Multifamily takeoffs
Unit-mix quantity matrices for apartment and townhouse projects, extended by floor and by building.
EA · SF · unit typeUnion City, NJ
Construction estimating services in Union City, NJ
Union City permitted 70 new privately-owned residential units in 2025, 69 of them multifamily, at an average value of $104,300 per unit. We produce CSI MasterFormat takeoffs and estimates for the infill builders working those tight Hudson County lots.
24–48 hours for most projectsTypical turnaround
Every CSI divisionSitework through MEP
Union City ZIP pricingLocal material and labor
Price confirmed firstBefore any work starts
Census BPS · Union City · 2025Real permit data
Union City new housing permits2025
New housing units70Change vs. 2024+1%Permitted construction value$7MAverage value per unit$104,300Rank among covered New Jersey cities#13
Single-family: 1 (1%)Multifamily: 69 (99%)
U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Residential only.
What makes construction estimating in Union City, NJ different?
Union City runs on infill multifamily: 69 of the 70 residential units permitted in 2025 were multifamily, so estimates hinge on tight-lot logistics, sheeting and shoring, Hudson River bedrock and fill, party-wall and fire-separation assemblies, and masonry or EIFS facades set against ZIP-adjusted material and labor pricing.
- Union City permitted 70 new housing units in 2025, #13 among the New Jersey cities we cover.
- About 99% were in multifamily buildings; 1% were single-family.
- Permit volume was flat compared with 2024.
Union City is the 15th-largest city in New Jersey by our covered list and one of the densest in Hudson County. The 2025 permit data tells the story plainly: 70 new privately-owned residential units, 69 of them multifamily, worth about $7M. That is 99% multifamily, which means the work here is infill apartment and townhouse construction on small lots, not subdivision tract building. Estimates have to account for what those lots actually allow.
We build takeoffs in Bluebeam Revu and PlanSwift and price them with RSMeans data adjusted by ZIP code, so your material and labor numbers reflect this market rather than a national average. Deliverables come back in Excel and PDF, organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with marked-up plan sets showing what we measured. Most projects turn in 24–48 hours. If you are bidding a Union City job alongside work in Hoboken or West New York, the same pricing basis carries across. Start with our New Jersey construction estimating overview, or send plans through Get an estimate.
- Coverage
- Union City and nearby New Jersey communities
- Deliverable
- Excel estimate + marked-up PDF plans
- Pricing basis
- Union City ZIP-code material and labor costs
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours for most projects
- Software
- Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift, RSMeans data
01
For bidders. Bidding a Union City apartment or townhouse project means measuring every unit type once and applying it correctly. We return quantity takeoffs by division with marked-up plans so you can defend each line at buyout.
02
For builders. Tight Hudson County lots drive formwork, shoring and crane or pump placement costs. We quantify those conditions from the drawings and site plan instead of carrying a flat percentage.
03
For owners. Owners comparing a Union City pro forma to a contractor bid need the same scope basis. We estimate from your drawings and note exclusions so the two numbers can be compared line by line.
Union City by the numbers
Union City's residential construction pipeline
Select a bar to compare Union City with the largest New Jersey markets we cover.
70New housing units, 2025
1.1%Of all units in the New Jersey cities we cover
$7MPermitted residential value
99%In multifamily buildings
New housing units permitted in 2025. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey.
This city
Union City
70 new housing units in 2025 (+1.4% vs 2024).
1 single-family · 69 multifamily (99%).
Multifamily is the entire market
The 2025 Building Permits Survey shows 70 new privately-owned residential units permitted in Union City, up from 69 in 2024 — about 1% growth. Of those, 69 units were multifamily and 1 was single-family, so 99% of the volume sits in apartment and attached housing. Permitted value was $7M, averaging $104,300 per unit, and Union City ranked 13th of 25 covered state cities by units, holding 1.1% of the 6,503 statewide total. For a bidder, that means your estimating capacity should be built around repeat unit types: measure a typical floor plate and unit mix once, then extend by count. Our multi-family estimating services are structured exactly that way, with unit-by-unit quantity matrices rather than a single lump sum.
