Material is only part of the cost. Fabrication shop hours, connection complexity, welding, coatings, and erection often equal or exceed the cost of the steel itself. Accurate metals estimating balances material tonnage with realistic shop and field labor.
Structural steel appears on structural sheets, but stairs, railings, lintels, canopies, and supports are scattered across architectural, civil, and MEP drawings. Missing even a few of these items can cost thousands. Thorough metals estimating reviews every discipline. Accurate quantity takeoffs support this level of coverage.
When pieces, weights, and connection types are identified early, fabricators can plan purchasing, shop scheduling, and erection sequencing with confidence. After award, our shop drawing services team can carry the same scope into detailed fabrication drawings.
We price beams, columns, braces, moment frames, and trusses by member size, weight, and connection type. Base plates, shear tabs, stiffeners, bolts, and welds are included. Fabricators and contractors get accurate tonnage and cost for the full structural frame.
We estimate open web steel joists, joist girders, bridging, and floor and roof deck by type, gauge, and finish. Shear studs, closures, and edge forms are included where required. Warehouse and commercial builders get dependable pricing for large roof and floor systems.
We price lintels, embeds, angles, ladders, bollards, pipe supports, equipment frames, and roof hatches. Each item is counted from structural, architectural, and MEP drawings. Contractors avoid the common losses caused by forgotten small metals.
We estimate pan stairs, steel stringers, landings, guardrails, handrails, and wall rails, including infill panels and mounting hardware. Code requirements for height and openings are considered. Fabricators get complete pricing for one of the most labor intensive metals scopes.
We price decorative railings, aluminum and stainless steel features, screens, canopies, and custom metalwork. Finishes such as powder coating, anodizing, and brushed stainless are priced separately. Architectural features receive pricing that reflects their design and fabrication effort.
We estimate load bearing cold formed steel walls, floor joists, roof trusses, and curtain wall framing by gauge and profile. Connectors, clips, and bracing are included. Framing contractors and developers get accurate costs for multistory light gauge structures.
We price crane time, erection crews, bolting, field welding, decking installation, and safety requirements. Erection sequence and site access are considered in labor productivity. Erectors and contractors bid field work with confidence.
We estimate cutting, drilling, fitting, welding, and handling hours by piece type and connection complexity. Shop labor is separated from material cost for clear analysis. Fabricators can compare bids against their shop capacity and production rates.
We price shop primers, high performance coatings, hot dip galvanizing, and touchup painting based on surface area and specifications. Fireproofing interfaces are identified where required. Coating costs are captured instead of buried in allowances.
We estimate steel canopies, bollards, pipe guards, fencing posts, trash enclosure gates, and loading dock steel. These exterior items are often spread across civil and architectural drawings. Contractors get complete pricing for metals outside the building.
For fabricators who apply their own pricing, we provide detailed tonnage takeoffs by member size, length, and grade. Connection material and miscellaneous pieces are listed separately. Purchasing teams can order mill material accurately.
Metals scopes vary widely between a warehouse roof and a hospital lobby stair. We price each project with an understanding of its structural demands and design expectations.
Fabricators use our estimates to bid more projects and compare work against shop capacity.
Erectors rely on our erection pricing for crane, crew, and connection costs.
Metal shops use our estimates to price stairs, railings, and custom metalwork accurately.
GCs use our metals estimates to verify subcontractor bids and confirm full Division 05 coverage.
Framing contractors rely on our cold formed steel estimates for load bearing structures.
Owners use our estimates to budget steel structures and evaluate design options.
Metals estimates require a careful review of every drawing discipline. Here is how we turn your plans into a complete Division 05 price.
Upload structural, architectural, civil, and MEP drawings, along with Division 05 specifications and bid forms.
We confirm which metals items are included and send a fixed fee with a delivery date.
We calculate tonnage, count miscellaneous items, price material and labor, and complete a senior review.
You receive an organized estimate by system and area, including tonnage, piece counts, labor hours, and assumptions.
Browse real samples of our takeoffs, cost estimates, and drafting work to see the level of detail you can expect on your own project.
Pricing depends on project size, steel tonnage, number of miscellaneous items, and complexity. A small canopy package costs less than a multistory steel frame with stairs and railings. We send a fixed fee after reviewing your drawings.
Small and medium projects are usually completed in two to four business days. Large structural steel projects may take four to seven business days. We plan around your bid date.
We calculate member tonnage, add connection material, and price fabrication labor, coatings, delivery, and erection separately. This gives a complete cost instead of a simple price per ton.
Yes. We price steel joists, joist girders, bridging, and metal deck by type, size, and gauge, including accessories such as closures and shear studs.
We review structural, architectural, civil, and MEP drawings to identify lintels, embeds, ladders, supports, bollards, and other small metals. Each item is counted and priced individually.
Yes. We price erection crews, cranes, bolting, welding, decking installation, and safety requirements. Material only or fabrication only pricing is also available.
We use current market pricing and identify items with the greatest price risk. Escalation allowances can be included based on your project schedule and buyout timing.
Yes. We price shop primers, specialty coatings, galvanizing, and touchup based on surface area and specifications.
Yes. For federally funded projects with Buy America or Build America, Buy America requirements, we price domestic steel and note compliance requirements in the estimate.
When connection design is delegated to the fabricator, we can include an allowance for engineering. If you need the design itself, our structural design services team can provide a sealed connection design.
Yes. We price steel stairs, landings, guardrails, handrails, and decorative railing systems, including finishes and installation.
Yes. Fabricators who use their own pricing can order detailed tonnage takeoffs by member size, length, grade, and piece type, along with lists of miscellaneous items.
Location
815 BRAZOS ST STE 500 AUSTIN, TXCall Us
737-263-3910Mail Us
sales@bluetechestimating.comWin more bids. Control your costs. No more budget surprises.
or email us at sales@bluetechestimating.com
