Residential takeoffs
Single-family and infill plans priced by division, including finishes and fixtures for custom homes.
SF · EA · LSOrem, UT
Construction estimating services in Orem, UT
Orem sits in Utah County along the Wasatch Front, where residential permits and tech-campus work keep bid calendars full. We produce CSI MasterFormat estimates from your plans in 24–48 hours, priced with ZIP-code-adjusted material and labor for the local market.
24–48 hours for most projectsTypical turnaround
Every CSI divisionSitework through MEP
Orem ZIP pricingLocal material and labor
Price confirmed firstBefore any work starts
Census BPS · Orem · 2025Real permit data
Orem new housing permits2025
New housing units26Change vs. 2024−35%Permitted construction value$21MAverage value per unit$802,900Rank among covered Utah cities#24
Single-family: 26 (100%)Multifamily: 0 (0%)
U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Residential only.
What makes construction estimating in Orem different?
Orem pricing is driven by Utah County soil and frost depth, I-15 corridor material haul distances, Provo–Orem tech-campus tenant improvements, single-family infill on the east bench, and RSMeans-based labor rates adjusted for the Salt Lake–Provo wage market. Each one changes excavation, concrete and MEP numbers.
- Orem permitted 26 new housing units in 2025, #24 among the Utah cities we cover.
- About 0% were in multifamily buildings; 100% were single-family.
- Permit volume was down 35% compared with 2024.
Orem is the fifth-largest city in Utah and part of the Provo–Orem metro, where heavy single-family and tech-campus construction runs along the Wasatch Front. That mix means your estimate has to handle both wood-framed residential takeoffs and commercial tenant improvements in the same bid cycle. We build estimates in Bluebeam Revu and PlanSwift, price them with RSMeans data adjusted by ZIP code, and deliver Excel and PDF files organized by CSI MasterFormat division with marked-up plan sets.
If you are bidding against contractors from Provo or Sandy, your quantities need to be as tight as theirs. We cover the full state through our Utah construction estimating practice, and we regularly price work in Provo and West Jordan where the labor and material markets overlap with Orem. Most projects turn around in 24–48 hours, with rush available when a bid date moves up.
- Coverage
- Orem and nearby Utah communities
- Deliverable
- Excel estimate + marked-up PDF plans
- Pricing basis
- Orem 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 line by line. We return marked-up plan sets and a division-by-division spreadsheet so you can adjust markups without rebuilding the takeoff.
02
For builders. You are buying out framing, concrete and roofing packages. We break scopes by trade with units that match your subcontractor quotes, so change orders start from a known baseline.
03
For owners. You are comparing budgets before design is complete. We price what is drawn, flag what is missing, and separate sitework from building cost so you can see where the money sits.
Orem by the numbers
Orem's residential construction pipeline
Select a bar to compare Orem with the largest Utah markets we cover.
26New housing units, 2025
0.2%Of all units in the Utah cities we cover
$21MPermitted residential value
0%In multifamily buildings
New housing units permitted in 2025. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey.
This city
Orem
26 new housing units in 2025 (-35% vs 2024).
26 single-family · 0 multifamily (0%).
Permit volume and what it means for your bid
Orem issued 26 new privately-owned residential units in 2025, down from 40 in 2024 — a 35% drop, per the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. All 26 were single-family; multifamily was zero. Permitted value was about $21M, averaging $802,900 per unit. That is a small slice of Utah's 11,785 units, ranking Orem 24th of 25 covered state cities at 0.2% of the total. For bidders, fewer permits means more contractors chasing each job. Your estimate has to be accurate enough to win on scope, not just price. If you are also tracking work in West Valley City or Ogden, compare their permit mixes before you set overhead.
Where the money actually goes in Orem
At an average permitted value near $802,900 per unit, Orem's residential work is not entry-level production housing. That number points to custom or semi-custom homes, finished basements, and east-bench infill where excavation and retaining walls add cost before the foundation is poured. Utah County soils include clay and gravel lenses that change footing design, and frost depth drives footing elevation on every plan. On the commercial side, tech-campus tenant improvements concentrate MEP and framing scope into tight schedules. We price those packages with MEP estimating services and framing estimating services so the division splits hold up under review.
