Sitework takeoff
Cut and fill on Troy's sloped lots, retaining walls, utility trenching and pavement removal on tight infill parcels.
CY · LF · TONTroy, NY
Construction estimating services in Troy, NY
Troy's 2025 permit year ran 157 new privately-owned residential units, 87% of them multifamily, in a city full of century-old brick and steep Rensselaer County lots. We produce CSI-organized quantity takeoffs and estimates from your plans in 24–48 hours.
24–48 hours for most projectsTypical turnaround
Every CSI divisionSitework through MEP
Troy ZIP pricingLocal material and labor
Price confirmed firstBefore any work starts
Census BPS · Troy · 2025Real permit data
Troy new housing permits2025
New housing units157Change vs. 2024+27%Permitted construction value$27MAverage value per unit$174,000Rank among covered New York cities#9
Single-family: 21 (13%)Multifamily: 136 (87%)
U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Residential only.
What makes construction estimating in Troy, NY different?
Troy's 2025 permits were 157 new privately-owned residential units, 136 of them multifamily, so most takeoffs are repeated-unit buildings on tight infill lots. Hillside sites in the older river wards drive cut, fill and retaining wall quantities, and pre-1930 brick stock means selective demolition and masonry repair. Frost-depth footings, cold-climate envelope details and party-wall assemblies set the rest.
- Troy permitted 157 new housing units in 2025, #9 among the New York cities we cover.
- About 87% were in multifamily buildings; 13% were single-family.
- Permit volume was up 27% compared with 2024.
Troy sits in Rensselaer County on the east bank of the Hudson, north of Albany. The city's building stock splits into two estimating problems: 19th-century brick rowhouses and mill buildings near downtown and the waterfront, and sloped lots in the hillside neighborhoods where foundations, retaining walls and driveway cuts rarely follow a standard detail. Both require a takeoff built from the actual sheets, not a template.
We price Troy work with ZIP-code-adjusted material and labor rates from RSMeans data, take off in Bluebeam Revu and PlanSwift, and deliver Excel and PDF files organized by CSI MasterFormat division with marked-up plan sets. Most projects turn around in 24–48 hours. Because the upstate market runs steadier public and institutional work than New York City's high-rise pipeline — the pattern across New York construction estimating — your bid calendar is usually the binding constraint. Send plans through Get an estimate and we scope the divisions you ask for.
- Coverage
- Troy and nearby New York communities
- Deliverable
- Excel estimate + marked-up PDF plans
- Pricing basis
- Troy 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 hard-bid opening. We break out excavation, concrete, masonry, framing, roofing and MEP by division so you can adjust labor burdens and markups without rebuilding the takeoff.
02
For builders. You are pricing a multifamily or mixed-use job where the units repeat but the site does not. We separate typical-unit quantities from site-specific foundation and sitework scope so change orders have a baseline.
03
For owners. You want a budget before design is finished. We estimate from schematic sets, flag the divisions with the widest range, and give you a format your contractor can check line by line.
Troy by the numbers
Troy's residential construction pipeline
Select a bar to compare Troy with the largest New York markets we cover.
157New housing units, 2025
4.3%Of all units in the New York cities we cover
$27MPermitted residential value
87%In multifamily buildings
New housing units permitted in 2025. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey.
This city
Troy
157 new housing units in 2025 (+26.6% vs 2024).
21 single-family · 136 multifamily (87%).
Multifamily carries the permit volume
Troy issued permits for 157 new privately-owned residential units in 2025, up from 124 in 2024 — about 27% — with 136 of those units multifamily, 87% of the total. Single-family was 21 units. Permitted value was $27M, averaging $174,000 per unit. For a bidder, that mix means most of the residential work is attached housing, adaptive reuse and infill buildings rather than one-off houses: repeated unit plans, shared foundations and party walls, and one site package spread across many units. Unit counts also make per-unit pricing tempting, but sitework, foundations and utility runs do not scale with unit count. Troy ranked 9th of 24 covered state cities by units, at 4.3% of the 3,635-unit covered total, so the city is active but not deep — a handful of jobs decides your year. Nearby Schenectady construction estimating and Utica construction estimating draw on the same upstate labor pool.
