Sitework takeoff
Cut and fill, stripping, import/export and utility trenching for Front Range clay sites, measured from your grading plan.
CY · LF · TONCommerce City, CO
Construction estimating services in Commerce City, CO
Commerce City permits are climbing, and mixed single-family and multifamily work means your takeoff has to separate scopes cleanly. We deliver Excel and PDF estimates by CSI MasterFormat division, with marked-up plan sets, in 24–48 hours for most projects.
24–48 hours for most projectsTypical turnaround
Every CSI divisionSitework through MEP
Commerce City ZIP pricingLocal material and labor
Price confirmed firstBefore any work starts
Census BPS · Commerce City · 2025Real permit data
Commerce City new housing permits2025
New housing units931Change vs. 2024+49%Permitted construction value$244MAverage value per unit$262,500Rank among covered Colorado cities#8
Single-family: 488 (52%)Multifamily: 443 (48%)
U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Residential only.
What makes construction estimating in Commerce City different?
Commerce City sits on expansive Front Range soils and clay, so foundation and sitework quantities carry real risk. The 2025 permit mix was 48% multifamily, which changes MEP rough-in counts and framing repetition. ZIP-code-adjusted material and labor pricing, plus snow-load and wind exposure, drive the numbers.
- Commerce City permitted 931 new housing units in 2025, #8 among the Colorado cities we cover.
- About 48% were in multifamily buildings; 52% were single-family.
- Permit volume was up 49% compared with 2024.
Commerce City is not a single-project-type market. In 2025 the city issued permits for 931 new privately-owned residential units, and 443 of those were multifamily — about 48% of the total. That split matters to your estimate: a 200-unit podium building and a 40-lot single-family subdivision share almost no line items past the foundation. We build takeoffs that reflect the actual unit mix, not a blended average.
We work from your plan set and specs in Bluebeam Revu and PlanSwift, price with RSMeans data adjusted to the local ZIP code, and return an Excel workbook and PDF organized by CSI MasterFormat division with the plan sheets marked up. Most projects turn in 24–48 hours. If you are bidding a Commerce City job against three other GCs, the difference is usually in the sitework and foundation quantities, not the finishes. Start with our Colorado construction estimating overview, or send plans through get an estimate.
- Coverage
- Commerce City and nearby Colorado communities
- Deliverable
- Excel estimate + marked-up PDF plans
- Pricing basis
- Commerce City ZIP-code material and labor costs
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours for most projects
- Software
- Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift, RSMeans data
01
For bidders. You need quantities you can defend in a bid review. We break out sitework, concrete, framing and MEP by division so you can adjust labor and markup line by line instead of guessing at a lump sum.
02
For builders. You are buying out trades. We give you clean scopes with units and waste factors so your framing, roofing and concrete subs bid the same quantities and you can compare apples to apples.
03
For owners. You are checking a budget before design is complete. We flag the cost drivers — soils, snow load, multifamily MEP density — so you know which decisions move the number.
Commerce City by the numbers
Commerce City's residential construction pipeline
Select a bar to compare Commerce City with the largest Colorado markets we cover.
931New housing units, 2025
5.5%Of all units in the Colorado cities we cover
$244MPermitted residential value
48%In multifamily buildings
New housing units permitted in 2025. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey.
This city
Commerce City
931 new housing units in 2025 (+48.7% vs 2024).
488 single-family · 443 multifamily (48%).
Permit volume is up sharply
Commerce City permitted 931 new privately-owned residential units in 2025, up from 626 in 2024 — a 49% increase. The permitted value was $244M, or an average of $262,500 per unit. That is a fast-moving pipeline, and it means subcontractors are pricing more work with less time per bid. When volume rises that quickly, quantity errors get expensive: a missed 10% on concrete or framing is harder to absorb because your crews and suppliers are already committed. Commerce City ranked 8th of 21 covered Colorado cities by units and accounted for 5.5% of the 16,921 units permitted across those cities. For bidders, the practical takeaway is to build takeoffs from the drawings rather than carrying forward last year's unit costs. Our commercial estimating and multi-family estimating teams handle both sides of that mix.
Multifamily is nearly half the work
Of the 931 units permitted in 2025, 488 were single-family and 443 were multifamily — 48% multifamily. That is not a typical suburban Front Range split, and it changes what a takeoff looks like. Multifamily work concentrates cost in MEP rough-in, fire protection, elevator and common-area systems, while single-family work concentrates it in sitework, foundations and framing. If you bid both in Commerce City, you need two different quantity models. The surrounding market is active too: work in Northglenn and Broomfield often shares the same labor pool and suppliers, so pricing pressure carries across city lines. Confirm local code editions and inspection requirements with the Commerce City building department before you finalize scopes.
