Construction Trade Estimating & Takeoff Services
Remarkable Estimating Services prepares quantity takeoffs and cost estimates for 19 construction trades, from concrete and framing to electrical and plumbing. General contractors, subcontractors, builders and developers send us their drawings and receive itemized quantities, with material and labor pricing when requested. We are an estimating firm; we do not perform construction work.
Why Estimate by Trade?
A trade estimate prices one scope of work the way the contractor who performs it will bid it: with that trade's own units, waste allowances, crew assumptions and exclusions. It answers a narrower question than a whole-building estimate, which is usually the question a subcontractor or a general contractor checking one scope actually has.
In practice, trade-specific estimating is used to prepare a subcontract bid, to verify the quantities behind a quote you have received, to build a material list for supplier pricing, or to work out the labor hours a scope will take. It is also the part of estimating that contractors most often hand off when several bids land in the same week, because the measuring takes the most time and the pricing decisions can stay in-house.
Trade estimating is one part of our construction cost estimating and quantity takeoff services. If you need every division of a building priced, start there; if you need one trade or a handful of them, start with the trade list below. Our other service lines, including steel detailing, insurance claims estimating and permit drawings, are described on the services overview.
Remarkable Estimating Services, LLC is based in Hawthorne, California, in Los Angeles County. We work remotely: drawings are shared digitally and deliverables are returned by email, so contractors anywhere in the United States can use the service.
Construction Trades We Estimate
We provide estimating and quantity takeoff services for the 19 trades below, grouped by where the work sits in a building. Each summary describes what a takeoff for that trade typically measures; the linked trade page covers the documents we need, our process and trade-specific questions.
Demolition, Site & Earthwork
Work that prepares the ground and the site before and around the building.
Demolition Estimating
Demolition takeoffs quantify what has to come out before new work starts: selective interior removal, whole-structure demolition, slab and pavement breakout, and the debris volumes that follow. Depending on the requested scope, the estimate can add crew hours, equipment, and dumpster or trucking costs, with any hazardous-material survey items flagged for you to confirm.
View Demolition Estimating Services →Excavation Estimating
Excavation estimates turn grading and foundation drawings into cut, fill, import and export volumes, with swell and compaction factors stated. They can cover building pads, footing and basement digs, trenching, shoring allowances and dewatering where the geotechnical report calls for it, plus equipment hours and haul trips.
View Excavation Estimating Services →Sitework Estimating
Sitework estimates cover the ground between the building and the property line: storm, sewer and water utilities by pipe size and depth, aggregate base, asphalt and concrete paving, curbs and erosion control. Quantities come from the civil set and can be priced as one site package or split by scope for subcontractor bids.
View Sitework Estimating Services →Landscape Estimating
Landscape takeoffs count plant material by species and container size and measure sod, seed, mulch, topsoil and hardscape areas from the landscape plans. Irrigation can be added as heads, valves, controllers and lateral pipe, so the quantities line up with the planting schedule and the irrigation layout.
View Landscape Estimating Services →Structure
The trades that carry the building: foundations, frame and load-bearing walls.
Concrete Estimating
Concrete takeoffs break the structural set into individual elements (footings, grade beams, slabs on grade, elevated decks, walls, columns and site flatwork) and report cubic yards, formwork area and reinforcing weight for each. Ready-mix, rebar, placement and finishing labor can be priced on top when a full estimate is needed.
View Concrete Estimating Services →Masonry Estimating
Masonry estimating counts brick, block and stone units for each wall elevation and works out mortar and grout from the specified joints and cell fill. It also picks up what sits inside the wall: joint reinforcement, vertical rebar, ties, lintels, flashing and control joints, with scaffolding and mason crew time when labor is requested.
View Masonry Estimating Services →Metal & Structural Steel Estimating
Metal estimates list structural steel member by member and convert it to tonnage, then add connections, base plates, joists and deck. Miscellaneous metals such as stairs, railings, lintels and embeds are taken off from the architectural sheets too, because they rarely appear on the framing plan.
View Metal & Steel Estimating Services →Framing Estimating
Framing takeoffs cover wood and light-gauge steel structure: studs, plates, headers, joists, rafters or trusses, sheathing and connector hardware, organized by floor and wall type. The result can serve as a lumber or stud package for supplier quotes, or as a priced framing estimate that includes crew hours.
View Framing Estimating Services →Building Envelope
The roof and the openings that close the building in.
Roofing Estimating
Roofing estimates measure each roof area at its true slope rather than its plan area, and keep low-slope membrane, shingle, tile and metal systems apart. Insulation, tapered packages, underlayment, flashing, edge metal, curbs and penetrations are itemized, so the waste allowance can follow how complicated the roof actually is.
