About Ohio Cost Estimating — Columbus-Based Construction Estimators
- Independent — we never bid or build
- Residential, commercial & industrial specialists
- Every estimate checked by a second estimator
Ohio Cost Estimating
- Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio
- Service area: all 88 Ohio counties
- Sectors: residential, commercial, industrial
- Trades: 24, CSI Divisions 02–33
- Turnaround: 24–48 hours standard
- Deliverables: Excel + marked-up PDF takeoffs
- 1 (614) 721 2889
- ask@ohiocostestimating.com
Ohio’s Outsourced Estimating Department
Ohio Cost Estimating was built for a simple reason: most Ohio contractors win or lose work on the strength of their estimates, yet few small and mid-sized firms can justify a full-time estimating department. Bids stack up in the same week, owners want budgets yesterday, and the person doing takeoffs at night is usually the same person running jobs during the day.
We give those firms the capacity of an in-house estimating team without the overhead. From our office at 101 Normandy Ave, Columbus, OH 43215, our estimators prepare construction cost estimates, quantity takeoffs and bid estimates for projects in every corner of the state — from Cleveland hospital renovations to Cincinnati infill housing and New Albany industrial campuses.
Because we are not a contractor, we have no reason to shade a number. Our job is to tell you what the work will cost, explain how we got there, and stand behind it with clear assumptions you can check.
Our mission
Our promise
The Standards Behind Every Estimate
Accuracy First
Quantities are measured, not guessed, and every unit cost is tied to a current Ohio source.
Transparency
Clarifications, exclusions and marked-up drawings come with every estimate, so nothing is hidden.
Speed Without Shortcuts
Fast turnaround comes from process and specialization — never from skipping the review step.
Confidentiality
Your drawings and pricing are used only for your estimate. NDAs are available on request.
How We Build an Accurate Estimate
1. We read the whole set. Plans, specifications, addenda, schedules and, where available, the geotechnical report. Many estimating errors start with a spec section nobody read.
2. We measure digitally. Quantities are taken off in digital takeoff software and color-coded on the drawings, so every count, area and length can be traced back to the sheet it came from.
3. We price for Ohio. Material prices come from current supplier quotes and published cost data; labor reflects Ohio market rates for union or open-shop crews and applicable prevailing wage determinations on public work. Productivity is adjusted for site conditions, season and access.
4. We review before release. A second estimator checks quantities, unit costs, extensions and scope coverage against the drawings.
5. We document assumptions. Every estimate states its AACE class, inclusions, exclusions and allowances. Read the full cost data and methodology or the step-by-step estimating process.
Standards & tools
- CSI MasterFormat® division structure
- UniFormat for early-stage budgets
- AACE International estimate classes
- ASPE standard estimating practice
- Ohio Building Code & Residential Code of Ohio
- Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift & On-Screen Takeoff
- Xactimate for insurance restoration
- Microsoft Excel deliverables
Meet the Estimating Team
Senior Estimators
Lead commercial and industrial estimates, set pricing strategy and perform the final quality review on every project.
Trade Specialists
Focus on a single discipline — MEP, sitework, concrete, structural steel or finishes — so trade takeoffs reflect how that work is actually installed.
Residential & Claims Estimators
Price custom homes, remodels and multifamily projects, and prepare Xactimate estimates for insurance restoration work.
Sectors and Services We Cover
Residential Estimating Services
Custom homes, production housing, additions, remodels and multifamily buildings.
Commercial Estimating Services
Offices, retail, healthcare, education, hospitality and tenant improvements.
Industrial Estimating Services
Warehouses, manufacturing plants, data centers and process facilities.
Serving Contractors Across Ohio
We are based in Columbus and work for clients in all 88 Ohio counties. Our service-area pages cover the 12 markets where construction activity — and construction cost — is highest, with notes on local cost drivers, typical project types and permitting.
Because plans and estimates are exchanged digitally, a project in Toledo or Canton receives the same turnaround as one down the street. See all Ohio service areas.
What You Can Expect When You Work With Us
Fixed Quotes
You approve a fixed fee and delivery date before we start. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices.
Addenda Revisions
When addenda change the scope, we update your estimate so your bid reflects the latest documents.
NDA on Request
We sign non-disclosure agreements for sensitive or pre-announcement projects.
Real Support
Questions after delivery go to the estimator who did the work. Call 1 (614) 721 2889.
About Ohio Cost Estimating: FAQs
Where is Ohio Cost Estimating located?
Our office is at 101 Normandy Ave, Columbus, OH 43215. We serve clients across all 88 Ohio counties, and meetings at the office are available by appointment.
Are you a construction company?
No. We are an independent estimating firm. We don’t bid, build or sell materials, which keeps our estimates objective and lets contractors share drawings without competing against us.
Who prepares the estimates?
Estimates are prepared by experienced construction estimators who specialize by sector and trade, and every estimate is reviewed by a second estimator before delivery. Profiles are on Meet Our Estimators.
How do you keep Ohio pricing current?
We combine current supplier quotes, recent project data and published cost databases, then adjust for location, season and market conditions. Our methodology page explains the sources in detail.
Do you work only in Ohio?
Ohio is our focus and where our pricing data is deepest. We can discuss projects just across the state line for Ohio-based clients on request.
Can we use you as an ongoing estimating partner?
Yes. Many contractors send us every bid they want to pursue. Ask about monthly support on our pricing page or contact us.
Our Office in Columbus, Ohio
Our estimating team works from 101 Normandy Ave, Columbus, OH 43215 in the state capital. Columbus puts us at the center of Ohio’s fastest-growing construction region and within a few hours’ drive of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo.
Clients are welcome to meet with an estimator in person to review drawings or walk through a delivered estimate — please call ahead to book a time.
- 101 Normandy Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
- 1 (614) 721 2889
- ask@ohiocostestimating.com
- Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (ET)