How fast do you return a South Carolina estimate?
Most projects are returned in 24 to 48 hours, with rush service available. Turnaround depends on plan set completeness, the number of addenda, and whether we need a geotechnical report or structural drawings to price foundations. If you send a partial set, we will tell you what is missing and what we can price with an allowance in the meantime.
What file formats do you deliver?
We deliver Excel and PDF, organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with marked-up plan sets. The Excel file carries quantities, units, and pricing so you can adjust waste factors or substitute your own material costs. The PDF includes the marked-up drawings so you can trace every line back to the sheet it came from.
Do you price labor differently for Charleston and Greenville?
Yes. We price labor by ZIP code and trade. Crew availability differs between metro Charleston and the Upstate, where manufacturing and industrial work competes for the same carpenters, electricians and concrete finishers. That affects productivity assumptions and overtime risk, and it shows up in the labor component of each division.
Where does the permit data on this page come from?
The permit figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, annual place-level data, and they count new privately-owned residential units only. They do not include commercial, industrial or renovation permits. The 2025 figures cover 23 of the 25 cities listed, so the statewide total is a floor, not a complete count of all residential activity.
How do you handle coastal wind and flood requirements?
We take off continuous load path hardware, impact-rated glazing, breakaway walls, and elevated MEP rough-ins as separate lines when the project sits in a high-wind or flood zone. We ask for the design wind speed and the FEMA flood map panel before pricing. Confirm the adopted code edition and local amendments with the local building department, since enforcement varies by jurisdiction.
Can you estimate a multifamily project?
Yes. Multifamily made up 31% of the 2025 residential pipeline in the cities we track, with Columbia, Charleston and Rock Hill leading. We price common-area electrical, fire alarm, elevator and trash chute scopes that residential estimators often miss. We also separate unit-by-unit takeoffs from core and shell so you can compare building types on the same quantities.
What do you need from me to start?
Send the plan set, specifications, addenda, and the project address so we can apply the correct ZIP-code pricing. A geotechnical report helps on foundation pricing, and the structural drawings are needed for load path and connection counts. If you have a bid form or scope sheet, include it so we can organize the estimate to match your submission.
Do you estimate sitework and utilities?
Yes. We take off clearing, grubbing, cut and fill, erosion control, storm drainage, water and sanitary sewer from the civil drawings. On coastal sites we add dewatering and stabilization as separate lines. Sitework quantities depend heavily on the grading plan and the geotechnical report, so we flag any assumptions we make about unsuitable soils or haul-off.
How do you handle waste factors?
We apply typical waste factors by trade and show them in the estimate so you can adjust for your own purchasing and installation practices. Framing waste on a complex coastal roof runs higher than on a simple gable; tile and flooring waste depends on layout and room count. Those factors belong in the takeoff, not buried in a lump-sum contingency.
Can you price a project before design is complete?
Yes. We can build a division-level budget from schematic drawings using allowances for undefined scope. That gives you a cost check during design development so you can see which assemblies drive the number before documents are final. As drawings progress, we refine the estimate and replace allowances with priced quantities.