Wet & Dry Utility Estimating Services

Scope

What a Utility Estimate Covers

• Storm drain: pipe by size, material, and depth range, inlets, manholes, headwalls, and detention or retention systems.
• Sanitary sewer: mainline and laterals by size and depth, manholes, cleanouts, and connections to existing.
• Water: mains, services, fire lines, valves, hydrants, fittings, thrust blocks, and backflow assemblies.
• Trench and backfill: excavation by depth zone, shoring or sloping, bedding, pipe zone, and backfill with import where the native won't meet spec.
• Dry utilities: trench footage, conduit runs, joint trench, pull boxes, and vaults.
• Testing and restoration: pressure and mandrel testing, TV inspection, and pavement or surface restoration.
• Tie-ins and crossings: connections to live systems, utility crossings, and potholing.

Priced by the Foot, Built by the Depth

A foot of 8-inch sewer at 6 feet deep and a foot at 14 feet deep are two different jobs. Depth drives trench width, shoring, excavator size, spoil handling, and daily production. We break every run into depth zones and price it from crew production, not a flat unit cost. Then we add the things that kill utility margins: groundwater and dewatering, rock, conflicts with existing lines, tie-ins that need shutdowns, and short runs that force extra mobilizations.

Coordinated With the Grading

Utility spoil affects the site balance, and trench backfill affects import. On a full sitework bid, utilities and earthwork are carried together so the dirt from the trenches is counted once and the import is counted right.

Common Questions