Services
Construction estimating services in Commerce City
We estimate the scopes that carry the most risk in Commerce City — expansive soils, multifamily MEP density, and fast-track residential schedules.
Concrete estimating
Foundations, slab-on-grade, podium decks and site concrete with formwork and reinforcement broken out separately.
CY · SF · LBFoundation estimating
Spread footings, drilled piers and post-tension slabs sized for expansive soils and local frost depth.
CY · EA · SFFraming takeoff
Dimensional lumber, engineered joists, trusses and sheathing counted by member and sheet, with typical waste factors.
LF · EA · SFRoofing estimating
Steep-slope shingle and low-slope membrane systems with insulation, flashing and snow-load-related detailing.
SQ · SF · LFMEP estimating
Plumbing, HVAC and electrical rough-in counted per fixture, per unit and per device for multifamily and commercial layouts.
EA · LF · TONResidential estimating
Single-family and townhome takeoffs from permit sets, including sitework, foundation, framing and finishes.
SF · EA · LSIndustrial estimating
Warehouse and light-industrial shell and tenant improvement scopes common along the Commerce City industrial corridor.
SF · CY · TONWho we provide estimates for
Who sends us Commerce City plans
General contractors bidding city and Adams County work
You are pricing against three or four other GCs and need sitework, concrete and framing quantities that survive a bid review, not a lump sum built on square-foot averages.
Multifamily developers on podium and garden-style projects
With 443 multifamily units permitted in 2025, unit-mix takeoffs matter. We break out per-unit plumbing, electrical and HVAC counts so your pro forma tracks the actual bedroom mix.
Production and custom home builders
488 single-family units were permitted last year. You need framing, roofing and foundation scopes that repeat cleanly lot to lot without re-measuring every plan set by hand.
Concrete and sitework subcontractors
Commerce City dirt and flat pads mean excavation, import and flatwork quantities drive your number. We measure from the grading plan and civil sheets, not the architectural footprint.
Architects and design-build teams
You need a budget check before CDs are finished. We flag the cost drivers early so you can adjust envelope, structure or MEP density while changes are still cheap.
Owners and property managers planning additions or tenant improvements
We price from your existing conditions and permit set so you can compare a build-out against a move before you commit to a lease or a contractor.
Where we provide estimates
Commerce City areas and nearby communities we cover
We estimate from plan sets across Commerce City and the north Denver metro, including Adams County and the I-76 and E-470 corridors. If your project sits in one of these areas, send the plans and we will price it to the local ZIP code.
Commerce City and immediate surroundings
- Original Commerce City
- Reunion
- Buffalo Run
- Turnberry
- The Villages at Buffalo Run
- Adams County
North metro corridor
Denver metro and south
Western slope and other Colorado markets
Property types
Types of Commerce City properties we estimate
The 2025 permit mix — 488 single-family and 443 multifamily units — tells you where the volume is. We build takeoffs for both, plus the industrial and commercial work that fills the I-76 and E-470 corridors.
Garden-style multifamily
Three- and four-story wood-frame buildings over slab or podium, with unit counts that drive plumbing, electrical and HVAC line items. We take off per-unit fixture and device counts so your MEP package prices to the actual mix.
Watch for: Per-unit plumbing and electrical counts, corridor and stair framing, fire-rated assemblies.
Podium and wrap buildings
Concrete podium with wood or steel framing above, often over structured parking. We separate cast-in-place concrete, post-tensioned slabs and the transfer structure so you can see where the money sits.
Watch for: Podium concrete volume, post-tensioning, waterproofing at the deck, transfer beams.
Single-family subdivisions
Production plans repeated across 40 to 200 lots. We measure one plan accurately, then apply per-lot sitework, foundation and flatwork quantities so your bid scales with the lot count.
Watch for: Lot-specific excavation, driveway and sidewalk flatwork, utility trench lengths.
Industrial and warehouse
Tilt-up and pre-engineered metal buildings along the I-76 and E-470 corridors. Slab thickness, dock equipment and fire protection dominate the estimate more than the shell.
Watch for: Slab flatness and thickness, dock packages, ESFR sprinkler design, site paving.
Commercial tenant improvements
Retail, office and light industrial build-outs where the base building is already standing. We price from the demising plan and the landlord's shell conditions, not a generic square-foot rate.
Watch for: Existing MEP capacity, ceiling and sprinkler relocation, storefront and ADA upgrades.
Custom and infill homes
One-off houses on scattered lots, often with walkout or daylight basements. The foundation and sitework quantities vary lot to lot, so we measure each plan rather than reuse a template.
