Pre-Construction Estimating By Trade Specialists
We employ trade-specialist estimators who understand local plumbing codes, light-gauge steel gauge ratings, and finish layouts. Explore divisions below.
CSI Division Takeoff Portfolios
Select a trade division to review typical scope details, average pre-con turnaround schedules, and precise material lists.
Concrete Estimating
Accurate volume takeoffs and cost breakdowns for foundations, slabs, footings, and architectural concrete structures.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Foundations, grade beams, footings, and caissons volumetric estimates
- Slabs on grade (SOG) and elevated concrete decks with structural framing
- Architectural concrete, columns, retaining walls, and tilt-up panels
- Formwork area calculations (contact area) and shoring requirements
Masonry Estimating
Comprehensive block, brick, and stone count takeoffs with precise mortar and reinforcement accessories.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- CMU Block counts by size (4", 6", 8", 12" standard/lightweight)
- Brick veneer, face brick, and thin-brick counts with coursing layouts
- Natural and manufactured stone veneer square footage and weight modeling
- Grout volume, bag-mix mortar, sand, and additives
Structural Steel Estimating
Exact tonnage, member count, and connection hardware detailing for commercial, industrial, and residential steel framing.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Beams, columns, channels, angles, and hollow structural sections (HSS)
- Metal roof and floor decking square footage and gauge detailing
- Complex steel trusses, joists, and engineered girders
- Gusset plates, connection bolts, weld volumes, and anchor rods
Lumber & Framing Estimating
Detailed lumber packages, wood framing takeoffs, and engineered wood component schedules for residential and multi-family structures.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Wall plate, stud, and blocking linear footage and piece counts
- Engineered wood packages (LVL headers, Glulam beams, I-joists)
- Roof truss schedules, rafters, ridges, valleys, and sheathing boards
- Plywood and OSB sheathing for floor, wall, and roof decking
Rebar & Reinforcement Estimating
Comprehensive bar bending schedules, weight estimation, and detailing of steel reinforcements for reinforced concrete projects.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Deformed steel rebar counts by grade (Grade 40/60/75) and size (#3 to #18)
- Lap splices, corner hooks, and stirrup configurations mapping
- Welded wire reinforcement (WWR) mesh rolls and sheet square footage
- Supports, rebar chairs, bolster strips, and tie-wire rolls
Roofing Estimating
Comprehensive material takeoffs for asphalt shingles, metal standing seam, flat TPO/EPDM membranes, tiles, and slates.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Roof area square calculation (1 square = 100 sq ft) and pitch factors
- Underlayment, ice and water shields, vapor retarders, and barrier boards
- TPO/EPDM membranes, adhesive gallons, and mechanical fasteners
- Metal standing seam, clay tile, slate, or wood shake specialty finishes
Drywall & Framing Estimating
Meticulous counts of drywall boards, metal/wood studs, insulation, mud, tape, and trim accessories.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Metal wall/ceiling framing (track, studs, furring channels, bracing)
- Drywall board counts by thickness (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8") and type
- Sound attenuation batts (SAFB) and thermal wall insulation
- Joint compound (mud) buckets, joint tape rolls, and corner bead counts
Painting & Wallcovering Estimating
Detailed wall and ceiling surface area calculations with precise gallon and primer volumes, wallcovering rolls, and preparation logistics.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Interior wall and ceiling paint surface areas separated by paint finish (flat, eggshell, semi-gloss)
- Exterior siding, stucco, trim, and soffit painting areas
- Specialty wood staining, clear coat, and sealer coverage
- Commercial vinyl wallcovering (VWC) roll counts and adhesive volumes
Flooring Estimating
Tile, carpet, hardwood, vinyl, and stone surface area estimates with subfloor prep, transitions, and adhesive calculations.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Carpet tiles, broadloom carpet, and carpet cushion yardage
- Hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, and bamboo flooring areas
- Ceramic, porcelain, natural stone tiles, and dynamic layout patterns
- Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), and VCT schedules
Electrical Estimating
Detailed electrical takeoffs including conduit runs, wire lengths, fixture counts, panelboards, switchgear, and low-voltage systems.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Lighting fixtures, controls, occupancies sensors, and emergency lighting
- Power distribution (switchboards, panelboards, transformers, motor control centers)
- Branch wiring, receptacles, switches, junction boxes, and conduits
- Feeder runs, cable trays, wireways, and heavy copper wire detailing
Plumbing Estimating
Comprehensive counts of plumbing fixtures, pipe lengths (water, waste, vent), valves, fittings, and mechanical room equipment.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Plumbing fixtures (sinks, toilets, showers, floor drains, grease interceptors)
- Sanitary sewer, soil, waste, and vent piping (PVC, ABS, Cast Iron)
- Domestic water distribution piping (Copper, PEX, CPVC) and pipe insulation
- Natural gas and propane distribution lines and gas regulator assemblies
HVAC Estimating
Accurate ductwork weight calculations, register counts, and mechanical equipment takeoffs (RTUs, chillers, split systems).
