Takeoffs and cost estimates for Chicago general contractors and trade contractors, priced for the Chicago building code, union labor, deep foundations and tight city sites.
Chicago is a city with its own way of building. It writes its own construction codes, much of the commercial work is built with union trades, and many electrical installations must run in conduit rather than cable. Downtown towers sit on soft clay that often needs caissons to bedrock, while neighborhood work focuses on brick two-flats, greystones and mixed-use buildings along commercial streets.
Our estimators build Chicago estimates around those differences. We measure your drawings by trade and price them for Chicago-area labor and materials, calling out the local items that can swing a bid, such as conduit and wiring methods, masonry restoration, alley-only access and protection of adjacent buildings.
Whether you are bidding a two-flat deconversion in Logan Square, a restaurant build-out in the West Loop or a suburban warehouse, you get a detailed estimate ready for review and submission.
Local rules and site conditions our estimators price into every Chicago-area project.
Chicago generally requires wiring in conduit, which adds material and electrician hours.
Larger buildings often need caissons or piles extending to rock or hardpan.
Many commercial and public projects are bid at union wage and benefit rates.
Older brick structures need tuckpointing, lintel replacement and parapet repair.
Deliveries and hoisting often require alley use or public way permits.
Cold, wind and snow add winter protection and schedule allowances.
Chicago’s economy spans finance, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and food, and the construction pipeline follows. Our clients bid office interiors in the Loop, medical buildings, food production facilities, distribution centers along the interstates, and a steady stream of neighborhood rehab and new construction.
We estimate projects throughout Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane counties, including Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Schaumburg, Elmhurst and Joliet.
The City of Chicago adopts its own construction codes, modeled on the International Codes with substantial local changes, and the Department of Buildings reviews plans and inspects the work. Local electrical requirements, energy code provisions and fire protection rules can differ from suburban jurisdictions, so we price each project to the code shown on its drawings.
Construction in the public way is common in a dense city. Sidewalk canopies, street and alley permits, crane placement and protection of neighboring buildings all add cost, and we list them separately when they are part of your scope.
We prepare estimates for projects throughout Chicago, IL and the surrounding area. Send your plans from anywhere in the region.
What Chicago contractors ask before sending plans.
Yes. We price the wiring methods shown on your drawings, including conduit systems where the Chicago code requires them.
Yes. Tell us the labor basis for the bid and we price the estimate with union or open-shop rates accordingly.
Yes. We price demolition, masonry repair, framing, MEP, finishes and deconversion work for older Chicago buildings.
Yes. When the structural drawings show caissons or piles, we measure and price drilling, concrete and reinforcing.
We estimate projects in the city and in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane counties.
Send your drawings and bid date, and get Chicago pricing from our estimating team.
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