Services
Construction estimating services in Orem
We estimate the scopes Orem contractors bid most, from east-bench excavation to tech-campus interiors.
Sitework estimating
Mass excavation, retaining walls and utility trenching for sloped east-bench lots and tight infill sites.
CY · LF · TONConcrete estimating
Footings, foundation walls, flatwork and driveway quantities with formwork and reinforcement separated.
CY · SF · LBFoundation estimating
Frost-depth footings, stem walls and waterproofing takeoffs matched to Utah County soil conditions.
CY · SF · LFFraming estimating
Floor, wall and roof framing with lumber, sheathing and hardware listed by member size and length.
BF · LF · EARoofing estimating
Pitched and low-slope systems with underlayment, flashing and insulation for Wasatch Front snow loads.
SQ · LF · EAMEP estimating
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in and fixture counts for residential and tenant-improvement work.
EA · LF · TONCommercial estimating
Full-building and interior fit-out estimates for Provo–Orem tech-campus and retail projects.
SF · EA · LSWho we provide estimates for
Who we help in Orem
General contractors
You bid single-family homes and commercial tenant improvements from the same office. We return a full division-by-division takeoff so you can adjust markups without rebuilding quantities.
Subcontractors
You need quantities that match your framing, concrete or roofing crew. We break scopes into units your foreman recognizes, so your quote aligns with the GC's bid form.
Developers
You are comparing land costs across Utah County. We separate sitework from building cost and flag missing scope early, so your pro forma reflects what is actually drawn.
Architects
You need a cost check before design development locks. We price what is on the sheet, note gaps in the drawings, and return marked-up PDFs your team can review.
Owners and facility managers
You are budgeting a tech-campus fit-out or a residential addition. We give you a line-item estimate you can hand to a lender or board without rebuilding the math.
Property managers
You handle tenant improvements and capital repairs across Orem. We price the scope you describe, separate landlord from tenant work, and deliver an Excel file your vendor can bid against.
Where we provide estimates
Orem areas and nearby communities we cover
We estimate projects throughout Utah County and the Wasatch Front, from Orem's neighborhoods to the neighboring cities where the same labor and material markets apply.
Central and north Orem
- Downtown Orem
- Orem Boulevard
- State Street corridor
- University Parkway
- North Orem
South and east Orem
- South Orem
- Cascade
- Sharon Park
- Orem Heights
- East Bench
Nearby cities we cover
Property types
Types of Orem properties we estimate
Orem's 2025 permit activity was entirely single-family, with 26 new privately-owned residential units and no multifamily permits, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey. That mix shapes the takeoffs we build most often here.
Single-family homes
Custom and production homes on infill lots and small subdivisions. We take off framing, foundation, roofing, and MEP rough-in by floor, with waste factors typical for wood-frame construction.
Watch for: Verify lot-specific foundation depth and roof pitch.
Residential additions
Room additions, second-story build-outs, and garage conversions. The takeoff must tie new framing into existing structure, and we separate demolition from new work so your permit set stays clear.
Watch for: Check existing wall type and header sizing.
Tenant improvements
Office, retail, and clinic fit-outs along University Parkway and State Street. We price partitions, ceilings, storefront, and MEP distribution, and we separate landlord shell work from tenant scope.
Watch for: Confirm demising wall and HVAC zoning.
Tech-campus build-outs
Lab, office, and light-manufacturing space in Orem's tech corridor. These estimates need clean power, raised floor or conduit racks, and process piping priced by run, not by square foot.
Watch for: Coordinate electrical load and cooling capacity.
Retail and restaurant
Small commercial buildings and restaurant shells. Grease interceptor, hood, and make-up air are common scope gaps, so we list them as separate line items with quantities from the drawings.
Watch for: Verify hood and grease interceptor sizes.
Institutional and church
Meetinghouses, schools, and municipal buildings. These projects carry longer submittal cycles, so we break the estimate by CSI division and note allowances for owner-furnished equipment.
Watch for: Track owner-furnished items and allowances.
Local factors
What changes a construction estimate in Orem
Orem sits in Utah County, where the same plan can price differently depending on soil, elevation, and which code edition the city has adopted. These are the drivers we adjust for.