View Roofing Estimating Services →Glass & Glazing Estimating
Glazing estimates cover storefront, curtain wall, window wall, punched windows, interior glass partitions and mirrors. Framing members are measured by the linear foot and glass by area and type, with entrance doors, hardware and sealants listed from the elevations and door schedule.
View Glass & Glazing Estimating Services →Interiors & Finishes
The work that turns an enclosed shell into finished space.
Drywall Estimating
Drywall takeoffs work from the wall-type legend and reflected ceiling plans: board by thickness and type, metal studs and track by gauge, rated and shaft-wall assemblies, insulation and finish level. Wall heights come from the sections, so board and taping quantities reflect full-height walls and soffits rather than ceiling lines.
View Drywall Estimating Services →Millwork & Casework Estimating
Millwork estimating covers cabinets, casework, countertops, wall paneling and finish trim, counted piece by piece from the interior elevations. The specified AWI grade, species and hardware drive shop and installation labor, so those details are carried into the takeoff instead of being averaged out.
View Millwork Estimating Services →Flooring Estimating
Flooring takeoffs divide floor areas by room and material: tile, hardwood, luxury vinyl, carpet, sheet goods and resinous coatings. Waste is set for each material and lay pattern, and base, transitions, underlayment, moisture mitigation and floor preparation are listed so the layers between slab and finish are accounted for.
View Flooring Estimating Services →Painting Estimating
Painting estimates measure paintable surfaces from the finish schedule, including both faces of partitions, ceilings, doors, frames and exposed structure, and apply the coating system the specifications require. Paint is quantified from coverage rates and coat counts, with surface preparation, lifts and labor added for a priced estimate.
View Painting Estimating Services →Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Systems
Building systems, estimated system by system so each scope can be reviewed on its own.
Mechanical Estimating
Mechanical estimating suits contracts that bundle several systems under one contractor: HVAC equipment and ductwork, hydronic and process piping, plumbing and fire protection. Each system stays in its own section with material and labor, so the package can be reviewed as a whole or handed out to subcontractors by system.
View Mechanical Estimating Services →HVAC Estimating
HVAC takeoffs focus on air-side and equipment scope: rooftop units, air handlers, split systems, VAV boxes, ductwork by size and gauge, grilles, diffusers, dampers, insulation and controls interfaces. Ductwork is measured from the mechanical plans by length or weight, and testing and balancing can be carried as its own line.
View HVAC Estimating Services →Plumbing Estimating
Plumbing estimates count fixtures from the schedule and measure domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, storm and gas piping by size and material. Below-slab work is separated from above-ground piping, and rough-in is kept apart from fixture trim, so labor follows the order in which the job is built.
View Plumbing Estimating Services →Electrical Takeoff & Estimating
Electrical takeoffs count devices, light fixtures and equipment and measure conduit and wire from the power, lighting and one-line drawings. Panels, switchgear, feeders and branch circuits are itemized, and pricing is built in estimating software including Accubid. Fire alarm, data and security cabling are usually estimated under low voltage.
View Electrical Estimating Services →Low Voltage Estimating
Low voltage estimating covers systems that run on their own cabling: fire alarm, structured data, access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, audio-visual and nurse call. Devices, cable lengths, pathways and head-end equipment are listed system by system, with testing and programming carried as labor where requested.
View Low Voltage Estimating Services →What Can a Trade Estimate Include?
Depending on the requested scope, a trade estimate can be a quantities-only takeoff or a fully priced estimate. You choose the level of detail when you request the quote. The difference between the two is explained in our guide to material takeoffs vs. cost estimates.
Not every item below applies to every trade or every project. A landscape takeoff for plant counts may need nothing beyond quantities, while an electrical estimate for a hard bid usually needs most of the list.
- Quantity takeoff: measured quantities by item, location or system, traceable to the drawings.
- Material list: materials described by size, type and grade so they can be sent to suppliers.
- Labor hours: estimated hours by task where labor is part of the requested scope.
- Material and labor pricing: unit costs and extended totals when a priced estimate is requested.
- Equipment: lifts, cranes or machinery the scope requires, where applicable to the trade.
- Cost breakdown: totals organized by trade section, CSI division or area.
- Scope notes: inclusions, exclusions and assumptions stated in writing.
- Marked-up drawings: plan markups showing what was measured, where requested.
- File format: Excel and PDF deliverables.
One Trade or Several on the Same Project?
Both are available. The right choice depends on what you are bidding and what you already have in-house.
A single-trade takeoff
Suits a subcontractor bidding its own scope, a general contractor checking one subcontractor quote, or a contractor who needs a plug number for a trade with no quote yet. The estimate covers that trade alone, with its own exclusions, so it can be compared line by line with other bids for the same scope.