What $174,000 per unit implies for your takeoff
At roughly $174,000 average permitted value per unit, the multifamily work in Troy is not high-rise construction. It is wood-frame or hybrid low-rise over podium or slab, which puts the cost weight in sitework, foundations, framing and MEP rough-in rather than structural steel and curtain wall. That is where a takeoff earns its fee: count sheathing and studs by wall type and height, separate fire-rated assemblies at party walls, and measure frost-depth footings and slab thickness from the sections. Because these buildings repeat, a single missed line item multiplies by the unit count. Review the state-level context on the New York page and confirm the locally adopted code edition, including energy and frost-depth provisions, with the City of Troy building department before you lock the estimate.
Services
Construction estimating services in Troy, NY
We take off and price the divisions that carry the cost on Troy's multifamily, reuse and hillside residential work.
Concrete and foundations
Frost-depth footings, slab-on-grade, podium decks and foundation walls measured from the sections, not assumed.
CY · SF · LFFraming quantities
Studs, plates, headers, sheathing and floor joists by wall type and height, including fire-rated party-wall assemblies.
EA · LF · SFRoofing takeoff
Low-slope membrane and steep-slope replacement on Troy's older buildings, with flashing and insulation by area.
SQ · LFMEP estimating
Plumbing, HVAC and electrical rough-in by fixture, terminal unit and device, with riser and branch runs measured.
EA · LFRenovation and reuse
Selective demolition, masonry repair and new work in pre-1930 brick buildings where existing conditions drive quantities.
SF · CY · TONMultifamily unit pricing
Typical-unit quantities separated from site and core scope so repeated floors price cleanly across the building.
EA · SFBid-level review
Scope-gap check against the drawings and specs, with alternates and allowances listed by CSI division.
DIV · LSWho we provide estimates for
Who we estimate for in Troy
General contractors bidding public work
Troy and Rensselaer County school, municipal and utility jobs are hard-bid, so you need quantities broken by division that survive a bid opening and a post-bid audit.
Multifamily and mixed-use developers
With 136 of 157 permitted units in 2025 in multifamily buildings, your pro forma turns on repeatable unit quantities, parking counts and per-unit hard cost.
Renovation and restoration contractors
Downtown brick rowhouses and mill buildings have uneven floors, old joists and hidden masonry repair; you need a takeoff that prices the observed conditions, not a new-build template.
Subcontractors pricing one division
Concrete, framing, roofing and MEP bidders want a clean quantity list for their scope only, with the general contractor's divisions excluded so you can apply your own labor and markup.
Architects and design-build teams
You need a budget at schematic design to keep a Troy hillside or waterfront project inside the owner's number before construction documents are finished.
Owners and facility managers
For a single building repair, roof replacement or mechanical upgrade, you want an independent scope and quantity check before you sign a contractor's proposal.
Where we provide estimates
Troy areas and nearby communities we cover
We estimate from plans for projects anywhere in Rensselaer County and the upper Hudson corridor. The list below covers the Troy neighborhoods and nearby cities we see most often.
Downtown and waterfront
- Downtown Troy
- Little Italy
- Washington Park
- South Troy
- North Central
- Burden Iron Works area
- Green Island
Hillside and campus neighborhoods
- Mount Ida
- Sycaway
- Brunswick
- Poestenkill
- Wynantskill
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute area
Nearby cities we cover
Property types
Types of Troy properties we estimate
Troy's 2025 permit mix was overwhelmingly multifamily, with 136 of 157 new privately-owned residential units in multifamily buildings and only 21 single-family. That ratio shapes what we take off most weeks.
