Division 02: Existing conditions
Demolition estimating services for selective and full demo
Bidmere’s demolition estimating services measure what comes out from your demolition plans and existing-conditions drawings, then turn it into debris volume, loads and disposal. Pricing uses your crew, equipment and dump rates.
Fixed price in 2 business hours. Pay only after you accept.
- Fixed price and delivery date before any work starts
- Plan review is free, and no files are needed to get a quote
- You pay only after you accept the fixed price
- Single-trade estimates in 48 hours from complete documents
- Priced at your rates; your team sets the final number
Quick answer
Demolition estimating services from Bidmere give demolition contractors and general contractors measured demo takeoffs and priced estimates from demolition plans. We measure partitions, ceilings, flooring, slabs and structures by unit, count fixtures and doors, and convert removals into debris volume, loads and disposal. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and ready in 48 hours.
What do demolition estimating services cover?
A demolition estimate covers the removal work in Division 02, organized by type of demolition.
- 02 41 13 Selective Site Demolition: paving, curbs, utilities and site features
- 02 41 16 Structure Demolition: full building removal
- 02 41 19 Selective Demolition: interior and partial removals for renovation
- Construction waste management: haul, disposal and recycling tracking where the specification requires it
Hazardous materials abatement is usually a separate, licensed scope. We list it as a scope split rather than pricing it unless your company carries it.
Order a demo takeoff only, or a full estimate with crew, equipment, haul and disposal at your rates.
What does a demolition takeoff measure, and in which units?
| Scope | Unit |
|---|---|
| Partitions by type and height | LF and SF |
| Ceilings by type | SF |
| Floor finishes by type | SF |
| Concrete slabs and walls by thickness | SF and CY |
| Saw cutting and core drilling | LF and EA |
| Doors, frames, fixtures and equipment | EA |
| Roofing by system | SF or SQ |
| Full structure removal | SF of floor area or CF of building volume |
| Paving and curbs | SY or SF, and LF |
| Debris volume, loose | CY |
| Roll-off loads or truckloads | EA |
| Disposal by material | TON or CY |
Debris is measured in place, then converted to loose volume with the swell factors you approve. That conversion drives load counts and dump fees.
How does a demolition estimator build the number?
A demolition estimator works from what the drawings say comes out and what stays.
- Read the demolition plans, keynotes and general demolition notes for every floor.
- Separate items to remove, items to salvage and items to protect in place.
- Measure each removal by type and unit.
- Convert removals into debris volume by material, then into loads.
- Add saw cutting, shoring and temporary protection shown or specified.
- Price crew hours, equipment, haul and disposal at your rates.
Your team checks the result against its site walk, sets markup and submits the demolition bid.
Which plan conflicts change a demolition estimate?
Demolition plans describe existing conditions that nobody has fully verified. These conflicts are common:
- Items shown to remain on the demolition plan are drawn as new on the new-work plan.
- MEP removals appear on MEP demolition sheets but not on the architectural demo plan.
- “Remove and salvage” and “remove and dispose” are mixed in keynotes for the same item.
- Slab removal limits differ between the demo plan and the plumbing trench details.
- The hazardous materials survey is referenced but not included.
- Existing-conditions drawings and photos show different ceiling or wall types.
Each conflict is logged with the sheet and quantity it affects. Because Bidmere does not visit sites, conditions that need a field check are listed for your site walk.
Which demolition scope gaps lose money?
Demolition is where unknowns get priced. We flag the splits your team needs to assign:
- Abatement: asbestos, lead and other hazardous materials, usually a separate licensed contractor.
- MEP make-safe: disconnecting and capping utilities, often by the MEP trades.
- Shoring and temporary support: when removing bearing walls or openings.
- Dust partitions and protection: in occupied buildings.
- Salvage and owner items: who removes, stores and returns them.
- Recycling documentation: reporting required by a waste management plan.
- Slab and trench patching: the concrete contractor or demolition.
For the new work that follows, see general contractor estimating and concrete estimating.
Have plans for this scope? Send them over. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteWhat drives demolition cost per square foot?
Floor area is only the start. These drivers move a demolition bid most:
- Selective vs full demolition: careful interior removal around remaining work is slower.
- Building construction: concrete and steel frames need heavier equipment than wood.
- Disposal: haul distance, dump fees and recycling requirements.
- Occupied buildings: night work, dust control and phasing.
- Access: upper floors, small elevators and tight sites slow debris removal.
- Salvage: removing items intact takes longer than wrecking them.
- Unknown conditions: concealed items found behind walls and ceilings.
These drivers are written into the assumptions so you can see what the price depends on.
