Seattle & King County
High-rise residential and office, life-science labs, transit-oriented development and some of the highest labor rates in the West.
Washington State
Construction Estimating Services in Washington
Seismic design, a demanding energy code and sales tax on the whole contract: priced in.
Washington is one of the few states where retail sales tax applies to the full construction contract (labor, materials, subcontractors and profit) on most custom work. It also enforces one of the country's most demanding energy codes, sits in a high-seismic region, and requires prevailing wage filings with Labor & Industries on public jobs.
Prime Estimation prepares construction estimates and quantity takeoffs for Washington general contractors, subcontractors, developers and builders (from Seattle high-rises to Spokane and the Tri-Cities) priced to the project's jurisdiction and typically delivered in 24 to 48 hours.
Retail sales taxOn most custom construction
WA State Energy CodeAmong the strictest in the U.S.
RCW 39.12Prevailing wage via L&I
High seismicPuget Sound design categories
Where We Work in Washington
The Washington Construction Market
Puget Sound's tech, aerospace and housing demand sets the pace, while Eastern Washington runs on agriculture, energy, data centers and its own lower-cost labor markets.
Bellevue & the Eastside
Tech campuses, mixed-use towers and dense residential in Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland.
Tacoma & the South Sound
Port, logistics and military-related work, healthcare and residential growth in Pierce and Thurston counties.
Everett & Snohomish County
Aerospace manufacturing and supplier facilities, industrial and fast-growing suburban residential.
Spokane & Eastern Washington
Healthcare, education, commercial and residential work priced to Eastern Washington labor markets.
Central Washington & Tri-Cities
Data centers, agricultural processing, energy and Hanford-related work along the Columbia River.
Local Pricing
What Drives Construction Costs in Washington
The Washington-specific conditions we look for on every set and carry into the line items.
Sales tax on the whole contract
On custom construction for property owners, retail sales tax applies to the total charge (labor, materials, subcontractors and profit) at the rate where the work is done. We calculate it for the job site rather than leaving it out.
Washington State Energy Code
Envelope performance, air leakage testing and requirements that push new buildings toward heat-pump systems make the energy code a major cost driver. We price the systems as specified.
Seismic design
Western Washington's high seismic design categories add shear walls, hold-downs, collectors, braced or moment frames and seismic bracing of MEP systems: all taken off from the structural drawings.
Puget Sound labor rates
Seattle-area labor is among the most expensive in the country and often union-built on larger commercial work. Eastern Washington runs much lower; we price to the county.
Wet-weather construction
Long rainy seasons mean weather protection, temporary drying, erosion control and moisture management for framing and finishes west of the Cascades.
Steep and constrained sites
Hillside lots, retaining walls, shoring and tight urban staging are common around Puget Sound and add sitework and general conditions cost.
Compliance
Washington Tax, Codes and Wage Rules in Your Estimate
The requirements that most often change a Washington number, and how each one shows up in our work.
| Requirement | What it means | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Retail sales tax on construction | Prime contractors on custom construction collect sales tax on the full contract price, sourced to the job-site location; subcontractors with a reseller permit don't. | Sales tax calculated for the job site and shown separately. |
| B&O tax | Washington's business and occupation tax applies to contractors' gross receipts. | Carried in overhead or as a separate line, as you prefer. |
| Prevailing wage: RCW 39.12 | Public works pay prevailing wages set by Labor & Industries, with intents and affidavits filed for each contractor. | Labor priced to the current L&I rates for the project county. |
| Contractor registration: L&I | Contractors must be registered with the Department of Labor & Industries before working in Washington. | Noted in the assumptions for out-of-state bidders. |
| State Building Code and Energy Code | The State Building Code Council adopts the International Codes with Washington amendments, alongside the Washington State Energy Code. | Takeoff follows the editions and amendments on the permit drawings. |
What We Do
Estimating Services We Provide in Washington
Full project estimates or a single trade: every one priced to the project's location and checked by a second estimator.
Project Estimates & Takeoffs
Complete estimates and quantity takeoffs for Washington projects.
- Commercial EstimatingRetail, office, restaurants, warehouses and TI work→
- Residential EstimatingCustom homes, multi-family, additions and remodels→
- Industrial EstimatingPlants, processing facilities and distribution centers→
- Material TakeoffOrder-ready quantities by CSI division→
- Construction TakeoffSingle-trade or full-project takeoffs with marked-up plans→
Trade Estimating
One division measured in depth, in the units your trade bids in.
How It Works
Send Your Plans →
From Washington Plans to a Bid-Ready Number
Everything happens from your digital drawings, so distance never slows the job down.
- 01
Send Plans & Location
Upload the drawings, specs and addenda, and give us the project address or ZIP code and your bid date.
- 02
Fixed Quote & Date
We review the set and reply (usually within a few hours) with a fixed fee and a delivery date. Nothing starts until you approve.
- 03
Takeoff, Local Pricing, Review
Quantities are measured digitally, priced to Washington material and labor conditions, and audited by a second estimator.
- 04
Delivery & Addenda
Excel and PDF with marked-up drawings and a written assumptions page, typically in 24 to 48 hours. Addenda are worked into the same file.
FAQ
Washington Estimating Questions
Do Washington estimates include sales tax on labor?
Yes, where it applies. On custom construction for property owners, retail sales tax is charged on the full contract (labor, materials, subcontractors and profit) at the job-site rate. We calculate it and show it as a separate line.
How do you handle the Washington State Energy Code?
We price the envelope, glazing, air barrier, testing and mechanical systems specified to meet the energy code, including heat-pump systems where the design calls for them.
Can you price Washington public works at prevailing wage?
Yes. We price labor to the current Labor & Industries prevailing wage rates for the project county and note the intent and affidavit filing requirements in the assumptions.
Are Seattle and Spokane priced differently?
Yes, significantly. Puget Sound labor and site costs run well above Eastern Washington, so every estimate is priced to the project's own county.
How quickly can you turn around a Washington bid?
Most estimates are delivered in 24 to 48 hours, and single-trade takeoffs often within 24 hours. You'll get a fixed fee and delivery date first, usually within a few hours.
Ready to Get Started?
Pricing a Washington Project?
Send your drawings and the project address. You'll get a fixed fee and a delivery date back, usually within a few hours.
Service Areas
Other Locations We Serve
We estimate projects in all 50 states. These are the areas with their own pages; see all service areas.