Structural Steel
Columns, beams, girders, braces, moment frames, base plates, and anchor rods, taken off by shape and size from the structural drawings.
Division 05, Metals
Metal Estimating Services for Structural Steel & Miscellaneous Metals
Steel is bought by the ton, fabricated by the piece, and erected by the pick. An estimate that only gets one of those right won't hold up. Miss the connection weight and material comes up short; miscount pieces and shop hours are off; ignore erection sequence and the crane budget is wrong.
Our metal estimating services cover CSI Division 05 (structural steel, joists and deck, cold-formed structural framing, and miscellaneous and ornamental metals) with tonnage, piece counts, and labor you can bid from.
Division 05Steel by size and weight
Excel + PDFWith marked-up drawings
ZIP-code pricedLocal material and labor rates
24 to 48 hoursTypical turnaround
Division 05 Scope We Estimate
Steel Joists and Metal Deck
Open-web joists and joist girders by designation and length, plus roof and floor deck by type, gauge, and area, with closures, pour stops, and edge forms.
Cold-Formed Metal Framing (Structural)
Load-bearing studs, trusses, and exterior wall framing designed as structure. Non-structural interior studs are usually part of the drywall scope. Framing estimating → Drywall estimating →
Miscellaneous Metals
The scope most often missed:
- Lintels and relieving angles
- Embed plates and anchors
- Ladders, ship's ladders, and roof hatches supports
- Steel stairs and landings
- Pipe and tube railings and guardrails
- Bollards and pipe guards
- Grating, trench covers, and frames
- Equipment supports and rooftop dunnage
- Elevator pit ladders and sill angles
Ornamental and Architectural Metals
Decorative railings, stainless and aluminum work, and architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS), where finish quality changes labor significantly.
How We Report Tonnage
By member type
columns, beams, bracing, misc
By shape and size
W-shapes, HSS, angles, channels, plates
By area or sequence
so erection and delivery can be planned
Piece counts
the driver for fabrication and erection labor
Weight is calculated from member size and length. Detail material (plates, stiffeners, clips) is either taken off from details or carried as a stated allowance.
Connections
On many projects, connections are designed later by the fabricator's engineer. When the drawings don't detail them, we carry connection weight as a stated allowance based on framing type. When connections are detailed, we take them off. Either way, the estimate says which approach was used, so you know where to look if your fabricator's experience differs.
Shop and Field Labor
Two jobs with the same tonnage can carry very different labor:
Shop labor
depends on piece count, cuts, holes, welds, and complexity, not just weight.
Field labor
depends on picks, connections, height, and access. Light members still need individual picks.
Equipment
includes cranes, lifts, and welding equipment, sized to the heaviest pick and the reach required.
Coatings and Finishes
Shop primer
by tonnage or surface area
Hot-dip galvanizing
, usually priced by weight
High-performance coatings
for exposed or corrosive environments
Intumescent fire-resistive coatings
, often part of the fireproofing scope Fireproofing estimating →
Scope Splits to Watch
- Who furnishes and who installs embeds cast into concrete?
- Are lintels in Division 05 or furnished to the mason?
- Who provides deck reinforcing at openings?
- Are stair pans filled by the concrete sub?
- Who supplies rooftop equipment supports: steel or mechanical?
We list these in the clarifications so you can confirm with the GC before bidding.
Who Uses Metal Estimating
- Structural steel fabricators and erectors
- Miscellaneous metals subcontractors
- General contractors checking steel bids Building estimating →
- Industrial contractors pricing pipe racks and platforms Industrial estimating →
Checklist
What to Send
- Structural drawings and general notes
- Architectural drawings (for misc metals, railings, and stairs)
- Division 05 specifications
- Addenda
- Your scope (fabricate, erect, or both)
Send Your Files
Upload the drawings through our quote form, share a Google Drive or plan-room link, or email them. Large sets travel best as a shared folder.
Upload Your Plans →Or email info@primeestimation.com.
Excel + PDFWith marked-up drawings
Deliverables
What You Receive
- Tonnage summary by member type and area
- Member list by shape and size with lengths and piece counts
- Deck and joist quantities
- Misc metals list with counts
- Marked-up drawings
- Clarifications and exclusions
- Excel and PDF files
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How is structural steel estimated?
Members are measured from the structural drawings by shape, size, and length; weight is calculated from member weight per foot; connection material is added; and labor is priced based on piece count and complexity.
Do you include connections?
Yes, as a takeoff when detailed, or as a stated allowance when connections are delegated to the fabricator.
Do you estimate miscellaneous metals separately?
Yes. Misc metals can be priced as its own package or included with structural steel.
What about light-gauge framing?
Structural cold-formed framing can be included here; non-structural studs belong with drywall.
Ready to Get Started?
Get Steel Quantities You Can Bid
Send your structural and architectural drawings and specs. We'll quote the takeoff and delivery date.