Construction Cost Estimating Services

Professional Estimating

Bid-Ready Cost Estimates Organized by CSI Division

At Plane Estimates LLC, our construction cost estimating service delivers itemized, CSI-division estimates that give contractors, developers, and owners the financial clarity they need to compete and win. Every estimate is organized according to the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat divisions, making your bid fully structured and easy to review with owners, lenders, or project stakeholders.

We analyze every line item — from concrete and framing to finishes and MEP systems — applying current local and regional pricing data to calculate realistic labor and material costs. Our estimators understand that a winning bid must balance competitiveness with profitability, which is why every estimate includes a clear breakdown of overhead and profit margin allocations so you know exactly where your numbers stand before you submit.

Value engineering is built into our process. When we identify scope elements that can be redesigned or substituted for equivalent performance at lower cost, we present those alternatives alongside the base estimate. This gives owners and GCs real options to manage budget without sacrificing project quality or code compliance.

Our deliverables are formatted for immediate use in bid submissions. Whether you need an Excel workbook, a branded PDF report, or both, we produce a clean, professional package that you can present to clients or use internally for project buyout. Revision support is included — if plans change or addenda are issued, we update your estimate without additional charges for reasonable scope adjustments.

What's Included

Full CSI-division cost breakdown
Labor & material cost analysis
Overhead & profit margin calculations
Value engineering alternatives
Bid-ready Excel/PDF report
Revision support included

Who Needs This Service?

Construction cost estimating is essential for general contractors preparing competitive bids, subcontractors scoping their portion of the work, real estate developers establishing project feasibility, and owners who need an independent check on contractor pricing. Whether you're bidding a new commercial shell, a residential renovation, or a multi-phase industrial development, our estimates give you the numbers to move forward with confidence.

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Our Process

How Cost Estimating Works

Submit Plans

Upload your architectural and structural drawings, specifications, and any addenda through our secure portal or via email. The more complete your documents, the more precise your estimate.

Quantity Takeoff

Our estimators perform a thorough quantity takeoff from your plans, measuring every scope item across all CSI divisions to establish accurate quantities before pricing begins.

Cost Application

We apply current regional labor rates and material pricing to the measured quantities, then layer in overhead, profit margins, and any value engineering alternatives identified during review.

Deliver Report

Your completed bid-ready estimate is delivered in Excel and/or PDF format within 24–48 hours, complete with a summary sheet and full line-item detail organized by CSI division.

Have Questions?

Service FAQs

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our team directly and we'll be happy to walk you through our process.

What is a CSI-division estimate?

A CSI-division estimate organizes your project costs according to the Construction Specifications Institute MasterFormat, the industry-standard system used by architects, engineers, and contractors. Each division covers a specific scope category — concrete, masonry, metals, finishes, mechanical, and so on — making it easy to compare bids, track budget, and understand where project dollars are going.

Do you include labor costs?

Yes. Every cost estimate from Plane Estimates includes both labor and material costs, broken out separately so you can see the full picture. We use current regional labor rates and apply appropriate productivity factors based on the project type and scope.

How accurate are your estimates?

Accuracy depends on the completeness of the documents provided. With a full set of construction documents, our estimates typically fall within 5–10% of final bid values. For design-development or schematic-level drawings, we apply appropriate contingencies and communicate the expected range of variance clearly in the report.

What format is the report delivered in?

We deliver estimates as both an Excel workbook with full line-item detail and a formatted PDF summary report. The Excel file allows you to adjust quantities or pricing, while the PDF is ready to submit directly to owners or include in your bid package.

Can I request revisions?

Yes, revision support is included with every estimate. If addenda are issued, the scope changes, or you need line items adjusted before bid day, we update your estimate at no additional charge for reasonable revisions. Our goal is to make sure your final number is accurate when it counts most.

Client Success

What Our Clients Say

"Plane Estimates gave us a detailed CSI-division cost estimate for a 40,000 sq ft commercial office project in Dallas. Their numbers were tight — we came in under budget at award and walked away with a strong margin. I won't bid commercial work without them."

James Martinez General Contractor — Texas