New York · Remote estimating from your documents
Construction Estimating Services in New York
F&K Estimatings prepares quantity takeoffs and priced estimates for contractors bidding New York projects, from New York City high-rise and renovation work to upstate commercial and public jobs. We work remotely from your documents and state which code, wage schedule and tax treatment the estimate assumes, because those differ between New York City and the rest of the state.
F&K works remotely from your project documents and does not have an office in New York.
What changes an estimate in New York
New York has two code systems and two prevailing-wage publishers, so the first question on any New York estimate is where the project is.
| Requirement | What it means for the estimate | Scope affected |
|---|---|---|
| NYC Construction CodesNYC DOB – 2022 Construction Codes | New York City has its own construction codes; current NYC work is filed under the 2022 NYC Construction Codes (including the building, plumbing, energy and electrical codes), administered by the Department of Buildings. | Code-driven items in every division for work in the five boroughs |
| State Uniform Code, 2025 editionNYS Department of State – 2025 Uniform Code | Building permit applications submitted from December 31, 2025 must comply with the 2025 Uniform Code and Energy Code, which replace the 2020 editions. Projects near that date may have been permitted under either edition. | Code-driven items for projects permitted under the Uniform Code |
| Prevailing wage on public work (Labor Law §220)NY Labor Law §220 | Public work contracts must require prevailing wages and supplements. The rates are set each year by the fiscal officer: in New York City, the Comptroller; elsewhere, the Commissioner of Labor, whose Bureau of Public Work publishes the wage schedules. | Labor rates and supplements in every trade |
| Sales tax: capital improvements vs repairsNYS Tax – capital improvements (TB-ST-104) | On capital improvement work the contractor should get Form ST-124 from the customer and not collect sales tax on the project. Repair, maintenance and installation work is different: the contractor must charge sales tax (TB-ST-129). The same trade scope can be taxed differently depending on the work. | How material cost and tax are carried in the bid |
| Local Law 97 emissions limits (NYC)NYC DOB – Local Law 97 | New York City buildings over 25,000 gross square feet (and certain groups of buildings on one lot) must meet greenhouse-gas emissions limits beginning in 2024, with stricter limits from 2030. That is driving HVAC, electrification and envelope retrofit scopes. | Mechanical, electrical and envelope retrofit projects |
New York City projects
In the five boroughs, site safety rules and building programs add scope that does not exist elsewhere in the state.
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DOB site safety for major buildings
A site safety manager or site safety coordinator must be designated and present at the construction or demolition of a major building (NYC Building Code §3301.3 and §3310), and a construction superintendent is required on the buildings listed in §3301.13.3. We carry these as general conditions items for you to confirm. NYC Building Code Chapter 33
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Facade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP)
Owners of buildings higher than six stories must have exterior walls and appurtenances inspected every five years and file a technical facade report; deadlines run in cycles (currently Cycle 10, split into sub-cycles A, B and C). Repair work that follows the report — masonry, lintels, parapets, sidewalk sheds — is priced from the architect’s or engineer’s repair drawings. NYC DOB – FISP
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Sitework next to existing buildings and streets
Excavation support, underpinning, dewatering and street or sidewalk restoration in dense blocks are measured from the foundation, support-of-excavation and site plans. When those systems are delegated design, we list them as allowances or exclusions so bids stay comparable.
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Outside New York City
Projects outside the five boroughs are permitted under the state Uniform Code, and public work there uses the Commissioner of Labor’s wage schedules. For work scheduled in winter we price the protection, heating and concrete measures the specifications and schedule require, instead of a blanket seasonal percentage.