Permitting and code
Orem and Utah County review building permits under the adopted editions of the IBC and IRC, and Utah amendments can change egress, snow load, and energy requirements. We price to the drawings you send, but you should confirm the adopted code edition and any local amendments with the Orem building department before you lock your bid. Plan review comments often add scope after the first estimate.
IBC · IRC · Orem building departmentSoils and foundations
Much of Orem sits on lake-bottom clays and gravelly bench soils near the Wasatch foothills. Expansive clays can push foundation design toward deeper footings, over-excavation, or engineered fill, while hillside lots may need retaining walls. We take off footing dimensions and rebar from the structural sheet, but a geotechnical report is what tells you whether the soil will change the foundation cost.
Geotechnical report · Expansive clay · Engineered fillSnow load and freeze depth
Orem's ground snow load and frost depth drive roof framing, insulation, and footing depth. Roofs must be framed for the adopted snow load, and exterior water lines need to be buried below frost. These requirements change lumber sizes and excavation quantities, so we verify them against the structural and civil sheets rather than assuming a standard detail.
Ground snow load · Frost depth · Roof framingLabor market
The Wasatch Front labor market is tight, and crews move between Orem, Provo, and Sandy for the best schedule. We price labor with RSMeans data adjusted by ZIP code, but overtime, shift work, and prevailing wage on public projects can change the number. If your bid has a hard completion date, tell us so we can carry the right labor burden.
RSMeans · ZIP-code adjustment · Prevailing wageSitework and drainage
Orem's storm drainage and grading requirements affect cut and fill, utility trenching, and retaining walls. Lots near the bench may need erosion control and slope stabilization, while flat infill lots can require import fill to reach finish grade. We take off sitework separately from building cost so you can see how much of the budget is underground.
Cut and fill · Storm drainage · Erosion controlMaterials and logistics
Most material for Orem projects comes from suppliers along the I-15 corridor, and delivery windows tighten when multiple jobs are running in Utah County. We price common materials from RSMeans data adjusted for the ZIP code, but specialty items like storefront glazing or process piping may need a supplier quote. Sales tax treatment on materials depends on the contract, so confirm it with your accountant.
I-15 corridor · Supplier quote · Sales taxOrem estimating guide
How Orem conditions show up in a takeoff, trade by trade
Orem sits in Utah County on the Wasatch Front, where expansive soils, deep frost, and heavy snow loads change how you quantify even simple assemblies. The five trades below are where we see the biggest swings between a generic template and a real Orem takeoff.
Earthwork and sitework
Orem sits on a mix of lake-bottom clays and gravelly bench soils along the east bench near the mouth of Provo Canyon. A takeoff that assumes balanced cut and fill usually misses the import or export line. We quantify stripping depth, structural fill, and over-excavation under footings separately, then add compaction testing and moisture conditioning as line items. For hillside lots, add temporary erosion control, silt fence by linear foot, and a sediment basin if the disturbed area crosses the threshold in the local stormwater permit. Confirm the adopted code edition and any Orem City stormwater requirements with the local building department before you price. See our sitework estimating services for the full division 31 breakdown.
Framing and roof structure
Ground snow load along the Wasatch Front is high enough that roof framing, truss spacing, and header sizing are not interchangeable with lower-elevation markets. We take off wall framing by linear foot of plate, then convert to stud count with openings deducted, and we list headers, hangers, and shear panel separately. Roof trusses or rafters are quantified by count and span, with blocking and bracing called out. If the plans show a vaulted great room or a bonus room over a garage, those areas need their own line because the member sizes change. Framing estimating services covers the division 06 detail we return.
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
Utah adopts the IRC and IECC with state amendments, so envelope tightness and ventilation requirements affect HVAC sizing and duct layout. On a takeoff, that means equipment, duct by linear foot and fitting count, registers, and controls are separate lines rather than one lump sum. Plumbing is taken off by fixture count with supply and drain runs by linear foot, plus gas piping if the scope includes it. Electrical is counted by device, fixture, and home run, with the panel and service sized to the connected load. Confirm the adopted code edition locally. Our MEP estimating services page lists the inputs we need.
