Plumbing Estimation
A detailed plumbing estimation project featuring accurate cost breakdowns, material lists, labor calculations, and system planning for efficient residential and commercial plumbing installations.
About Project
This project involved a comprehensive plumbing material takeoff for the Taco Bell – Black River Bells location situated on E. Lincolnway in La Porte, Indiana. Commissioned by a confidential general contractor, the scope was limited to a material-only quantity takeoff, with no pricing or labor components included. The primary objective was to extract accurate linear footage and fitting counts for three key plumbing systems: Grease Waste, Sanitary Waste, and Storm Drain Piping.Each system required a meticulous breakdown to ensure proper code-compliant separation and quantification across varying pipe diameters (2″, 3″, and 4″).
Due to the nature of quick-service restaurant (QSR) design, special attention was paid to fixed kitchen equipment layouts, which heavily influenced pipe routing and coordination. The deliverables were formatted specifically for contractor use, supporting procurement, vendor communication, and internal coordination. This case study reflects AH Estimating’s precision in system-specific takeoffs, commitment to trade compliance, and adaptability in delivering clear, structured estimates within fast-paced commercial environments.
Key Challenges
Ensuring clear separation of grease, sanitary, and storm systems to meet code requirements. Accurately quantifying diverse pipe sizes across complex layouts. Delivering results in a clean, contractor-ready format despite limited source documentation.
- Code-Compliant System Separation: Ensuring separate and accurate quantities for grease, sanitary, and storm piping in compliance with plumbing codes.
- Diverse Pipe Sizes & Layouts: Takeoff required line-by-line breakdown of different pipe diameters (2", 3", 4") across multiple system types.
- Limited Documentation Format: Deliverables had to be formatted clearly for the contractor to use for procurement and coordination with trades.
- Coordination with Fast-Food Layouts: Plumbing routing needed to align tightly with the fixed equipment zones typical in QSR restaurants.
Estimation Approach
Our takeoff process focused on clarity, accuracy, and usability—leveraging detailed construction drawings and organizing quantities by system to support efficient procurement and coordination.
- Plan-Based Takeoff: Quantities were extracted using architectural and plumbing layout drawings.
- System-Wise Categorization: The takeoff was broken into Grease Waste, Storm, and Sanitary sections for clarity.
- Pipe-by-Pipe Detailing: Each line item reflected pipe size, length (in LF), and associated fittings (if applicable).
- Formatted for Procurement Use: While no pricing or labor was included, the takeoff was delivered in a contractor-ready Excel format to aid in ordering and scheduling.
Summary
AH Estimating’s plumbing takeoff for the Taco Bell – Black River Bells project provided a precise, categorized, and contractor-friendly material list. Focused solely on quantity extraction, this deliverable supported efficient bidding, vendor communication, and jobsite planning without pricing or labor components.
This case study reflects our role as a reliable partner for trade-specific quantity takeoffs, especially in fast-paced commercial projects like QSR builds.
