Construction Cost Estimating
We do not use template budgets, square foot benchmarks, or unit costs borrowed from another region and another year. Every estimate begins with a takeoff from the actual documents and is priced against the conditions of the jurisdiction where the work will be built.
The objective is the true cost to complete, which is a different number from what a hungry bidder might submit.
Estimates built from the ground up, literally
Most estimates fail in one of three ways. They apply unit costs from a different site with different geology. They use area based benchmarks that conceal the earthwork, which on Southern California projects is frequently the largest single variable. Or they price what the drawings show while ignoring what the drawings imply but do not detail.
We work the other direction and start with the physical facts.
What we account for
Estimate types we produce
What an estimate from us includes
Every estimate is delivered with a written scope narrative describing what was priced, an explicit list of exclusions, the assumptions the number depends on, the basis documents by sheet and revision date, and a contingency recommendation matched to the actual level of design definition rather than to habit.
We develop specific project pricing based on the geologic setting and the particular requirements of the governing agencies. Those two variables move budgets more than anything drawn on an elevation.
Estimating capabilities
- Heavy civil and mass grading
- Wet and dry utility infrastructure
- Roadway, bridge, and structure work
- Storm drain and water quality facilities
- Water and wastewater facilities
- Site development and hardscape
- Building shell and core
- Commercial and industrial tenant work
- Demolition, remediation, and reclamation
- Traffic control and staging
- Escalation and market condition analysis
- Independent review of third party estimates
What you receive
Every engagement is scoped in writing before it begins, so you know exactly what is being produced and when.
Detailed estimate
Line item quantities, unit costs, and extensions in CSI, CalTrans, or agency format, delivered in both summary and full detail.
Scope narrative
A written description of exactly what was priced, so the estimate can be compared against a bid without ambiguity.
Exclusions and assumptions
An explicit list of what is not in the number and what conditions the number depends on being true.
Quantity takeoff backup
The underlying quantities with their source, so any line can be traced back to a drawing sheet and verified.
Reconciliation report
When comparing against a prior estimate or a received bid, a line by line explanation of every material variance.
Escalation analysis
Projected cost movement across the construction window based on current market conditions and the anticipated schedule.
Questions owners ask about this service
How long does an estimate take?
A conceptual budget on a defined site typically takes two to three weeks. A bid quality estimate on a full set of construction documents typically takes four to eight weeks depending on size and complexity. We commit to a delivery date before starting.
Do you use RSMeans or similar cost databases?
We reference published data for sanity checking, but our pricing comes from current local subcontractor quotes, recent bid results in the same jurisdiction, and our own historical cost data from comparable Southern California work. Published national averages do not reflect what a San Diego grading contractor will actually charge this quarter.
Can you estimate from incomplete drawings?
Yes, and that is most of what we do. Incomplete drawings require assumptions, and the value of a good estimator is in making those assumptions explicit, defensible, and visible. An estimate that hides its assumptions is worse than no estimate.
Will your estimate match the bids we receive?
The goal is to be close and to explain any difference. Bids reflect market appetite, current backlog, and each bidder's read of the risk. Our estimate reflects the true cost to complete. When a bid comes in materially below our number, that is information, and it usually means the bidder missed something.
Can you review an estimate produced by our contractor or architect?
Yes. Independent estimate review is one of our most common short engagements. We evaluate completeness, unit cost reasonableness, quantity accuracy, contingency adequacy, and what has been quietly excluded.
Talk to us about Construction Cost Estimating
Send us the project details and we will tell you what a defensible scope of work looks like and what it would cost. Initial consultations carry no fee.
Send us the project
Tell us the site, the scope, and the deadline. Initial consultations carry no fee and no obligation.