Infill lots and Hudson County site conditions
Union City sits on the Palisades, so most sites involve some combination of rock, fill and steep grade change between the street and the rear of the lot. Excavation and disposal quantities swing widely from block to block, and disposal is priced by ton plus haul, not by the cubic yard you measured. Expect sheeting or shoring on deeper cellars, underpinning where a new foundation abuts an existing structure, and dewatering where the water table is shallow. Because lots are narrow, material handling and crane or pump placement belong in the estimate as real line items. Our sitework estimating services and foundation estimating services cover those divisions. Nearby, Hoboken and West New York share the same geology and lot constraints.
Services
Construction estimating services in Union City
These are the divisions that carry the most risk on Union City infill residential work. Each takeoff is measured from your drawings and returned by CSI MasterFormat division.
Sitework and excavation
Rock, fill and disposal quantities for Palisades lots, priced by ton and haul distance.
CY · TON · LSFoundation and shoring
Spread and mat footings, walls, sheeting, underpinning and dewatering measured from the site plan.
CY · SF · LFConcrete and formwork
Formwork contact area, slab-on-deck and topping quantities for cast-in-place and podium construction.
SFCA · CYFraming
Wood and light-gauge studs, joists, sheathing and hardware for low- and mid-rise residential.
LF · SF · EARoofing and waterproofing
Membrane, taper insulation, flashing and terrace assemblies on flat and low-slope roofs.
SF · LFMEP systems
Plumbing, HVAC and electrical counts for stacked units, including riser and meter-room takeoffs.
EA · LF · fixtureCommercial fit-out
Ground-floor retail and mixed-use shell work, including storefront, partitions and finishes.
SF · LF · EAWho we provide estimates for
Who we prepare Union City estimates for
General contractors
Union City multifamily bids turn on unit-mix pricing and tight-lot sitework. We return division-by-division quantities with marked-up plans so you can defend every line at buyout in Hudson County.
Multifamily developers
With 69 of 70 permitted units multifamily, your pro forma lives on per-unit hard cost. We measure each unit type once and apply it across the stack so your budget matches the drawings.
Subcontractors
Bidding concrete, framing, roofing or MEP on a Union City infill job means small quantities and no room for waste. We scope your division only, with quantities you can price directly.
Architects
When a Union City client asks for a cost check before permit, a quantity takeoff gives a defensible basis. We measure from your set and flag scope gaps without changing your design intent.
Owners and property managers
Renovation and conversion work in Union City's older housing stock needs existing-condition quantities. We estimate from your drawings and note exclusions so bids compare on the same scope.
Warehouse and industrial builders
Union City's infill and warehouse demand means slab, racking and loading scopes on constrained sites. We quantify sitework, concrete and MEP from the civil and architectural sheets.
Where we provide estimates
Union City areas and nearby communities we cover
We estimate from plans for projects anywhere in Hudson County and the surrounding cities. Union City's work concentrates along the Bergenline Avenue corridor and the blocks that climb the Palisades toward West New York and Weehawken.
Union City core
- Bergenline Avenue corridor
- Summit Avenue
- Central Avenue
- Palisade Avenue
- West Hoboken
Hudson County neighbors
- West New York
- Hoboken
- Weehawken
- North Bergen
- Guttenberg
- Jersey City Heights
Nearby cities we cover
Property types
Types of Union City properties we estimate
The 2025 permit mix is 99% multifamily, so that is where most of our Union City takeoffs land. The rest of the work is infill, conversion and small commercial on the same tight lots.
Multifamily apartment buildings
Mid-rise and low-rise apartment buildings on Bergenline Avenue and the side streets carry the bulk of Union City permits. We measure each unit type, corridor and core once, then apply counts floor by floor.
Watch for: Unit-type duplication errors; corridor and common-area quantities; fire-rated assemblies.
Townhouse and rowhouse infill
Narrow lots along the Palisades produce party-wall rowhouse projects with repeated floor plans. We take off per unit and per building, separating shared walls, stairs and roof from unit scope.
Watch for: Party-wall thickness; stair and roof quantities per building; shared MEP runs.
Conversions and gut renovations
Older two- and three-family houses in Union City are frequently converted or gutted. Existing conditions drive the estimate, so we quantify demolition, shoring and structural repair from the drawings you provide.
Watch for: Demolition quantities; unknown existing structure; window and facade replacement.
Mixed-use buildings
Ground-floor retail under apartments is common on the avenue. We separate commercial and residential scope by division so you can price storefront, residential and shared systems independently.
Watch for: Storefront glazing; separate utility services; sound and fire separations.
Warehouse and light industrial
Union City's infill and warehouse demand shows up as small distribution and shop buildings. We quantify slab, racking, loading and MEP from the civil and architectural sheets.