Concrete and foundations
Frost depth in this part of Utah County drives footings deeper than most national templates assume, and that depth changes both concrete volume and rebar. We take off continuous footings by linear foot with a stated width and depth, then convert to cubic yards with a typical 5 to 10 percent waste factor. Stem walls, interior bearing pads, garage slabs, driveways, and sidewalk flatwork go in as separate lines because they carry different mix designs and finishes. Post-tension slabs and radon-resistant under-slab detailing show up on a share of residential work here. Our concrete estimating services and foundation estimating services pages show the format we return.
Roofing and exterior envelope
Orem roofs see freeze-thaw cycling, spring wind events, and summer UV, so underlayment, ice barrier at eaves, and ventilation are real cost lines, not allowances. We measure roof area from the plan or elevation, add pitch factor and overhang, then apply a typical waste factor for the material selected. Steep-slope, valley, and dormer areas are broken out because they slow the crew. Wall assemblies get taken off by square foot of net area after deducting openings, with house wrap, flashing, and weep screed listed individually. Roofing estimating services shows how we separate material, accessory, and labor lines.
Scope gaps we see on Orem bids
- Over-excavation and structural fill under footings left out because the soils report was issued after the bid.
- Rock excavation carried as an allowance instead of a unit rate with a stated quantity and measurement method.
- Snow load and drift requirements on roof framing omitted, so truss and header quantities come in low.
- Ice barrier, drip edge, and attic ventilation listed as accessories rather than measured line items.
- Utility trenching, bedding, and backfill split between trades with no one owning the total linear footage.
- Final grade, topsoil, and landscape restoration excluded from the sitework scope and picked up 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 Orem project
- Read the full setArchitectural, structural, civil and MEP drawings, the geotechnical report and every addendum.
- Check Orem 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 OremMaterial 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: single-family residence, Orem, UT
| Section | Line item | Qty | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 23 16 | Structural excavation, footing trenches | 410 | CY |
| 31 23 23 | Structural fill, imported and compacted | 260 | CY |
| 03 30 00 | Footing concrete, 24 in x 12 in continuous | 18.5 | CY |
| 03 20 00 | Rebar, footing and stem wall, #4 and #5 | 6,400 | LB |
| 06 10 00 | Wall framing, 2x6 studs at 16 in o.c. | 1,980 | LF |
| 06 17 53 | Roof trusses, engineered, delivered | 34 | EA |
| 07 30 00 | Asphalt shingles, ice barrier at eaves | 42 | SQ |
| 15 41 00 | Gas-fired furnace, 80 MBH, with ductwork | 1 | EA |
Worked example: footing concrete for an Orem single-family residence
This example shows how a continuous footing line moves from plan dimensions to a priced quantity. The dimensions are illustrative and do not describe any specific Orem project. Confirm the adopted code edition and frost depth with the local building department, and use the geotechnical report for actual bearing and over-excavation requirements.
Assume a rectangular footprint of 40 ft by 28 ft with one interior bearing line running the 28 ft direction. Footing width is 24 in and thickness is 12 in.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Perimeter footing length | 2 x (40 + 28) | 136 LF |
| Interior bearing footing | 28 | 28 LF |
| Total footing length | 136 + 28 | 164 LF |
| Cross-section area | (24/12) x (12/12) | 2.00 SF |
| Net volume | 164 x 2.00 | 328 CF |
| Convert to cubic yards | 328 / 27 | 12.15 CY |
| Waste factor, typical 5 percent | 12.15 x 1.05 | 12.76 CY |
| Order quantity, rounded up | — | 13.0 CY |
At 13 CY, the concrete line is small enough that a short-load charge may apply, so we flag it rather than bury it in the unit price. Rebar follows the same length: four continuous #4 bars in a 24 in wide footing plus #4 stirrups at 24 in o.c. gives roughly 164 x 4 = 656 LF of longitudinal bar, plus about 82 stirrups at roughly 6 LF each, or about 492 LF. Add 10 percent for laps and waste and the total is about 1,263 LF, which converts to weight at 0.668 lb per LF for #4 bar, or roughly 844 lb.
