Masonry Estimating and CMU Takeoff Services for Subcontractors and GCs

Masonry Estimating Services is the process of measuring and pricing concrete masonry units (CMU), brick, stone veneer and related materials from the drawings so a masonry contractor or general contractor can bid accurately.

Masonry bids are won and lost on wall area, openings, reinforcement and grout fill. We take off every wall type by height and thickness, deduct openings, and price block, mortar, grout, rebar, lintels, ties and flashing, with labor productivity that reflects wall height, access and bond pattern.

What we measure and price

Specifications and CSI MasterFormat references

Masonry work is typically specified in Division 04 sections such as 04 05 13 Masonry Mortaring, 04 05 16 Masonry Grouting, 04 05 19 Masonry Anchorage and Reinforcing, 04 22 00 Concrete Unit Masonry and 04 20 00 Unit Masonry, with testing and special inspection called out by the structural engineer. We read the specification section alongside the drawings so that products, performance requirements, testing, warranties and allowances are priced the way the solicitation intends — not just what appears on the plan sheets.

Pre-bid review: what we check before pricing

• Scope definition: what is in your trade and what belongs to others, with inclusions and exclusions written down.
• Addenda and bulletins: every addendum is logged and its effect on quantities, alternates and unit prices is carried into the estimate.
• Requests for information (RFIs): conflicts between drawings and specifications are listed so they can be submitted before the question deadline.
• Alternates, allowances and unit prices: priced separately and tied to the bid form so the proposal is complete and responsive.
• Bid form and qualifications: required line items, bond and insurance requirements, prevailing-wage or Davis-Bacon language and any bid-day instructions are flagged.

Pricing considerations that move the number

• Wall height and access method (scaffold, mast climber, lifts) change labor productivity.
• Fully grouted vs partially grouted walls can change grout quantities dramatically.
• Seismic and special-inspection requirements add reinforcement and testing.
• Pattern, color and veneer type affect waste and laying rates.

Submittals and shop drawings for this scope

Masonry submittals usually include product data for block, brick, mortar and grout, reinforcing and accessories, mix designs, and masonry shop drawings.

• Masonry shop drawings: coursing, openings, control and expansion joints, lintels and bond beams
• Reinforcing steel placement drawings and bar lists
• CMU, brick, stone and mortar product data and samples
• Grout and mortar mix designs and prism or unit-strength test reports

We prepare shop drawings and submittal packages for many of these scopes, and we can resubmit after architect or engineer comments.

Common estimating mistakes we help you avoid

• Counting the gross wall area without deducting openings or adding returns, corners and pilasters
• Assuming partially grouted walls when the engineer requires fully grouted cells
• Missing control joints, flashing, weeps, ties and special inspection costs
• Using one labor rate for every wall height instead of adjusting for scaffold or lift access

What you get

• Marked-up plans showing every count and measurement
• Quantity takeoff organized by wall type, elevation and floor
• Material, labor, equipment and subcontract pricing (or takeoff only)
• Clear assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, alternates and unit prices
• Excel and PDF files ready to drop into your bid or post-bid scope sheets
• Support on addenda, clarifications and bid leveling after delivery

Who this is for

Masonry subcontractors pricing their own scope, general contractors leveling masonry bids, and developers checking contractor pricing.

How it works

1. Upload your plans, specifications and addenda, or paste a plan-room link, with your bid due date.
2. We confirm scope, price and turnaround before any work starts.
3. Our estimators complete the takeoff and pricing and a second estimator reviews it.
4. You receive the files and we stay available for addenda, RFIs and post-bid clarifications.

Software and standards

We take off in digital takeoff tools such as PlanSwift and Bluebeam Revu, price with RSMeans-style cost data and your own unit prices where you provide them, schedule in Oracle Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project when needed, and organize quantities by CSI MasterFormat (Division 04). Estimating is done remotely from your drawings, so we support public and private projects in every state.

Why contractors outsource masonry estimating

Bid season compresses the time estimators have for each solicitation. Outsourcing the masonry takeoff and pricing lets your team cover more bids, respond to addenda quickly and keep an independent check on subcontractor and supplier numbers. You keep control of the bid: you review the quantities, adjust unit costs and decide the final price.

Public, private and prevailing-wage projects

We price this scope on public solicitations (IFB, ITB and RFP responses) and private open-shop projects alike. When the solicitation includes a prevailing-wage or Davis-Bacon wage determination, we apply the stated rates and fringe benefits to the labor in each line item and allow for certified payroll administration. See public bid estimating and our prevailing wage guide.

Related services and pages

Combine this scope with quantity takeoff, bid leveling and proposal support, pre-bid and post-bid support, shop drawings and CPM scheduling. Browse every CSI division page, read the CSI MasterFormat guide or check the bidding glossary.