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Sheet metal ductwork area and weight modeling (low/medium/high pressure lines)
- Spiral, rectangular, and flexible duct runs with hangers and insulation
- Mechanical equipment (RTUs, split systems, VRF, chillers, cooling towers, boilers)
- Air distribution devices (registers, grilles, diffusers, fire dampers, sound attenuators)
Mechanical Estimating
Industrial process piping, central plant designs, steam generation systems, and heavy mechanical equipment projects.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Process piping systems (carbon steel, stainless steel, fiberglass, alloy lines)
- High-pressure steam, chilled water, condenser water, and fuel oil distribution
- Heavy equipment arrays (boilers, heavy water pumps, air compressors, generators)
- Structural pipe supports, racks, thermal insulation, and heat tracing
Fire Protection Estimating
Sprinkler head counts, steel piping runs, fire pumps, backflow preventers, and specialized fire suppression systems.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Sprinkler head counts (upright, pendent, sidewall, concealed, dry-pendent)
- Fire sprinkler piping linear footage (black steel, galvanized, CPVC) and fittings
- Riser assemblies, alarm valves, backflow preventers, and FDCs
- Fire pumps, controllers, jockey pumps, and water storage tanks
Sitework & Utilities Estimating
Paving, curbs, sidewalks, site utilities, drainage networks, and outer site enhancements for land development.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Asphalt paving square yardage (base stone, binder course, wearing course)
- Concrete curbs (curb and gutter, header curbs), sidewalks, and driveways
- Storm water drainage pipelines, catch basins, manholes, and retention ponds
- Water main lines, sanitary sewer lines, fire hydrants, and grease traps
Earthwork & Excavation Estimating
Precision 3D grading, cut and fill volumes, trenching, soil stabilization, and site clearing calculations.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- 3D digital terrain modeling and surface grading maps
- Topsoil stripping, stockpile volumes, and topsoil respread calculations
- Structural excavation (cut/fill yardage) with expansion and compaction shrinkage factors
- Trenching for site utilities, foundation excavation, and soil exports/imports
Landscaping Estimating
Hardscaping, plantings, turf, soil prep, and irrigation system counts for commercial and residential landscape packages.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Tree, shrub, groundcover, and perennial counts categorized by caliper size
- Sod installation, hydroseeding, and lawn seeding areas
- Soil mixtures, wood mulch, decorative stone, and compost cubic yardage
- Hardscape pavers, block retaining walls, fire pits, and stone paths
Doors & Windows Estimating
Comprehensive hollow metal, wood, and glass door frame packages, window schedules, curtain walls, and hardware sets.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Hollow metal doors and frames, solid-core wood doors, and specialty access doors
- Commercial aluminum storefront systems, automatic sliding doors, and glass entries
- Multi-story structural curtain wall glazing, spandrel glass, and steel supports
- Vinyl, wood, and metal window frames, double-hung, awning, or fixed glaze units
Insulation Estimating
Thermal and acoustic insulation, spray foam, fiberglass batts, mineral wool, and rigid insulation boards.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Fiberglass batt insulation for exterior/interior wood or metal wall cavities
- Mineral wool sound attenuation batts and fire-safing sealants for slab edge joints
- Closed-cell and open-cell spray foam insulation volume and board-foot yield
- Rigid foam boards (XPS/EPS) for foundations, underslabs, and wall sheathing
Waterproofing & Dampproofing Estimating
Below-grade waterproofing sheets, elastomeric coatings, air/vapor barriers, joints, and sealant takeoffs.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Below-grade self-adhering membrane sheets and protective drainage boards
- Fluid-applied air barriers (vapor permeable/non-permeable) for exterior facades
- Bentonite clay waterproofing sheets for underslab and lagging wall setups
- Expansion joint systems, waterstops, joint backers, and polyurethane sealants
Acoustical Ceiling Estimating
Suspended acoustical ceiling tiles (ACT), specialty wood grids, metal pan ceilings, and suspension grid hardware.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Acoustical ceiling tiles (ACT) by manufacturer code, size, and light-reflectance
- Suspension grid main runners, cross tees, and perimeter wall moldings
- Hanger wires, anchors, seismic clips, and compression strut assemblies
- Specialty ceiling layouts (linear wood panels, metal grids, sound baffles)
Millwork & Cabinetry Estimating
Custom casework, reception desks, kitchen cabinets, countertops, trim mold package, and architectural paneling.
Takeoff Scope Checklist
Audit-Ready Pre-Con Standards
- Base cabinets, wall cabinets, tall utility cabinets, and pantry units
- Countertops (Quartz, Granite, solid-surface, laminate, butcher block)
- Custom casework, transaction desks, bank counters, and nurse stations
- Architectural wood paneling, wainscoting, column wraps, and handrails
Bidding Precision For Specialized Subcontractors
Generalist estimators often miss the minor, high-cost details that determine subcontractor profitability. For example, a minor scale error in light-gauge steel framing partitions or an overlooked specialized R-value rating on rigid insulation boards can devastate your margin.
At Arma Bid Solutions, we solve this by routing your project files directly to a specialist estimator who has years of actual field-experience in your exact division. This ensures we apply the correct localized wastage, understand connection accessories, and estimate joint and mud allowances perfectly.
Have a Highly Specialized or Custom Scope?
We regularly create customized material quantity checklists that match complex, unique bid-form configurations. Reach out to our leads.