The point of the exercise is that footing depth, waste factor, and lap allowance are all visible. When a bid comes back low, you can see which of those three was understated. If you want this level of detail returned on your plans, send them through our get an estimate page and we will confirm scope before we start.
FAQ
Orem construction estimating questions
How do I know what frost depth to use for footings in Orem?
Frost depth is set by the adopted code edition and the local amendment history, and it can be modified by the geotechnical report for a specific site. We do not assume a number from a national template. Before pricing footings, confirm the current requirement with the Orem building department and read the soils report for bearing capacity, groundwater, and any required over-excavation. Both affect the concrete and rebar quantities we return.
Do you price work in Provo and the rest of Utah County?
Yes. Orem sits between Provo and Lindon, and we cover the surrounding Wasatch Front cities including Provo, West Jordan, Sandy, West Valley City, Ogden, and St. George. Material and labor pricing is adjusted by ZIP code, so a takeoff for an Orem address does not carry Provo or Salt Lake City pricing by default. If your project spans more than one city, tell us and we will separate the pricing.
What does a typical Orem residential takeoff include?
We return an Excel workbook and a PDF organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with the marked-up plan set showing what was measured. For a single-family house that usually means divisions 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 15, and 16, plus sitework if it is in scope. Quantities are shown with units and waste factors so you can audit any line. Turnaround is 24 to 48 hours for most projects, with rush available.
Where does the permit data on this page come from?
The permit figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. They count new privately-owned residential units permitted by the city itself, so they exclude commercial, industrial, and public projects. For 2025, Orem issued 26 residential units, all single-family, with a permitted value of $21M and an average value per unit of $802,900. That is down 35 percent from 40 units in 2024.
Why is the average permitted value per unit so high in Orem?
The 2025 average of $802,900 reflects the mix of units permitted that year, not a typical sale price. When a small number of units is permitted, a few high-value custom homes can pull the average up sharply. It is a useful signal about the type of work being permitted, but you should not use it as a construction cost per square foot. Use your own plans and a current takeoff for budgeting.
Can you handle multi-family and commercial scopes in Orem?
Yes. Orem's 2025 residential permits were all single-family, but the surrounding Wasatch Front market includes multi-family and tech-campus work. We take off multi-family by building type and unit mix, and commercial by division with separate site, structure, envelope, and MEP packages. For multi-family, see our multi-family estimating services page; for commercial, use commercial estimating services. Industrial scopes are covered as well.
What do you need from me to start an Orem takeoff?
Send the architectural, structural, and MEP drawings, the specifications, and any addenda, plus the geotechnical report if you have it. Tell us the project address so we can apply the correct ZIP-code-adjusted pricing, and tell us the scope boundaries you want priced. If a sheet is missing, we will note the assumption rather than guess silently. Send plans through the get an estimate page and we will confirm scope and turnaround.
How do you handle snow load and drift in the framing takeoff?
Ground snow load along the Wasatch Front is high, and drift accumulates where a higher roof meets a lower one. We take off roof framing by area and span, then list headers, beams, and truss counts separately so drift-governed members are visible. If the structural drawings do not show drift loads, we flag it as a scope question rather than pricing a lighter member. Confirm the adopted code edition and the site-specific snow load with the local building department.
Do you price demolition and remodel work in Orem?
Yes. Remodel takeoffs are priced differently from new construction because the existing conditions drive the quantity. We list selective demolition by area or linear foot, then price the new work behind it. Common Orem remodel scopes include basement finishes, kitchen and bath gut renovations, and additions over existing garages. Send the existing and proposed drawings together so we can measure the delta rather than the whole building.
How accurate are your takeoffs compared with a contractor's own estimate?
We do not publish an accuracy rate. What we do is show the quantity, unit, and waste factor on every line so you can compare it against your own numbers and see where the difference comes from. Most disagreements trace back to scope boundaries, not arithmetic. If you send your estimate alongside the plans, we can reconcile line by line and tell you which items we excluded or priced differently.
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Send your Orem project plans for a quote
Send your plans and specifications through our get an estimate page and we will confirm scope, turnaround, and the divisions we will price for your Orem project.
- 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.