Multifamily infill
Three- and four-story apartment buildings on tight city lots, often with tuck-under or surface parking. We separate typical-unit quantities from the site-specific foundation, elevator and utility scope.
Watch for: Unit-to-unit plumbing stacks, fire separation, egress stairs and trash room.
Adaptive reuse
Mill buildings and older commercial structures converted to apartments. Existing floors, columns and masonry are rarely plumb, so the takeoff must price selective demolition and structural repair separately.
Watch for: Selective demo, shoring, floor leveling and new shaft penetrations.
Single-family infill
One-off houses on hillside or infill lots, where the foundation and driveway often cost more than the superstructure. We price excavation, retaining walls and dewatering from the actual site plan.
Watch for: Rock excavation, retaining walls and utility trench depth.
Rowhouse renovation
Gut renovations of 19th-century brick rowhouses near downtown. We take off masonry repointing, new floor framing, window replacement and full MEP rough-in from the demolition and architectural sheets.
Watch for: Hidden masonry repair, joist replacement and plaster removal.
Institutional and school work
Public school additions, municipal buildings and college facilities in Troy and Rensselaer County. These jobs carry prevailing wage, so we keep labor hours separate from material quantities.
Watch for: Prevailing wage, phased occupancy and security hardware.
Commercial and retail
Storefront, restaurant and small office fit-outs along the downtown corridors. We price demolition, storefront glazing, kitchen equipment rough-in and code-driven upgrades as separate line items.
Watch for: Grease duct, hood suppression, ADA restroom and sprinkler modifications.
Local factors
What changes a construction estimate in Troy
Troy estimates move on six things: the code edition the city has adopted, hillside soils, winter weather, union labor, site drainage and material delivery. Each one changes quantities or unit costs, not just the markup.
Code and permitting
The City of Troy enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, which follows the IBC family, but the adopted edition and local amendments change with state updates. For a downtown rowhouse or mill conversion, verify the current edition and any local historic district review with the city building department before you price egress, sprinklers and fire separation.
New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code · City of Troy building department · historic district reviewSoils and foundations
Troy's hillside neighborhoods often sit on glacial till, clay and weathered shale, and the downtown waterfront has filled ground near the Hudson. That means deeper footings, rock removal, dewatering or a mat slab on some lots. Price from a geotechnical report where one exists; where it does not, carry a rock and unsuitable-soil allowance as a separate line so the owner can see the risk.
Glacial till · clay · weathered shale · filled groundClimate and winter
Troy gets lake-effect snow, freeze-thaw cycles and a frost depth that drives footing elevation. Winter work adds temporary heat, hoarding, concrete blankets and cold-weather masonry protection. Schedule and price those items as separate line items rather than burying them in general conditions, because a January foundation pour costs more than a May one.
Lake-effect snow · freeze-thaw · frost depth · temporary heatLabor market
Upstate New York labor is steadier than the New York City high-rise market, but the trades are smaller. On public work, prevailing wage under New York State Labor Law applies, and on private multifamily work the labor pool is limited enough that overtime and per-diem can appear. Confirm wage determinations and shift assumptions before you lock a number.
Prevailing wage · New York State Labor Law · trade availabilitySite and drainage
Sloped lots, short driveways and combined sewers make sitework the least predictable division in Troy. Retaining walls, stepped foundations, stormwater detention and utility relocations often exceed the building shell cost on tight infill lots. Take off sitework from the grading and utility plan, and keep rock excavation and dewatering as separate bid items.
Retaining walls · stepped foundations · stormwater detention · combined sewersMaterials and logistics
Troy is close to Albany-area suppliers, so standard lumber, concrete and steel deliver without long hauls. The constraint is the site: narrow downtown streets, limited laydown and no room for a crane on some lots. Add delivery surcharges, street permits and a material handling plan for tight sites, and check whether the project sits in a local historic district that limits exterior materials.
