Construction estimating services in McDonough, GA

We quote per project based on drawing count, square footage and the number of divisions you need. Most residential and light-commercial takeoffs are returned in 24 to 48 hours, and rush turnaround is available. Send the plan set and we will confirm scope and price before starting. We do not publish a flat rate because a 2,000 SF house plan and a 45,000 SF warehouse shell take very different labor to measure. Once we see the drawings, we can give you a firm number and a delivery date.

We use ZIP-code-adjusted material and labor pricing, not a flat national rate. That means the labor hours and wage component reflect the McDonough area rather than a statewide or national average, which matters when you are comparing our numbers against a sub's quote. Material pricing is adjusted the same way, so lumber, concrete and steel reflect what suppliers are charging in this market. If you are bidding work in another county, tell us and we will adjust the ZIP code.

Every takeoff comes in Excel and PDF, organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with marked-up plan sets showing what we measured. You can drop the Excel into your own estimating template or hand the PDF to a subcontractor for review. The marked-up plans let a reviewer see exactly which walls, footings or runs were counted, so there is no guessing about what is in the number. If you need a different format, ask before we start.

Yes. We separate the pre-engineered metal building scope from the office build-out so you can bid them to different trades. Steel, deck and panels go under divisions 05 and 07, while the office framing, drywall and finishes are carried separately. That split keeps the buyout clean. We also break out the foundation package, since the PEMB supplier often excludes anchor bolts and embeds. Tell us how you plan to award the work and we will match the takeoff structure to your bid packages.

The permit figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. They count new privately-owned residential units only, meaning single-family and multifamily housing, and they do not include commercial, industrial or warehouse permits. The 2025 data show 52 residential units permitted in McDonough, all single-family, down from 184 units in 2024. That is a 72 percent drop, and it reflects the city's own permitting activity, not the surrounding unincorporated county. Use it as a demand signal, not a construction forecast.

We do not assume the soil is suitable. The takeoff carries undercut and structural fill as separate lines, and we flag where a geotechnical report is needed to confirm bearing capacity. If rock is likely, we note it as an allowance rather than burying it in the excavation line. Clay also affects how much fill you need to bring in and how much spoil leaves the site, so we track both. Confirm the actual soil conditions with a geotechnical engineer before you firm up the foundation bid.

Yes. We work across metro Atlanta and middle Georgia, including Kennesaw, LaGrange and Woodstock. The same ZIP-code-adjusted pricing and CSI-formatted deliverables apply, and the state page covers how we handle Georgia projects generally. If your project is in a county we have not priced recently, we will tell you before we start. The takeoff format does not change, but the material and labor adjustments will.

We can. Design-development sets get allowances by ton, square foot or fixture count, clearly labeled as allowances so you know what is firm and what is not. Once permit drawings are issued, we update the takeoff to final quantities. That lets you budget early without pretending the numbers are final. We also note which divisions are likely to change most between DD and permit, so you can hold contingency where it belongs. Confirm the adopted code edition with the local building department before finalizing scope.

Send the architectural, structural, civil and MEP drawings you have, plus any specifications, addenda or geotechnical report. If you have a target budget or a bid date, tell us. We will confirm the divisions you want covered and return the takeoff in 24 to 48 hours for most projects. If drawings are missing, we will tell you what we can measure and what will be carried as an allowance. The more complete the set, the fewer assumptions in the final number.

Both. Residential work is taken off per plan type with a multiplier for repeated lots, while commercial and industrial shells are taken off per building. For subdivisions we also carry sitework, utilities and paving under the site package. Our residential estimating services cover the house scope in detail. If you are bidding a subdivision, send the typical lot plan and the site plan, and we will separate the per-house cost from the shared infrastructure cost so you can see both.