Project Type
Commercial Estimating Services in New Zealand
Measured estimates for offices, retail, fit-outs and mixed-use buildings, packaged by trade so you can tender subcontractors cleanly.
Commercial projects bring more trades, more consultants and more documents. A mid-size office or retail building can arrive with architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire drawings, each from a different consultant, and each with its own revision history.
Our commercial estimating service pulls those documents into a single, consistent measure. We quantify each trade package so you can send the right scope to the right subcontractor and compare their prices line by line, and we track where consultants' documents disagree so you can raise RFIs before the tender closes.
We work on new builds, base-build and tenancy fit-outs, refurbishments, and mixed-use developments with retail at ground level and residential above.
Scope
What we measure in a commercial takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | m³ / t / m² | Concrete frames, precast panels, structural steel and composite floors. |
| Facade | m² | Curtain wall, window wall, precast, rainscreen and cladding by system. |
| Roofing | m² | Membrane or metal roofs, insulation, plant platforms. |
| Internal partitions | m² | Partition types per acoustic and fire rating schedule. |
| Ceilings | m² | Suspended grid, plasterboard and feature ceilings. |
| Floor finishes | m² | Carpet tiles, vinyl, polished concrete and tiling by area. |
| Services | measured / PC sum | Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire services packages. |
| Preliminaries | week / item | Craneage, hoists, scaffolding and site management. |
Deliverables
What you receive
Commercial estimates are packaged to match how you will let subcontracts, with a scope description for each package that you can paste into your tender enquiries.
| Itemised quantity sheet | Excel + PDF |
| Marked-up plans | Colour-coded PDF |
| Material and labour schedule | Excel |
| Assumptions and exclusions list |
Who it is for
Built for the people who price the work
- Builders
- Respond to a main-contractor tender with a full measure in the time allowed.
- Subcontractors
- Price a fit-out package accurately against the head contractor's scope.
- Developers
- Get an independent estimate to check tender returns against.
- Architects
- Test the cost of a facade or fit-out strategy before documentation is finalised.
Process
How a commercial estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload all consultant drawings, specifications and the tender schedule if there is one.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We agree the package breakdown, pricing basis and how preliminaries should be handled.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Each package is measured, then the full estimate is reconciled for overlaps and gaps between consultants' scopes.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive a packaged workbook, PDF summary, marked-up drawings and a list of RFIs we identified.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Commercial buildings in New Zealand often rely on specific engineering design rather than the acceptable solutions, so we measure structure, fire separations and services from the consultants' drawings rather than assuming standard details.
Fire safety design under Building Code clause C (Protection from fire) affects partitions, penetrations and door hardware. We measure fire-rated elements separately so you can price the passive fire scope as its own package.
We measure and price to the drawings. Design compliance and building consent remain with your designer and building consent authority.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of commercial work
01
Structural system
Concrete, steel and timber frames each carry different structure, fire protection and programme costs. The structural system also shapes services coordination and floor-to-floor heights.
02
Facade
Curtain wall and high-performance glazing are among the largest items on a commercial job. Facade area and system choice can dominate the envelope cost.
03
Services density
Offices, labs, healthcare and hospitality carry very different levels of mechanical, electrical and hydraulic services. We measure services from consultant drawings, not from a generic rate.
04
Working in occupied buildings
Fit-outs and refurbishments in occupied buildings need staging, after-hours work and protection. We include these as stated allowances where the scope suggests them.
Where commercial estimates go wrong
On commercial jobs, scope gaps between consultants are the main risk. The architect assumes the services engineer drew the plinths; the services engineer assumes the builder will provide them. We list these gaps as RFIs during measurement.
Preliminaries are the other weak point. A commercial programme can run for many months, and craneage, hoists, site management and temporary services add up quickly. We price them from the programme, not as a flat percentage.
FAQ
Commercial Estimating questions
Can you estimate a tenancy fit-out?
Yes. We measure partitions, ceilings, finishes, joinery and services alterations within the tenancy, and separate landlord and tenant works if needed.
How do you handle drawings from several consultants?
We measure each discipline and then reconcile them, flagging any clashes or missing scope between drawings.
Do you prepare trade package scopes?
Yes. Each package includes a short scope description you can use in your subcontractor enquiries.
Can you price preliminaries?
Yes, on a time-related and fixed-cost basis, using the programme you provide or a reasonable assumption we state.
What project sizes do you take on?
We work from small fit-outs to multi-level commercial buildings. Larger projects are scheduled with a longer turnaround agreed up front.
Do you identify RFIs?
Yes. Any conflicts or missing information we find during measurement are listed so you can raise them with the design team.
Related services
- Construction Estimating
A complete, trade-by-trade cost estimate built from your drawings, so you can price, tender or test feasibility with confidence.
- Mechanical Estimating
Mechanical services quantities for commercial and industrial buildings: plant, ductwork, pipework, controls and commissioning.
- Electrical Estimating
Electrical points, lighting, cabling and switchboards counted and measured from your electrical plan, room by room.
- Finishes Estimating
The fit-out that clients notice: tiling, splashbacks, cabinetry, fixtures, accessories and fit-off, measured from the finishes schedule.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a commercial estimate
Upload your drawings and we will reply with a fixed fee and turnaround before any work starts. No obligation.
- — PDF, DWG and ZIP accepted
- — Fees in NZD, excluding GST
- — Prefer email? Use the link in the footer