Divisions 31, 32 and 33 · Sitework
Sitework estimates that start with the dirt and end at the striping
Site packages move more money per drawing than any other trade, and the biggest errors hide in the earth. A 2 foot grade error across 6 acres is 19,000 cubic yards of soil, and one missed storm run can add a trench box and a week of dewatering. Our estimators build surfaces, balance cut and fill, measure utilities by invert and pipe size, and price paving by the ton.
Scope of takeoff
Sitework quantities we take off
Earthwork in volumes, utilities in lengths by size, surface work in area and tons.
Clearing and grubbing
Tree and brush removal, stump grinding, topsoil strip and stockpile, by area and tree count
Site plan limits of disturbance and tree survey
Demolition and utility abandonment
Existing paving, curb, foundations and abandoned lines removed and hauled
Demolition plan and survey
Cut and fill earthwork
Mass grading by surface model with swell, shrink and balance or export calculation
Existing and proposed surfaces, grid or TIN volumes
Trench excavation and backfill
Utility trenches by depth class with bedding, pipe zone and compacted backfill
Invert elevations from plan and profile
Storm drainage piping
RCP, HDPE and PVC pipe by diameter from 12 to 60 inches, with inlets, manholes and headwalls
Storm plan and profile sheets
Water, sewer and fire service
Ductile iron, C900 and PVC mains and services with valves, hydrants, taps and thrust restraint
Utility plans and details
Subgrade and aggregate base
Fine grading, geotextile, lime or cement stabilization and crushed stone base by thickness
Pavement sections and geotechnical report
Asphalt paving
Binder and surface course by thickness and tack coat, converted from area to tons at 110 lbs per SY per inch
Paving plan area times section thickness
Concrete paving, curb and sidewalk
Curb and gutter, flatwork, ADA ramps with detectable warning, dumpster pads and aprons
Site plan and standard details
Striping, signage and wheel stops
Parking stalls, crosswalks, directional arrows, accessible symbols and signs
Striping plan and ADA layout
Erosion and sediment control
Silt fence, inlet protection, construction entrance, sediment basins and stabilization seeding
SWPPP plan and erosion control sheet
Dewatering, traffic control and mobilization
Pump systems, shoring, flaggers and equipment mobilization by phase
Geotech groundwater data and phasing plan
Overview
What a sitework estimate has to measure
Sitework is estimated in the order the work is built. We start with clearing and demolition measured in acres and linear feet, then model existing and proposed surfaces to calculate cut and fill volumes in cubic yards, adjusted for swell, shrinkage and the topsoil strip. Geotechnical reports decide the rest: unsuitable soil removal, rock allowances, imported structural fill and subgrade stabilization.
Underground utilities are the second major scope. Storm drain, sanitary sewer, water, fire service and conduit are measured by pipe size and material from the plan and profile sheets, with trench depth taken from inverts so excavation, bedding, backfill and shoring are priced by actual cover. Structures such as manholes, inlets and vaults are counted separately.
Finally, surface improvements: base course and asphalt in tons, concrete paving, curbs and gutters in linear feet, sidewalks, striping, signage and landscape restoration. Erosion control, dewatering and traffic control run across every phase and are priced as their own lines.
What type of sitework estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Full sitework bid estimate
±5–6%72 hours
Complete Division 31, 32 and 33 pricing with earthwork volumes, utilities by size, paving tons and site concrete from civil construction documents.
Best for: Site contractors and GC self-perform
Earthwork volume and balance study
±3–4%48 hours
Surface-based cut and fill with swell and shrink factors, topsoil management and haul-in or haul-out recommendations.
Best for: Grading contractors and developers
Utility package pricing
±5%48 hours
Storm, sanitary, water and fire service by size and depth, with structures, tie-ins, testing and restoration allowances.
Best for: Underground utility contractors
Paving and striping estimate
±4%24–48 hours
Asphalt and concrete pavement sections, curb and gutter, ADA ramps and striping priced by the ton, SY and LF.
Best for: Paving contractors
Conceptual site budget
±12%24 hours
Cost-per-acre and cost-per-stall budgets from concept plans, with risk allowances for soils and utilities clearly flagged.
Best for: Developers and land acquisition
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
- 01
Earthwork built from surface models with swell and shrink factors, instead of average-end-area guesses that drift on larger sites.
- 02
Trench volumes calculated from actual invert, depth so shoring and trench-box costs appear where depth justifies them.
- 03
Asphalt converted to tons using section thickness and density, with tack coat, patching and milling called out separately.
- 04
Geotechnical reports read for unsuitable soils, groundwater, rock and stabilization requirements before pricing.
- 05
Storm, sewer and water measured on plan and, profile sheets, structure by structure, with tie-ins and testing allowances.
- 06
SWPPP and erosion control priced across each phase, not as one allowance on the last line.
- 07
Haul distance, disposal fees and import fill, sources adjusted to the specific project location.
- 08
Delivered in a workbook that separates self-perform, from subcontract scopes so you can bid your way.
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Project types
Project types we estimate
The same measured-twice standard applies whether the scope is a tenant improvement or a ground-up campus.
01Retail pads and shopping centers
02Warehouse and distribution campuses
03Multifamily garden-style communities
04School and university sites
05Healthcare campuses
06Residential subdivisions
07Parking structures and lots
08Industrial yards and laydown areas
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“Duct takeoff by gauge and size, equipment schedules, hangers, insulation. They understand sheet metal. Turnaround was 36 hours on a 90,000 square foot clinic.”
Tom Beaulieu
President, Beaulieu Mechanical · Minneapolis, MN
“Cubic yards, rebar tonnage, formwork contact area and block counts by size. Exactly how I think about a job. We have won four of the last five bids they priced.”
Jamal Reed
Owner, Reed Concrete & Masonry · Birmingham, AL
“Squares, underlayment, flashing lengths, fastener counts, even the ridge vent. The waste factors were right for the roof pitch. Bid-ready out of the box.”
Greg Lindqvist
Estimator, Summit Roofing Co. · Kansas City, MO
FAQ
Sitework Estimating FAQs
How do you calculate cut and fill volumes?
We build existing and proposed ground surfaces from the survey and grading plan, compare them to produce net cut and fill, then apply swell and shrinkage factors from the geotechnical report. The result shows whether the site balances or needs import or export, and topsoil is calculated separately.
How are asphalt paving quantities converted to tons?
We measure each pavement area, multiply by the section thickness and apply a density of roughly 110 pounds per square yard per inch for hot mix. Base stone, tack coat and any milling are carried on separate lines so material and paving crew costs stay visible.
Do you price utilities from plan and profile sheets?
Yes. Pipe lengths are measured by size and material, invert and rim elevations set trench depth, and structures are counted separately. Depth drives excavation, bedding and shoring, so the estimate shows where deep runs add cost rather than averaging them away.
Can you handle sitework with rock or poor soils?
We read the geotechnical report for rock, groundwater and unsuitable material, then carry explicit allowances for rock excavation, undercutting and stabilization with quantities and unit prices. Those allowances are clearly flagged so the bid shows the assumption instead of hiding it.
Does the estimate include erosion control and SWPPP items?
Yes. Silt fence, inlet protection, stabilized construction entrances, sediment basins, temporary seeding and maintenance are quantified from the erosion control sheets and priced by phase. Inspection and reporting time can be included if your contract assigns it to you.
How long does a sitework estimate take?
Most civil sets are delivered in 48 to 72 hours. Earthwork studies on a single parcel can be returned in two days, and larger campuses with multiple utility systems are scheduled individually with a confirmed delivery date.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Ready for a sitework estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.