Watch for: Retaining walls, basement excavation, utility connections, engineered floor systems.
Local factors
What changes a construction estimate in Commerce City
Two identical plan sets can price differently a mile apart in Commerce City. These are the variables we check before we send a number.
Permitting and code review
Commerce City reviews permits through its own building department, and Adams County handles unincorporated parcels. Plan review comments on fire separation, egress and energy compliance can add revisions before you break ground. Confirm the adopted code edition and any local amendments with the building department, and budget for re-submittal time in the schedule.
Commerce City Building Division · Adams County · IBC · IECCSoils and foundation design
Much of the area sits on expansive clay and bentonite, which drives over-excavation, import and pier or caisson depth. A geotechnical report is not optional on most commercial and multifamily sites here. We take off the structural foundation per the geotech recommendations rather than assuming a standard spread footing.
Expansive clay · Geotechnical report · Drilled piers · Over-excavationSnow load and wind
Ground snow load and wind exposure govern roof framing, truss design and lateral bracing on tall wood-frame buildings. On multifamily, the roof structure and shear wall detailing can move the framing package more than the floor plan does. We check the structural sheets for the design values before pricing the frame.
Ground snow load · Wind exposure · Shear walls · Truss designLabor market and crew availability
The Front Range corridor keeps framing, concrete and MEP crews busy, and labor rates reflect that demand. We price labor from RSMeans data adjusted to the local ZIP code, then you can layer your own crew rates or subcontractor quotes on top. If your schedule stacks trades, assume a premium for overtime or night work.
RSMeans data · Front Range corridor · Framing crews · MEP laborSitework, drainage and land use
Flat prairie sites need positive drainage, and stormwater detention requirements can add ponds, culverts and riprap to the site package. On tight infill lots, staging and haul-off costs climb. We measure cut and fill from the grading plan and separate on-site vs. off-site work so you can see what the civil scope really costs.
Grading plan · Stormwater detention · Cut and fill · RiprapMaterials, logistics and taxes
Most material comes into Commerce City by truck along I-76 and E-470, so freight and delivery windows affect pricing on steel, trusses and ready-mix. Colorado sales tax applies to materials, and you should confirm current rates and any local exemptions with your accountant. We price material at the ZIP code level so the number reflects what you will actually pay.
I-76 · E-470 · Colorado sales tax · Ready-mixCommerce City estimating guide
How Commerce City conditions show up in a takeoff, trade by trade
Commerce City sits on the South Platte River and Denver Basin, which means expansive soils, high water tables, and Front Range wind and snow loads all land in your quantities. Here is how each trade changes.
Sitework and earthwork
Commerce City's river-adjacent ground means over-excavation and structural fill are routine, not exceptions. A sitework takeoff here should separate stripping, unsuitable subgrade removal, imported fill, and moisture-conditioning, because the geotech report often drives more cost than the building pad itself. On larger parcels near the South Platte and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal buffer, you also price erosion control, temporary sediment basins, and dewatering allowances. Storm drainage is frequently a separate bid item, with pipe, structures, and riprap measured by the linear foot and each. We take off to the geotech and civil sheets, not the architectural plan, and flag import versus on-site balance as a line you must confirm. See our sitework estimating services for how we structure those quantities.
Framing and wood structures
Front Range wind and snow govern the framing takeoff more than most builders expect. You need to know the ground snow load and exposure category before you can price trusses, headers, and hold-downs. We take off studs by wall type and height, plates by linear foot, sheathing by sheet, and hardware by count from the truss and shear schedules. On multifamily and townhome work, repeated units are not always identical, so we count each building type and note the multiplier rather than assuming a single typical unit. Roof pitch and overhang affect both sheathing and truss quantities. Our framing estimating services page covers the wall-by-wall approach.
MEP and service coordination
Commerce City projects tie into South Adams County Water and Sanitation District and local gas and electric utilities, so the MEP takeoff has to separate in-building systems from site utilities and service laterals. We take off pipe by material and diameter, fittings by count, ductwork by pound and square foot, and fixtures by type. For multifamily, we count riser diagrams and typical floor plans separately and apply the correct multiplier, because a plumbing riser that serves six floors is not six times a single-floor takeoff. Electrical gear, panel schedules, and low-voltage rough-in are listed as separate line items. Our MEP estimating services page explains how we handle utility coordination.