Watch for: Slab thickness and reinforcement; dock equipment; sprinkler coverage.
Small commercial and institutional
Schools, clinics and retail fit-outs on constrained lots need accurate MEP and partition counts. We estimate from the architectural and MEP sets and note any scope we excluded.
Watch for: Partition types; ceiling and lighting counts; sprinkler and alarm scope.
Local factors
What changes a construction estimate in Union City
Union City pricing is driven less by the building than by the lot it sits on. These are the conditions we quantify from the drawings rather than carry as a flat percentage.
Permits and code review
Union City projects pass through local construction officials and Hudson County review, and New Jersey adopts the IRC, IBC, IECC and NEC with statewide amendments. Confirm the adopted code edition and any local amendments with the Union City building department before you lock the estimate. Energy-code envelope requirements and fire-rated assembly schedules change material quantities, so we price them from the drawings rather than assume a standard.
IBC · IRC · IECC · NECPalisades soils and foundations
The Palisades ridge is bedrock near the surface in some blocks and deep fill or weathered rock in others, and Union City lots are often cut into the slope. Foundation cost swings with the actual bearing condition, so we quantify excavation, rock removal, sheeting and underpinning from the geotechnical report and site plan. Where a report is not available, we note the foundation line as an allowance and flag it for confirmation.
Rock excavation · Sheeting and shoring · Underpinning · Footing quantitiesClimate and stormwater
Hudson County gets coastal storm exposure, freeze-thaw cycles and heavy summer rain. Roof drainage, foundation waterproofing and exterior envelope details carry real cost on Union City infill because there is little room for surface swales. We measure roof drains, leaders, waterproofing and paving quantities from the drawings, and we price snow and wind provisions as the code edition requires. Confirm local stormwater and floodplain rules with the city.
Roof drainage · Waterproofing · Freeze-thaw · Floodplain rulesLabor market and prevailing wages
Union City sits inside the New York metro labor market, where union and prevailing-wage requirements on publicly funded work raise hourly costs. Even private multifamily projects feel the tightness in concrete, framing and MEP trades. We price labor with ZIP-code-adjusted RSMeans data and keep trade rates separate so you can swap in your own crew rates or a project wage decision without rebuilding the takeoff.
RSMeans data · ZIP-code adjustment · Trade rates · Wage decisionsTight lots and staging
Union City's dense blocks leave little room for material storage, crane pads or laydown. On infill sites we quantify shoring, pump placement, hoisting and any street-occupancy measures shown on the site plan, because those costs are real here rather than a percentage. Land-use and parking requirements also shape what can be built, so confirm zoning and site-plan conditions with the city before pricing the structure.
Shoring · Hoisting · Street occupancy · ZoningMaterials and delivery logistics
Most Union City projects are small enough that delivery minimums, truck access and after-hours restrictions affect material pricing. Concrete, steel and drywall deliveries into side streets need flaggers or permits, and those costs belong in the estimate. We price materials with ZIP-code-adjusted RSMeans data and list the logistics items we included so nothing is assumed. New Jersey sales and use tax treatment on materials should be confirmed with your accountant.
Delivery minimums · Truck access · Sales and use tax · RSMeans dataUnion City estimating guide
How Union City conditions show up in a takeoff, trade by trade
Union City's 2025 permit mix was almost entirely multifamily infill, and that shows up in the quantities we measure and the line items we carry. Here is how each trade reads on a Hudson County takeoff.
Sitework and excavation
On the Palisades, most Union City sites are cut-and-fill benches rather than flat pads. We take off rock excavation separately from unclassified excavation because diabase and serpentinite do not rip at the same rate as glacial till, and blasting or hoe-ram time changes the unit cost. Trucking is a line item of its own: narrow streets off Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard limit haul routes, so we carry cycle times and flagger hours. Support-of-excavation, sheeting and underpinning of adjacent structures belong in this section too. See our sitework estimating services for how we structure these quantities.
Framing and structural steel
Mid-rise infill in Union City is usually concrete podium with wood or light-gauge steel above. That means two framing systems in one takeoff: structural steel and metal deck at the podium, then wood floor trusses, joists and shear panels above. We count studs by height and spacing, track, headers and blocking, and we separate fire-rated assemblies. Panel lengths matter on tight lots because long trusses may need a crane rather than a boom truck. Framing estimating services explains how we break out these quantities by floor.
