Foundations
Spread footings, continuous footings, grade beams, pile caps, drilled piers, stem walls and foundation walls are measured from the foundation plan, schedules and sections, with excavation interfaces noted for the sitework estimate.
CSI Division 03 · Concrete trade estimating
Concrete estimating and takeoff services
Footings, foundations, slabs on grade, elevated decks, walls, columns, rebar, formwork, finishing and labor, measured from your structural drawings.
Concrete Estimating you can bid with confidence
Concrete is often the largest single trade on a commercial project, and small takeoff errors multiply quickly when they are converted into cubic yards, tons of rebar and square feet of formwork. Our concrete estimating service measures every element on your structural drawings and prices material, labor and equipment so your bid reflects the real cost of the work.
We support concrete contractors, foundation contractors, flatwork crews, tilt-up contractors and general contractors who self-perform concrete. Send us the structural and architectural drawings, the geotechnical report if you have it, and the specifications. We return an Excel estimate organized by CSI Division 03 with concrete volumes, rebar weights, formwork areas, finishing, curing and labor, plus colour-coded marked-up plans.
Each element is broken out separately so you can see the cost of footings versus slabs versus walls, check our quantities against your own and adjust productivity to suit your crews.
Want a quick budget first? Try our free construction calculators, then send your drawings for a line-item estimate.
What we take off
- Spread, continuous and grade beam footings
- Drilled piers, pile caps and foundation walls
- Slab on grade, vapor barrier, base and thickened edges
- Elevated slabs, decks on metal deck and post-tensioned slabs
- Columns, beams, shear walls and stairs
- Reinforcing steel by bar size, plus mesh and dowels
- Formwork contact area, embeds, anchor bolts and joints
- Placing, finishing, curing, pumping and testing
What you receive
- Excel estimate organized by CSI division and section
- Quantities with waste factors shown separately
- Unit material, labor and equipment pricing for your project location
- Summary sheet with totals and cost per square foot
- Colour-coded marked-up plans (PDF) for every quantity
- Written assumptions, clarifications and exclusions
Scope
Concrete scope we estimate
Slabs on grade
Slabs are measured by thickness and area with thickened edges, interior footings, depressions and slab steps. Vapor retarder, aggregate base, sawcut and construction joints, edge forms and finishing requirements are included as specified.
Elevated concrete
Elevated slabs, slab on metal deck, post-tensioned decks, beams, columns and shear walls are measured with shoring and formwork requirements, so the labor-intensive elements are priced correctly.
Reinforcing steel
Rebar is taken off by bar size and converted to weight using standard bar weights, with laps, hooks, chairs and dowels allowed for. Welded wire reinforcement and fiber reinforcement are calculated by area. Detailed rebar takeoffs are also available as a separate service.
Formwork and accessories
Formwork is calculated as contact area by element type, along with embeds, anchor bolts, waterstops, expansion and isolation joints and form release.
Placement and finishing
Pump or bucket placement, finishing by specification, curing compounds, hardeners, sealers, cold and hot weather protection and testing allowances are priced so the full cost of each pour is shown.
How we build a concrete estimate
We start with the structural general notes, foundation and framing plans, schedules and sections, then cross-check them against the architectural drawings for slab depressions, ramps, curbs and equipment pads that are often only shown there. The geotechnical report is reviewed for base thickness, moisture conditioning and pier requirements.
Every element is measured in PlanSwift or Bluebeam and calculated in cubic yards (or cubic meters for metric projects), with a waste factor shown separately so you can adjust it. Rebar weights, formwork areas and finishing areas are tied to the same elements so each line in the estimate can be checked against the plans.
Labor is calculated by element using established productivity rates for forming, placing, finishing and stripping, adjusted for the project location and site access. Ready-mix pricing, pumping, rebar supply and equipment are shown separately, and the summary makes it easy to apply your own markups.
Priced for your market
- United States: imperial units, USD, local labor rates by state and metro
- Canada: metric or imperial, CAD
- United Kingdom: metric, GBP
- Australia: metric, AUD
- Prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon rates where required
Projects we estimate
We estimate concrete for warehouses and distribution buildings, tilt-up structures, multifamily podiums, offices, schools, restaurants and retail pads, parking structures, hospitals and civil structures, as well as site concrete such as sidewalks, curbs, dumpster pads and paving.
Our process
How to order a Concrete estimate
Send your plans
Email PDF drawings and specs, or share a Dropbox, Google Drive or bid-portal link. Bid sets, construction documents and conceptual drawings all work.
Get your quote
We review the set and reply with a price, turnaround time and delivery date for your scope. You approve before any work starts.
NDA and 50% deposit
We sign an NDA so your plans stay private. Work starts on a 50% deposit by card through our secure online checkout. A W-9 is available on request.
Receive your estimate
You get quantities and pricing in Excel, organized by CSI division, plus marked-up plans. The remaining 50% is due on delivery.
FAQ
Concrete Estimating: common questions
Can't find your answer? Call (850) 343-4090 or email info@premiumestimatings.com.
Do you include waste in concrete volumes?
Yes, but separately. Net volumes and the waste factor are both shown so you can adjust waste to your own experience.
Can you do rebar takeoffs?
Yes. Rebar is included in the concrete estimate by bar size and weight, and we also offer detailed rebar takeoffs as a separate service.
Do you estimate post-tensioned slabs?
Yes. We take off PT slabs and decks, and tendon quantities can be listed as an allowance or replaced with your PT supplier's quote.
Do you work in metric?
Yes. Canadian and Australian projects can be measured in cubic meters, square meters and tonnes.
What does a concrete estimate cost?
Single-trade estimates start from $150, and your quote confirms the price based on the size of the drawing set.
Can you include site concrete?
Yes. Sidewalks, curbs and gutters, pads, ramps and concrete paving can be included or priced as a separate section.