Concrete and foundations
Expansive clay and bentonite in this corridor push designers toward drilled piers, over-excavated footings, or post-tensioned slabs. A concrete takeoff for a Commerce City project has to show cubic yards by mix design, rebar by bar size and lap, and vapor barrier square footage separately, because a change from a stiffened slab to a structural slab can swing the number by a large margin. We measure pier depth from the geotech recommendation, not from a default, and we list pier count, diameter, and average depth as separate columns. Flatwork, curb, and sidewalk are typically separate from foundation concrete. Our concrete estimating services and foundation estimating services pages show the format we use.
Roofing and envelope
Hail is the dominant roofing cost driver along the Front Range, so the specified impact resistance and underlayment system matter as much as the roof area. A Commerce City roofing takeoff should separate field shingles, starter, ridge, hip and valley, underlayment, ice-and-water membrane at eaves, drip edge, vents, and flashing, each in its own unit. Steep-slope and low-slope areas are measured separately because the labor and material differ. We also carry wall assemblies, WRB, and window flashing into the envelope section so the roof and wall scopes do not double-count or leave a gap. See roofing estimating services for a sample breakdown.
Scope gaps we see on Commerce City bids
- Over-excavation and structural fill are left out because the geotech report was issued after the bid, leaving the GC to absorb the import and haul-off.
- Dewatering and temporary sediment control are not carried on river-adjacent parcels, even though the civil plans require them during construction.
- Roofing bids exclude ice-and-water membrane at eaves and valley flashing, which the adopted code edition may require; confirm with the local building department.
- Multifamily plumbing and electrical rough-in is priced from a single typical unit instead of the actual unit mix and riser count.
- Fire sprinkler and alarm are treated as a design-build allowance with no square footage or head count basis, so the number cannot be compared.
- Concrete flatwork, curb, and sidewalk are omitted from the foundation bid and appear later as a change order.
Free tool
Concrete volume calculator
Quick check for a single element. For a full drawing set, send the plans and we measure everything, including the items calculators miss.
Typical waste: 3–5% for slabs, 5–10% for footings and walls. Truck count assumes 10 CY loads; confirm load size with your ready-mix supplier.
Result
19.4CY
Net volume18.5 CY
Cubic feet500 CF
Ready-mix trucks (10 CY)2
80 lb bags (premix)875
Need the full takeoff with pricing? Upload your plans.
How it works
How we estimate a Commerce City project
- Read the full setArchitectural, structural, civil and MEP drawings, the geotechnical report and every addendum.
- Check Commerce City conditionsLocal code edition, site and drainage requirements, soils and any hazard rules are confirmed before the takeoff starts.
- Take off by CSI sectionQuantities measured and color-coded on the plans, so every number traces to a sheet.
- Price to Commerce CityMaterial and labor costs adjusted to the project ZIP code, or to your own supplier quotes and crew rates.
- Check and deliverA second estimator checks quantities before the estimate goes out.
Sample output
Sample takeoff: Commerce City, CO — three-story wood-frame multifamily building
| Section | Line item | Qty | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 30 00 | Cast-in-place concrete, footings | 185 | CY |
| 03 30 00 | Cast-in-place concrete, slab on grade | 420 | CY |
| 03 20 00 | Reinforcing steel, footings and slab | 38,500 | LB |
| 05 10 00 | Structural steel, lintels and embeds | 4,200 | LB |
| 06 10 00 | Wood framing, walls and floors | 62,400 | BF |
| 06 10 00 | Sheathing, wall and roof | 18,900 | SF |
| 07 30 00 | Roofing, asphalt shingle | 11,200 | SF |
| 22 10 00 | Plumbing rough-in, domestic water | 3,450 | LF |
Worked example: footing concrete for a Commerce City, CO multifamily building
This example uses illustrative dimensions for a three-story wood-frame building over a drilled pier and grade beam foundation, which is common where expansive soils are present. The geotech report governs the actual pier depth and footing width, so treat these numbers as a format demonstration, not a design.
We start with the continuous footing under the perimeter and interior bearing walls. Assume a total footing length of 640 linear feet, a width of 24 inches, and a thickness of 12 inches. Convert to feet: 24 inches = 2.0 ft, 12 inches = 1.0 ft. Volume = 640 ft × 2.0 ft × 1.0 ft = 1,280 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards: 1,280 ÷ 27 = 47.4 CY.
Next, isolated column footings. Assume 18 footings at 3 ft × 3 ft × 1.5 ft. Volume per footing = 3 × 3 × 1.5 = 13.5 cubic feet. Total = 18 × 13.5 = 243 cubic feet = 9.0 CY.