Albany-area suppliers · narrow streets · laydown limits · historic district materialsTroy estimating guide
How Troy conditions show up in a takeoff, trade by trade
Troy's mix of pre-1900 row buildings, mill-era masonry, and steep hillside lots changes what you measure and how you price it. Here is where each trade's takeoff usually shifts.
Sitework and utilities
Troy sits on the west bank of the Hudson, and much of the city climbs the slope toward Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Poesten Kill ravine. On a hillside lot, cut and fill rarely balance, so a takeoff that only counts building pad area will miss the retaining wall, the over-excavation, and the trucked-off spoil. We measure clearing by square yard, rock excavation by cubic yard, and separate unsuitable subgrade removal from structural fill. Storm lines tie into combined sewers in older parts of the city, so confirm invert elevations and any separation requirements with the city before you price. For a full sitework scope breakdown, see our sitework estimating services.
Framing and rough carpentry
The city's older neighborhoods, including the blocks around Washington Park and the Hillside, are dominated by balloon-frame and heavy-timber structures. A renovation takeoff has to separate salvageable framing from replacement, and we count studs, plates, headers, and sheathing by piece and sheet rather than by lump sum. New multifamily infill tends to be platform-framed with engineered floor systems, so we measure joists by span and count hangers and rim boards. Waste factors for dimensional lumber typically run 5–10 percent on straight runs and higher where there are many openings. See framing estimating services for the takeoff columns we publish.
MEP systems
The Northeast's heating-dominated climate means mechanical scope is a large share of a Troy budget, and older buildings often have hydronic systems that need to be replaced or extended. We take off piping by diameter and linear foot, fittings by count, ductwork by pound and square foot of sheet metal, and equipment by tag from the schedule. Electrical takeoff runs by device count, fixture count, and feeder length, with conduit and wire separated. On renovations, we flag asbestos and lead paint as a separate abatement line because it affects sequencing. Our MEP estimating services page shows how we organize divisions 21 through 26.
Concrete and foundations
Foundations in Troy routinely hit glacial till, weathered shale, and old fill from the mill era, so footing depths vary across a single lot. We take off continuous footings by linear foot, spread footings by count with a schedule keyed to column lines, and slab-on-grade by square foot with a control-joint plan. On hillside projects, stepped footings and doweled stem walls add formwork area that a flat-site template will not capture. Where you are reusing an existing masonry wall as a foundation, we flag the need for a structural assessment before pricing. Our concrete estimating services and foundation estimating services pages show the line-item format we use.
Roofing and envelope
Troy gets lake-effect and coastal storm tracks that drive wind-driven rain against steep-slope roofs, and many buildings have low-slope membrane over older structures. We measure roof area by square (100 square feet), add starter, ridge, hip and valley linear footage separately, and count penetrations, curbs and flashings individually. On membrane roofs, we take off insulation by thickness and board count, cover board, and termination details. Ice-dam protection at eaves is a real line item here, not an allowance. Read our roofing estimating services page for the takeoff format and the waste factors we apply.
Scope gaps we see on Troy bids
- Rock excavation and unsuitable subgrade removal excluded from sitework, then added back as a change order once the hillside cut is opened.
- Temporary shoring and underpinning of adjacent masonry walls on tight row-building lots, left out of the general conditions.
- Asbestos and lead paint abatement in pre-1950 buildings, not carried as a separate line before demolition begins.
- Winter protection, temporary heat, and snow removal on the schedule, treated as a weather day instead of a cost item.
- Utility separation and combined-sewer tie-in requirements in older parts of the city, missing from the civil scope.
- Fire-rated assemblies and shaft-wall details in multifamily work, omitted from the framing and drywall takeoff.
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 Troy project
- Read the full setArchitectural, structural, civil and MEP drawings, the geotechnical report and every addendum.