Services for New York projects
- Quantity takeoff — measured quantities for your own pricing
- Construction estimating — a priced estimate for a bid
- Commercial estimating — office, conversion and fit-out bids
- Industrial estimating — infrastructure-adjacent and industrial scopes
- Cost estimating — budgets during design, including retrofit options
- Plan review — scope-gap review before a bid
Trades most affected
- Sitework estimating — excavation, support of excavation and street restoration in dense sites
- Masonry estimating — facade repair and new masonry from FISP and design drawings
- Drywall estimating — high-rise partitions, shaft walls and rated assemblies
- HVAC estimating — Local Law 97 mechanical upgrades and electrification
- Concrete estimating — superstructure and foundations, including cold-weather measures when specified
- Demolition estimating — interior strip-outs in occupied buildings
What to send for a New York estimate
- Current drawings (all disciplines you want included) and the project manual / specifications
- Addenda issued so far, and the bid date
- Trades to include and any exclusions
- Whether you need quantities only or quantities with pricing
- Project address (NYC borough or county) so the right code and wage schedule are used
- For public work: the applicable Comptroller or NYSDOL wage schedule
- Site safety plan and logistics plan, if prepared
- Whether the work is a capital improvement or repair, for sales tax
How the estimate is prepared
- 1. Document review. Drawings, specifications and addenda are checked for missing sheets, scale and revision before work starts.
- 2. Scope definition. Trades, inclusions, exclusions and the deliverable (quantities only, or priced) are agreed in the written quote.
- 3. Digital takeoff. Quantities are measured on screen in PlanSwift and Bluebeam Revu, each item on its own colored markup layer.
- 4. Pricing (priced estimates). Labor, material and equipment use RSMeans-based cost data for the project ZIP code, or your own rates and supplier quotes.
- 5. Review and delivery. The estimate is checked for missed scope and double counting, then delivered as PDF markups and an Excel workbook by CSI division.
Fees and turnaround
Typical ranges set by F&K; the written quote for your project states the actual fee and delivery date. You receive a written quote with the fee and delivery date, usually the same business day.
| Scope | Typical fee | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Single-trade material takeoff | $150 – $350 | 24–48 hours |
| Residential construction estimate | $250 – $450 | 2–3 business days |
| Commercial preconstruction package | $450 – $1,200 | 2–4 business days |
| Industrial & heavy civil takeoff | $1,000 – $3,500+ | 3–5 business days |
| Dedicated estimator retainer | $1,800 – $3,000 / month | Priority queue |
An estimate reflects the documents and assumptions provided; it is not a guarantee of final construction cost.
New York estimating questions
What construction estimating services are available for New York projects?
F&K provides quantity takeoffs, priced estimates, commercial and industrial estimates, design-stage budgets, plan reviews and trade takeoffs such as sitework, masonry, drywall and HVAC for New York City and New York State projects, prepared remotely from your documents.
Do you estimate New York City projects differently from upstate projects?
Yes. NYC projects follow the NYC Construction Codes, Comptroller-set prevailing wages for public work and DOB site safety rules; the rest of the state follows the Uniform Code (2025 edition for permit applications from December 31, 2025) and the Commissioner of Labor’s schedules. The estimate states which basis it uses.
Can you include site safety costs for NYC high-rise work?
Yes. For major buildings we list the site safety manager or coordinator, sidewalk sheds, netting and related general conditions shown or required by the plans as line items for you to confirm.
Do you estimate Local Law 97 retrofit work?
Yes, from the engineer’s retrofit drawings and specifications: mechanical replacements, electrical service upgrades and envelope work are measured and priced like any other scope.
How much does a New York estimate cost and how long does it take?
Typical fees start at $150–$350 for a single-trade takeoff (usually 24–48 hours); commercial preconstruction packages are typically $450–$1,200 over 2–4 business days. The written quote states the fee and delivery date.
Sources
Checked September 2026. Requirements change; confirm the edition and rules that apply with the authority having jurisdiction for your project.
Send your New York drawings for a written quote
Include the address or borough, the bid date and the trades. We reply with the fee and delivery date.
Request a New York estimateOr email fandkestimations@gmail.com · call +1 (317) 751-5969