MEP and fire protection
Dense multifamily means stacked wet walls and repeated riser diagrams, which is good for pricing but unforgiving of errors. We count plumbing fixtures by type and floor, measure domestic water and sanitary pipe by diameter and material, and take off sprinkler heads, mains and standpipes under NFPA 13. Electrical counts include panelboards, unit load centers, devices, and the service entrance. Mechanical is typically split-system or VRF with ERV, so we measure line sets, condensers and ductwork by gauge. MEP estimating services covers all three trades in one package.
Concrete and foundations
Multifamily buildings here typically sit on spread footings bearing on rock or on deep foundations where fill is thick. We measure footing forms, rebar by bar size and lap, and concrete by cubic yard with a typical 5 to 8 percent waste on formed elements. Mat slabs, pile caps, grade beams and elevator pits each get their own line. Waterproofing and dampproofing are frequently dropped from the base bid, so we list them explicitly. Our foundation estimating services and concrete estimating services cover the full division 03 and 31 scope.
Roofing and envelope
Flat modified bitumen and TPO roofs dominate the multifamily stock, with tapered insulation to drains and parapet flashing at every setback. We measure roof area by plane, then add perimeter metal, base flashing, counterflashing and roof drains as separate lines. On the walls, brick veneer, fiber cement and EIFS each carry different scaffold and sealant costs. Wind uplift and the adopted energy code drive insulation thickness, so confirm the edition in force with the Union City building department. Roofing estimating services covers the division 07 takeoff in detail.
Scope gaps we see on Union City bids
- Rock excavation excluded from the base bid, then added as a change order once the contractor hits diabase under the footing line.
- Support of excavation and underpinning of adjacent buildings omitted, though tight lots on the Palisades usually require it.
- Temporary utilities, dewatering and stormwater controls left out of sitework, then carried by the general contractor.
- Fire-rated assemblies and penetration firestopping missing from the framing and MEP scopes, with no UL detail assigned.
- Final cleaning, trash chutes and hoist time not priced in the general conditions for a mid-rise infill building.
- Elevator pit, machine room and cab finishes omitted because the elevator was carried as an allowance only.
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 Union City project
- Read the full setArchitectural, structural, civil and MEP drawings, the geotechnical report and every addendum.
- Check Union 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 Union 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: Union City mid-rise multifamily, podium level
| Section | Line item | Qty | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 30 00 | Podium slab concrete, 8 in. | 310 | CY |
| 03 20 00 | Rebar, #5 and #6, slab and walls | 42,500 | LB |
| 03 11 00 | Footing forms, spread footings | 1,850 | SF |
| 05 12 00 | Structural steel, podium columns and beams | 38 | TON |
| 05 31 00 | Metal deck, 1.5 in. composite | 12,400 | SF |
| 07 13 00 | Waterproofing, below-grade walls | 3,200 | SF |
| 31 23 16 | Rock excavation, footing pits | 410 | CY |
| 31 23 23 | Haul-off, excavated material | 1,150 | CY |
Worked example: podium slab concrete for a Union City multifamily building
This example prices the concrete for one elevated podium slab on a Union City multifamily project. The dimensions are illustrative, not a real project. We assume a 120 ft by 85 ft footprint, an 8 in. slab, and a 5 percent waste factor on the concrete.
Step 1 — Slab area. 120 ft x 85 ft = 10,200 SF.
Step 2 — Volume at 8 in. 10,200 SF x (8 / 12) ft = 6,800 CF.
Step 3 — Convert to cubic yards. 6,800 CF / 27 = 251.85 CY, call it 252 CY.
Step 4 — Add waste. 252 CY x 1.05 = 264.6 CY. We round to 265 CY for order quantity.
Step 5 — Rebar. Assume #5 at 12 in. each way, top and bottom, plus 10 percent for laps and chairs. Bar length per direction: 85 ft / 1 ft spacing = 85 bars at 120 ft, plus 120 bars at 85 ft. Total linear feet = (85 x 120) + (120 x 85) = 20,400 LF. Two mats = 40,800 LF. #5 weighs 1.043 lb/LF, so 40,800 x 1.043 = 42,554 lb. Add 10 percent = 46,810 lb, call it 46,800 LB.