- Check Troy 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 TroyMaterial 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: three-story multifamily infill on a Troy hillside lot
| Section | Line item | Qty | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 30 00 | Footings, continuous, 24 in. x 12 in. | 186 | LF |
| 03 30 00 | Slab-on-grade, 5 in. with vapor barrier | 2,140 | SF |
| 05 12 00 | Structural steel columns and beams | 3,850 | LB |
| 06 10 00 | Framing, 2x6 walls at 16 in. O.C. | 4,120 | LF |
| 06 16 00 | Sheathing, 7/16 in. OSB | 5,860 | SF |
| 07 21 00 | Thermal insulation, batt and rigid | 7,240 | SF |
| 07 30 00 | Steep-slope roofing, architectural shingle | 18.4 | SQ |
| 09 29 00 | Gypsum board, 5/8 in. Type X | 9,480 | SF |
Worked example: footing concrete for a Troy multifamily infill
This example uses illustrative dimensions for a three-story, six-unit infill building on a sloping lot in Troy. The building footprint is 32 ft by 60 ft with a continuous perimeter footing plus one interior bearing line. All dimensions are illustrative; your plan dimensions control the actual takeoff.
Step 1 — Perimeter footing length. The perimeter is 2 × (32 + 60) = 184 linear feet. Add one interior bearing line running the 60 ft length: 184 + 60 = 244 LF. Deduct 4 ft for a stair opening in the interior line: 244 − 4 = 240 LF.
Step 2 — Footing volume. Footing section is 24 in. wide by 12 in. deep, or 2.0 ft × 1.0 ft = 2.0 CF per LF. Volume = 240 LF × 2.0 CF/LF = 480 CF. Convert to cubic yards: 480 ÷ 27 = 17.78 CY.
Step 3 — Waste and over-excavation. On Troy hillside sites, footing subgrade often requires over-excavation and backfill with structural fill. We add 5 percent waste to concrete and 10 percent to the fill volume. Concrete with waste: 17.78 × 1.05 = 18.67 CY, rounded to 18.7 CY. Fill volume at 12 in. depth below footing: 240 LF × 2.0 ft × 1.0 ft = 480 CF, plus 10 percent = 528 CF, or 19.6 CY.
Step 4 — Formwork. Continuous footing forms both sides: 240 LF × 2 sides = 480 SF of contact area. Add 8 percent for bulkheads, steps, and corners: 480 × 1.08 = 518.4 SF.
Step 5 — Rebar. Assume #5 bars continuous, 4 bars top and bottom, plus #4 stirrups at 12 in. O.C. Longitudinal: 240 LF × 8 bars = 1,920 LF. Stirrups: 240 LF ÷ 1 ft = 240 stirrups × 4.5 LF each = 1,080 LF. Total = 3,000 LF. At 1.043 LB/LF for #5 and 0.668 LB/LF for #4, weight is about 1,920 × 1.043 + 1,080 × 0.668 = 2,003 + 721 = 2,724 LB, plus 5 percent lap and waste = 2,860 LB.
The table below summarizes the calculation steps so you can check the arithmetic against your own plan dimensions.
| Step | Item | Calculation | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Footing length | 2 × (32 + 60) + 60 − 4 | 240 | LF |
| 2 | Concrete volume | 240 × 2.0 ÷ 27 | 17.78 | CY |
| 3 | Concrete with 5% waste | 17.78 × 1.05 | 18.7 | CY |
| 4 | Structural fill, 10% waste | 480 × 1.10 ÷ 27 | 19.6 | CY |
| 5 | Formwork contact area | 240 × 2 × 1.08 | 518.4 | SF |
| 6 | Rebar weight with 5% waste | 3,000 LF converted | 2,860 | LB |
We price these quantities with ZIP-code-adjusted material and labor rates for the Troy area and deliver the takeoff in Excel and PDF, organized by CSI MasterFormat division with a marked-up plan set. Send your plans through our get an estimate page and we will return the footing and foundation takeoff within 24–48 hours for most projects.
