us and we will review and correct it.
Q. What is your standard turnaround time?
Standard turnaround is 24–48 hours for a single trade; 2–5 business days for multi-trade or large projects. The exact delivery date for your project is confirmed in the written quote before work begins.
Q. What trades do you cover?
We cover the CSI MasterFormat divisions most contractors bid: concrete, masonry, structural steel, lumber and framing, thermal and moisture protection, roofing, openings, drywall, painting, flooring, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, sitework, earthwork, demolition, and landscaping. Browse all trades →
Q. Why should contractors outsource estimating?
Outsourcing adds estimating capacity without adding payroll. It helps when your team is at capacity, when you want to bid more work, or when you need a trade you do not estimate often. Compare the quoted scope and fee with the cost of doing the takeoff in-house. Compare outsourcing vs. an in-house estimator →