What should you send for a demolition estimate?
- Demolition plans and keynotes for every discipline
- Existing-conditions drawings and site photos
- New-work plans, so items to remain can be checked
- Hazardous materials survey, if one exists
- Specification sections for demolition and waste management
- Addenda, your bid form and your crew, equipment, haul and disposal rates
Start with a short description on the quote form. We arrange document sharing after confirming the work.
You receive an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions: removals by type and area, debris and loads, a cost summary at your rates, and the open questions behind the number.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove stud and gypsum partitions, 10 ft | 1,240 | LF | 12,400 SF of wall |
| Remove acoustical ceiling and grid | 10,800 | SF | Sheet D-101 |
| Remove carpet | 9,200 | SF | Glue-down |
| Remove resilient tile | 1,600 | SF | Open question: survey pending |
| Remove doors and frames | 46 | EA | 6 to salvage for owner |
| Remove plumbing fixtures | 14 | EA | Make-safe by plumber |
| Saw cut slab | 180 | LF | New plumbing trench |
| Remove 4 in. slab at trench | 4.4 | CY | 360 SF |
| Debris, loose | 410 | CY | After swell factor |
| Roll-off loads, 30 CY | 14 | EA | 410 / 30, rounded up |
Fictional example: selective interior demolition of a 12,000 SF office floor. Debris volume uses an assumed customer swell factor. Not a customer project or pricing recommendation.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Do you visit the site?
No. Field checks go on the open questions list for your site walk.
Do you price abatement?
Only if your company carries it. Otherwise it is listed as a scope split.
Will I lose control of my number?
No. You approve the rates, set markup and decide the final bid.
Who submits the demolition bid?
Your company. Your team reviews, signs and submits. Bidmere never signs or submits.
Demolition takeoff and estimate pricing
Demolition takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade demolition estimates at $195. The fixed quote for your job usually lands in these ranges:
| Job size | Takeoff only (quantities) | Single-trade estimate (quantities and pricing) |
|---|---|---|
| Small job: up to 10,000 SF | $149 to $295 | $195 to $395 |
| Mid-size job: 10,000 to 50,000 SF | $295 to $695 | $395 to $895 |
| Large job: over 50,000 SF, or several buildings | From $695 | From $895 |
Single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours. Rush (24 hours) adds 30%. 25% off your first estimate. Every job gets a fixed quote within 2 business hours, and you pay only after you accept. Every estimate is delivered as an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions. See pricing for the full price list and scope conditions.
Monthly estimating plans
Bid demolition every week? Put estimating on a monthly plan
A monthly plan suits contractors who price demolition work every week. It gives you a steady estimating desk without a new hire. Starter is $1,395 per month for up to 6 bids. Pro is $2,595 per month for up to 12 bids. Scale is $4,795 per month for up to 25 bids. Each bid follows the same process as a single order: your documents, your rates, your review and your final number. Ask about monthly estimating plans to compare the tiers.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much do demolition estimating services cost?
Single-trade demolition estimates are from $195, with 25% off your first estimate. Full building demolition, multi-building sites and combined demo and abatement scopes are quoted to scope. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours, plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept. See pricing.
Do you visit the site for a demolition estimate?
No. Bidmere works from your demolition plans, existing-conditions drawings and photos. Anything that needs a field check, such as concealed conditions or unverified wall types, is listed as an open question. Your team confirms those items on its site walk before you finalize the bid.
How do you calculate debris and disposal?
Removals are measured in place by material, then converted to loose volume with the swell factors you approve. Loose volume gives the roll-off or truckload count, and disposal is priced by ton or yard at your dump rates. Recycled materials can be split out if the specification requires diversion reporting.
Can I order a demolition takeoff without pricing?
Yes. A demo takeoff lists removals by type, unit and sheet, plus debris volume and loads if you want them. Your team applies its own crew and disposal rates. Open questions and scope splits are still listed. See quantity takeoff services for takeoff-only orders.
Is a demolition estimate template enough?
A template organizes the number but does not measure the plans. For small jobs, our free construction estimate template is a good start. For commercial demolition with multiple disciplines and disposal rules, measured quantities from the plans keep the bid honest.
Is demolition estimating software a better option than a service?
Software helps an estimator who runs demo takeoffs every week. It still needs someone to separate remove, salvage and protect items across every discipline. A service fits when bid volume swings or your estimator is in the field. Many demolition contractors use both.
How fast can I get a demolition estimate?
Qualifying single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Larger projects get a delivery date in the fixed quote. Tell us your bid date in the request, and rush work is quoted when capacity allows.
Get a fixed quote
Share the project basics. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.