Step 6 — Formwork. Podium edge forms run the perimeter: 2 x (120 + 85) = 410 LF at 8 in. height = 273 SF. Add 10 percent for blockouts and drops = 300 SF.
| Step | Calculation | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab area | 120 x 85 | 10,200 | SF |
| Volume | 10,200 x 0.667 | 6,800 | CF |
| Volume | 6,800 / 27 | 252 | CY |
| With 5% waste | 252 x 1.05 | 265 | CY |
| Rebar | 40,800 LF x 1.043 x 1.10 | 46,800 | LB |
| Edge forms | 410 LF x 0.667 x 1.10 | 300 | SF |
A real estimate would also carry pump time, finishing, curing, vapor barrier and slab penetrations. If you want this level of detail on your own drawings, send them through our get an estimate page.
FAQ
Union City construction estimating questions
What kind of projects are being permitted in Union City right now?
The 2025 U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey shows 70 new privately-owned residential units permitted by the city, up from 69 in 2024. Of those, 69 were multifamily and 1 was single-family, so 99 percent of the year's units were in multifamily buildings. Permitted value was $7M, or about $104,300 per unit. That mix is why our Union City takeoffs lean heavily on podium concrete, wood or light-gauge framing above, and stacked MEP risers.
Where does the permit data on this page come from?
Every permit figure comes from the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, 2025 vintage, for permits issued by the city of Union City. The survey counts new privately-owned residential units only. It does not include commercial, industrial, demolition, or renovation permits, and it does not capture unpermitted work. Treat the numbers as a scale indicator for residential demand, not a full picture of construction activity in the city.
Do you price rock excavation separately on Palisades sites?
Yes. Union City sits on the Palisades ridge, where diabase and serpentinite are common below the weathered zone. We separate rock excavation from unclassified excavation in the takeoff because production rates, equipment, and haul-off costs differ sharply. If the geotechnical report gives rippability or rock elevation, we use it. If not, we carry a line for rock measured and paid, and note the assumption so your bid is not exposed to a change order.
How do you handle tight-lot staging and hoisting in the estimate?
We add line items for crane or hoist time, material staging off site, and flagger hours where the site plan does not show room for laydown. On Union City infill lots, deliveries often need police details and short windows, so those costs belong in the general conditions rather than buried in a trade. If your schedule shows a single tower crane for the whole job, we price the crane operator and monthly rental across the full duration.
Can you break out fire-rated assemblies and firestopping?
Yes. We list each rated assembly by UL design number where the drawings provide one, and we count penetration firestopping by type and floor. This is one of the most common scope gaps on multifamily bids: the framing contractor assumes the drywall contractor has it, and the drywall contractor assumes the MEP trades do. We put it in a dedicated section so it is priced once.
What formats do you deliver Union City takeoffs in?
We deliver Excel workbooks and PDF reports organized by CSI MasterFormat division, plus a marked-up plan set showing what we measured. That means your estimator can trace a quantity back to a highlighted area on the drawing. We use Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift, and RSMeans data, with material and labor pricing adjusted to the Union City ZIP code.
How fast is turnaround on a multifamily takeoff?
Most projects are returned in 24 to 48 hours. Rush turnaround is available when you have a bid date inside that window. The clock starts when we have a complete set of drawings and specifications. Partial sets can be priced, but we flag the missing sheets so you know which quantities are provisional.
Do you cover commercial and industrial work in Union City?
Yes. Residential multifamily is the dominant permit type in the city, but we also take off commercial fit-outs, mixed-use podium buildings, and light industrial warehouse work in the surrounding Hudson County corridor. The same division-by-division structure applies. If your project is a warehouse or a retail build-out, send the drawings and we will scope it accordingly.
How do you price labor for Union City?
We use RSMeans data with a ZIP-code adjustment for Union City material and labor pricing. That adjustment reflects local wage levels and material delivery costs, not a national average. For trades where the market is tight, we note the assumption in the estimate so you can apply your own subcontractor quotes on top. We do not publish a single citywide labor rate because trade rates move independently.
What do you need from me to start a takeoff?
Send the architectural, structural, MEP, and civil sheets, plus the specifications and any addenda. A site plan and geotechnical report help on Palisades projects. If you have a bid date and a scope split you want us to follow, include that. We will confirm receipt and tell you if anything is missing before we start measuring. Use the get an estimate page to send files.
Other New Jersey cities we cover
Popular services in Union City
Send your Union City project plans for a quote
Send your drawings and specifications and we will return a division-by-division takeoff in Excel and PDF, usually within 24 to 48 hours.
- 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.