Structure & Site
Sitework Estimating Services in New Zealand
Civil and site infrastructure quantities: drainage, water, roads, kerbs, retaining and paving, measured from your civil drawings.
Sitework covers everything outside the building that makes the site work: stormwater and wastewater drainage, water supply, roads and accessways, kerbs, footpaths, retaining walls and service connections. On a subdivision or multi-unit development, sitework can be a large part of the total cost.
We measure sitework from the civil engineer's drawings. Pipes are measured by size, material and depth, with manholes, sumps and connections counted. Pavements are measured layer by layer: subgrade improvement, basecourse and surfacing. Retaining walls are measured by type and height.
This service is often paired with earthworks estimating, so the two trades are measured consistently.
Scope
What we measure in a sitework takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Stormwater drainage | lm / no. | Pipes by size and depth, sumps, manholes, soakage. |
| Wastewater drainage | lm / no. | Pipes, manholes, connections and inspection points. |
| Water supply | lm / no. | Mains, laterals, hydrants, valves and meters. |
| Pavements | m² / m³ | Subgrade, basecourse and surfacing layers. |
| Kerb and channel | lm | By type, with vehicle crossings. |
| Retaining walls | m² / lm | Timber pole, block or concrete, by height. |
| Utility ducts | lm | Power and telecommunications ducts and pits. |
| Stormwater detention | no. / m³ | Tanks and detention devices where required. |
Deliverables
What you receive
Sitework estimates report pipes in depth bands and pavements by layer, matching how civil contractors price.
| 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
- Price the drainage and driveway for a multi-unit site alongside the buildings.
- Subcontractors
- Civil contractors and drainlayers can quote from measured pipe runs.
- Developers
- Budget the infrastructure for a residential subdivision before engineering approval.
- Architects
- See the site cost of different access and parking layouts.
Process
How a sitework estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload civil drawings, longitudinal sections, the survey and geotech report.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm boundaries between sitework, earthworks and building drainage.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Pipes, pavements and structures are measured, then checked against lot numbers and road lengths.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the quantity sheet, PDF summary and marked-up civil drawings.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Land development and subdivision infrastructure in New Zealand is often designed with reference to NZS 4404, alongside each council's own engineering standards or code of practice. Council standards vary, so we measure what is drawn rather than assume a single specification.
Stormwater management requirements, such as on-site detention or rain tanks, differ between councils and catchments. We measure any devices shown and note where they may be required by consent conditions.
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 sitework work
01
Pipe depth and ground
Deep drainage in poor ground needs trench support, bedding and sometimes dewatering. Shallow pipes in good ground are much cheaper per metre.
02
Council standards
Each council has its own engineering standards for pipes, manholes, roads and kerbs. These control materials and details, and therefore cost.
03
Connections to existing networks
Connections to live council mains often need approvals, traffic management and specialist contractors. These items can be costly and are often underestimated.
04
Pavement design
Basecourse depth and surfacing type depend on traffic loads and subgrade strength. A heavier pavement on weak ground adds significant volume.
Where sitework estimates go wrong
Sitework estimates go wrong at the connections. Tying new drainage into an existing council main, relocating existing services or reinstating a road surface can cost more than the new pipe itself.
Another common miss is temporary works: traffic management, temporary drainage and sediment control during construction. These are often conditions of consent and must be allowed for even though they leave nothing permanent behind.
Finally, as-built and testing requirements are often missed. Councils usually require pipes to be tested, CCTV inspected and recorded on as-built plans before they will accept new infrastructure, and these steps take time and specialist contractors. We include allowances for testing and as-built documentation so the estimate reflects the full handover process, not just the physical works. Retesting after failures adds more cost. Council inspection fees, engineering observation by the designer and the time taken to obtain sign-off for vesting also belong in a complete sitework budget, and we list them as provisional items where the documents call for them.
FAQ
Sitework Estimating questions
Can you estimate subdivision infrastructure?
Yes. We measure roads, drainage, water supply, utilities and lot connections.
Do you measure pipes by depth?
Yes. Pipes are reported in depth bands because cost increases with depth.
Do you include retaining walls?
Yes, by type and height where they are on the drawings.
Where does building drainage stop and sitework start?
We agree the boundary with you, usually at the building's outer wall or the first inspection point.
Can you estimate stormwater tanks?
Yes. Detention tanks and soakage devices are counted with their connections.
Related services
- Earthwork Estimating
Cut and fill volumes, topsoil strip and engineered fill quantities, calculated from your existing and design levels.
- Excavation Estimating
Detailed excavation quantities for footings, basements, trenches and pits, with backfill, disposal and support measured separately.
- Plumbing Estimating
Plumbing and drainage quantities from fixture counts to pipe runs, with hot water systems, valves and fittings measured.
- Landscaping Estimating
Hard and soft landscaping quantities: paving, walls, fencing, planting, mulch and irrigation, measured from the landscape plan.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a sitework 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