FAQ
Troy construction estimating questions
How do you handle Troy's older masonry buildings in a takeoff?
We separate existing masonry that stays from masonry that is removed or repointed, because the two carry different labor rates. We count brick and block by square foot of wall face, add linear footage for lintels, flashing, and weep holes, and measure repointing by square foot of joint area. On pre-1950 buildings we flag abatement as a separate line. If you have a structural report, send it with the plans so we can price shoring and temporary support correctly.
What does the permit data for Troy show about current construction?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey for 2025, Troy issued permits for 157 new privately-owned residential units, up from 124 in 2024, a 27 percent increase. Of those, 21 were single-family and 136 were multifamily, so multifamily was 87 percent of the total. The permitted value was $27M, or an average of $174,000 per unit. The survey counts residential units only and does not include commercial or institutional permits.
How does the hillside terrain around Troy affect a sitework takeoff?
Sloped lots mean cut and fill rarely balance, so we measure over-excavation, structural fill, and trucked-off spoil as separate line items. Retaining walls are taken off by square foot of wall face and by linear foot of footing. We also check whether the plan shows temporary shoring for adjacent structures, because on tight lots that is often a missing cost. Confirm geotechnical recommendations with your engineer before finalizing quantities.
What winter conditions should be carried in a Troy estimate?
Troy's heating season is long, so temporary heat, winter protection, and snow removal belong in the general conditions rather than in a weather allowance. We take off temporary enclosures by square foot of surface, temporary heat by equipment count and fuel type, and we note where cold-weather concrete procedures will change the mix design and curing time. Your schedule drives the quantity, so send the construction sequence with the plans.
Do you price Troy projects with local labor and material rates?
Yes. We use ZIP-code-adjusted material and labor pricing tied to the Troy area, drawing on RSMeans data and our own historical takeoffs. That means the concrete, masonry, and mechanical rates in your estimate reflect what local contractors are actually paying, not a national average. If your project is prevailing wage or union, tell us at intake so we apply the correct labor burden and fringe rates.
What do you need from me to start a Troy takeoff?
Send the architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings, plus the specification book and any addenda. A marked-up plan set or a scope narrative helps us match your intended divisions. We also ask for the project address, the construction type, and whether the work is new construction, renovation, or an addition. Most Troy takeoffs are returned in 24–48 hours, with rush turnaround available if your bid date is close.
How do you organize the estimate when you send it back?
Every takeoff is organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with quantities, units, and notes in Excel and a PDF summary. We also return a marked-up plan set showing what we measured, so you can trace each line back to the drawing. That format makes it easy to drop our quantities into your own pricing sheet or to compare against a subcontractor's bid.
Can you estimate a renovation in one of Troy's historic districts?
Yes, and we take extra care with the scope. Historic-district work often involves matching existing materials, so we separate salvage, repair, and replacement quantities rather than lumping them together. We also carry allowances for selective demolition and for protection of existing finishes. Check with the city's building department and any applicable historic review requirements before you finalize the scope, because approvals can affect the schedule.
Do you cover projects outside Troy in the Capital Region?
We cover Troy and the surrounding Capital Region, including nearby cities such as Schenectady and Utica, and we also work on projects in White Plains, Binghamton, Niagara Falls, and Freeport. If your project is in Rensselaer County or anywhere in upstate New York, send the plans and we will confirm coverage. Our New York construction estimating page lists the areas we serve.
What project types do you estimate most often in Troy?
Multifamily infill and adaptive reuse of older buildings are the most common, followed by single-family renovations and small commercial fit-outs. We also take off institutional and light industrial work. Because the city's housing stock is old, renovation takeoffs require more time for existing-conditions verification, so send any survey or structural report you have. Our residential and commercial estimating pages describe the scope we cover.
Other New York cities we cover
Popular services in Troy
Send your Troy project plans for a quote
Upload your drawings and specifications through our get an estimate page and we will return a division-organized takeoff in 24–48 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.