Structural Steel Estimating Services
Forte Estimating is an innovative provider of structural steel estimating services specifically designed for contractors and subcontractors bidding on structural steel scope work for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Our estimators have the trade experience and takeoff software to provide accurate estimates in a timely manner for your project, which are ready to go to bid, and are supported by current material and labor pricing, including steel takeoff services, and steel quantity takeoff!
Specialty subcontractors handling a bid directly or general contractors that require a structural steel estimate as part of a comprehensive bid package can count on our team to provide the detail they need for a winning bid.
We take your plans and your specs and create a full steel fabrication estimating package in order to be able to give it straight to suppliers to price materials or just to review for your own.
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What Is Structural Steel Estimating?
Structural steel estimating involves calculating tonnage and quantities of beams, columns, joists and connections to help price out the fabrication and estimate out the erection costs.
Our takeoffs include member type and size steel tonnage, number of connection points and specialty steel such as stairs, railings, miscellaneous metal in the structural package.
These quantities are not just important for the bid, but they also have a direct connection to the amount of material being ordered and the project’s schedule when the job is awarded, meaning that an incorrect structural steel takeoff can cause issues well after the work is won.
Our Structural Steel Takeoff Process
Each steel fabrication estimating job starts with a complete review of the drawings and specifications, which are then followed by the quantity take-off organized into each of the categories that is significant for accurate pricing.
After quantities have been measured, another estimator reviews the takeoff for accuracy, before it gets to your bid, to prevent measuring mistakes or missed scope items.
What's Included in Our Structural Concrete Estimate
A detailed concrete quantity schedule is included in the estimate which is separated by structural element, as well as separate rebar tonnage and formwork square footage estimates for each cost component to ensure that it can be priced and tracked independently.
Files are provided as spreadsheets and PDFs, and may be tailored to your company’s preferred takeoff template or bid format, if applicable.
Key Considerations for Structural Concrete Estimating
Care must be taken in concrete estimating because the strength specification and the type of admixtures vary greatly in their cost. We also consider the factors which may be related to the complexity of the pour — a simple slab pour will use much less concrete than a heavily reinforced, formed structural pour.
Residential vs. Commercial Structural Concrete Estimating
The types of concrete work that the two concrete estimating categories typically estimate are the foundations and flatwork of a single residence or building, and the elevated structure slab, larger foundation systems and much higher quantity of reinforcing steel for commercial concrete work.
Why Trade Contractors Choose Forte
Our estimators know the trade and work with structural concrete, not just from a drawing set; that’s why specialty subcontractors select Forte for their structural concrete counter bids. The knowledge of the trade allows us to pick up information about your scope that a generalist estimator may not notice, ensuring your margin before we even submit a number!
We also provide flexible pricing for structural concrete estimating; one-off project price, or a monthly retainer for subcontractors who are bidding this scope regularly and want a consistent and reliable partner for estimating.
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Contact us Now
Call us now and upload your construction project plans with all the specific details to explain the scope of work that includes construction drawings, specifications and other specific documentation.
Receive your schedule
Our expert team of BIM Estimators manages to deliver the final draft for review and consult through an email or call to consult and finalize the construction project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you estimate steel tonnage by member type?
Yes, tonnage is broken out by beams, columns, joists, etc. to allow for a full quote from the fabricator.
Do you have an explanation for the prices of the steel market at this time?
Yes, we use the mill and fabrication pricing for the time we’re bidding on the project, and the market can change a lot in a project’s bidding duration.
Do you provide details of the connections in the steel estimate?
Yes, we do consider bolted and welded connections separately as the complexity of connections plays a big role in the labour costs of fabrication and erection.
Are you able to estimate metal deck with structural steel?
Yes, metal deck is calculated on its own by gauge and span as part of our structural steel quotation service.
What is the quickest time you can provide a structural steel estimate?
Standard size jobs can have their structural steel estimate done in as little as 24-48 hours and larger and more complex projects are usually turned around within 3-5 business days.
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