Add the two: 47.4 + 9.0 = 56.4 CY. Apply a typical waste and over-excavation factor of 7%: 56.4 × 1.07 = 60.3 CY. Round to 61 CY for ordering.
| Step | Calculation | Result | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous footing volume | 640 ft × 2.0 ft × 1.0 ft ÷ 27 | 47.4 | CY |
| Isolated footing volume | 18 × (3 ft × 3 ft × 1.5 ft) ÷ 27 | 9.0 | CY |
| Subtotal | 47.4 + 9.0 | 56.4 | CY |
| Waste factor | 56.4 × 1.07 | 60.3 | CY |
| Order quantity | Round up | 61 | CY |
Rebar would be taken off separately by bar size and lap, and vapor barrier by square foot of slab area. If the geotech calls for deeper piers or over-excavation, those quantities go into the sitework and foundation sections, not into this footing line. For a full foundation takeoff in this format, see our foundation estimating services page.
FAQ
Commerce City construction estimating questions
What does a construction estimate cost in Commerce City, CO?
Pricing depends on project type, square footage, and how many CSI divisions you need. We do not publish a flat rate because a residential takeoff and a full commercial estimate are different scopes of work. Send your plans and we will quote based on the drawings, specifications, and the level of detail you need. Most projects turn around in 24–48 hours, and rush service is available.
How long does it take to get an estimate for a Commerce City project?
Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours after we receive complete plans and specifications. Larger multifamily or commercial projects with many divisions can take longer, and we will tell you the schedule before we start. Rush turnaround is available when your bid date is close. The clock starts when we have a full set of drawings, not when you first inquire.
Do you account for Commerce City's expansive soils in your takeoffs?
Yes. We read the geotech report and civil sheets and carry over-excavation, structural fill, drilled piers, and moisture conditioning as separate line items. If the geotech is not available, we note the assumption and flag it for confirmation. We do not default to a standard footing depth, because in this corridor that is where bids go wrong. You should confirm the final design with your geotechnical engineer and the local building department.
What CSI MasterFormat divisions do you cover?
We cover all divisions that appear on your drawings, from Division 01 general requirements through Division 33 utilities. For Commerce City work, the most common are 03 concrete, 05 metals, 06 wood, 07 thermal and moisture, 22 plumbing, 23 HVAC, and 26 electrical. Each line item is organized by division and section number in Excel and PDF, with marked-up plan sets so you can trace every quantity back to the sheet.
Can you estimate both residential and commercial projects in Commerce City?
Yes. We estimate single-family, townhome, multifamily, commercial, and light industrial work. Commerce City permitted 931 new privately-owned residential units in 2025, with 488 single-family and 443 multifamily, so the mix here is real. Our residential estimating services and commercial estimating services pages show the format for each. The takeoff method is the same; the divisions and detail level change.
How do you handle snow load and wind load in a Commerce City takeoff?
We read the structural drawings for the ground snow load, exposure category, and wind speed used by the designer, then reflect those in truss, header, and hold-down quantities. We do not assume a value. If the drawings do not state them, we flag it as an assumption for you to confirm with the structural engineer and the local building department, since the adopted code edition governs.
Do you provide estimates for sitework and utilities in Commerce City?
Yes. Sitework is often the largest variable on Commerce City projects because of river-adjacent soils and drainage requirements. We take off clearing, stripping, over-excavation, structural fill, storm pipe, structures, and erosion control by the unit each requires. We separate on-site balance from import or export so you can see the haul cost. See our sitework estimating services page for the line items we carry.
What software and pricing data do you use?
We use Bluebeam Revu for plan markup, PlanSwift for quantity takeoff, and RSMeans data for material and labor pricing. Pricing is adjusted by ZIP code so the labor and material rates reflect the Commerce City market rather than a national average. Deliverables are Excel and PDF, organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with marked-up plan sets included.
Where does the permit data on this page come from?
The permit figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, for 2025. They count new privately-owned residential units permitted by the city itself, not total construction value and not commercial permits. In 2025 Commerce City permitted 931 units, up from 626 in 2024, with 443 multifamily units, or about 48% of the total. We use this data to understand the local market mix, not to price your project.
Do you cover nearby cities along the Front Range?
Yes. We cover Broomfield, Grand Junction, Castle Rock, Parker, Littleton, and Northglenn, along with the rest of the Denver metro and the Front Range corridor. If your project is in one of those cities, the soil, wind, and code conditions may differ, so we confirm the local requirements before pricing. See our Colorado construction estimating page for the full list of areas we serve.
Other Colorado cities we cover
Popular services in Commerce City
Send your Commerce City project plans for a quote
Email your drawings and specifications and we will return a division-organized estimate in 24–48 hours, with rush service available if your bid date is close.
- We review the set and check for missing sheets or addenda.
- You get a quote with a price and a delivery date.
- You approve and we start the takeoff.
- You receive the Excel estimate and marked-up plans.