Several trades on one project
Suits a contractor who self-performs more than one scope, or a general contractor who wants independent numbers for several packages. All trades are measured from the same document set and pricing basis, and each stays in its own section so packages can be reviewed or bought out separately.
The whole building
When the request covers every division rather than selected trades, the work is better handled as a full-project estimate. See full-project cost estimating and quantity takeoffs for how a complete, CSI-organized estimate is put together.
Who Uses Our Trade Estimating Services?
Our clients are construction businesses and project owners who need numbers, not a builder. Typical clients include:
- Subcontractors and trade contractors pricing their own scope for a general contractor or owner.
- General contractors checking subcontractor coverage or carrying a number for a trade they have no quote for.
- Builders and developers budgeting individual scopes during design or before buyout.
- Construction companies adding estimating capacity during busy bid periods instead of hiring for peak volume.
- Property owners who want an independent check of a trade price they have been given.
Estimating only, never the work itself
Remarkable Estimating Services prepares estimates and takeoffs for clients. We do not perform construction, act as a contractor on any project, or submit bids on a client's behalf, so we are never competing with the contractors who use our numbers.
Contractors weighing whether to keep estimating in-house can read in-house vs. outsourced construction estimating.
What Do We Need to Prepare Your Trade Estimate?
Requirements depend on the trade and the project. A residential framing takeoff may need only the architectural and structural sheets, while a commercial plumbing estimate also needs the specifications and the fixture schedule. As a starting point, send:
If something is missing, we point it out before work starts and note any assumptions in the estimate. Our guide to how estimators use plans and specifications explains why the specifications matter as much as the drawings.
- Construction drawings for the trade (PDF, CAD or Bluebeam)
- Specifications or the project manual sections for that trade
- All addenda issued to date
- The bid form, if alternates or unit prices are requested
- The trade or trades you want estimated, and your scope boundaries
- Project location (city or ZIP code)
- Pricing basis: quantities only, or material and labor pricing
- Prevailing wage requirements, if they apply to the project
- Your supplier quotes or labor rates, if you want them used
- Your bid deadline
How Pricing Works
Material and labor pricing in the estimate
When pricing is requested, material and labor costs are developed from published cost data such as RSMeans and National Estimator together with local supplier information, adjusted for the project's location. Published cost data is a starting point, not a live market quote, so volatile materials benefit from current supplier pricing. If you provide your own supplier quotes or crew rates, the estimate can use them instead.
On projects that require prevailing wages, labor can be priced using the applicable wage determination when you identify it or include it with the bid documents. More on labor pricing is in our construction labor cost estimating guide.
What affects the cost of a trade estimate
Each request is quoted individually before work begins, and quotes are free. The price of the estimate depends on:
- Project size and the number of drawing sheets
- The trade and the complexity of its scope
- How complete the drawings and specifications are
- Whether you need quantities only or full pricing
- The number of trades included
- Deliverables requested, such as marked-up drawings
- Turnaround, including rush requests
How to Get Started
Send the project documents
Upload a link to the drawings through the quote form below, or email them to info@remarkableestimating.com.
Define the trade and scope
Tell us which trade or trades to estimate, where the scope starts and stops, and whether you want quantities only or a priced estimate.
Confirm price and turnaround
We review the documents and send a quote with the price and delivery date. Work starts once you approve it.
The takeoff or estimate is prepared
Quantities are measured from your drawings using digital takeoff software such as PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu and On-Screen Takeoff, then priced if requested and reviewed before delivery.
Deliverables are sent for your review
You receive the estimate in Excel and PDF, typically within 48–72 hours depending on scope, ready to check against your own numbers before bid day.
Trade Estimating FAQs
What construction trades does Remarkable Estimating Services estimate?
Can I order a takeoff for only one trade?
Can you estimate several trades on the same project?
Can you prepare a takeoff from PDF construction drawings?
Can you use my supplier pricing or labor rates?
Can prevailing wage requirements be included in a trade estimate?
Does Remarkable Estimating Services perform construction work or submit bids?
Request a Trade Estimate Quote
Send your drawings and tell us the trade or trades you need. We will reply with a scope, a turnaround and a price for the estimate, usually within 24 hours.
- Free quotes before any work begins
- One trade or several on the same project
- PDF, CAD and Bluebeam files accepted
- Excel and PDF deliverables
- Money-back guarantee if there are errors in our takeoffs
- NDA available on request
Prefer to send plans directly? Email info@remarkableestimating.com
Need a Takeoff for Your Trade?
Send the drawings, tell us the trade and the deadline, and we will reply with a quote for the estimate. Mon – Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Pacific.