New York project estimating
Masonry Estimating Services in New York
F&K prepares New York masonry takeoffs for facade-restoration contractors and general contractors pricing exterior-wall repairs. Quantities are organized by elevation, repair type and access zone so repointing, brick replacement and lintel work can be reviewed independently. Provide the facade consultant’s drawings and repair schedule to receive a quote for the actual bid package.
Remote estimating support for New York projects. This service page does not represent a local office.
Updated · F&K estimating methodology
NYC facade work and statewide masonry have different inputs
New York City’s Facade Inspection and Safety Program provides a specific context for exterior-wall inspections and repair work. It is a city program, not a rule to apply automatically to every building in New York State. When a bid follows a facade report, request the consultant’s repair design and measurable extents. An inspection category alone does not establish how many bricks or square feet of pointing a contractor must price.
For NYC projects, sidewalk protection, working platforms, street frontage and occupied entrances can be significant scope boundaries. A building elsewhere in the state may use different access arrangements and local approvals. State the address and intended access method instead of carrying a single metropolitan labor multiplier. Temporary protection, permits and engineering services should be separately assigned in the bid instructions.
What the takeoff can include
Repointing
Measure treatment areas by elevation and depth specification. Distinguish full-area work from selective joints and avoid adding both to the same surface.
Unit replacement
Count scheduled brick, block or stone replacements. Keep matching samples, salvage, cutting and concealed backup repairs visible where specified.
Lintels and interfaces
Identify lintel lengths, flashing, end dams, weeps and sealant joints. Separate steel supply or coating work assigned to other contractors.
Access and protection
Record scaffold or platform zones, pedestrian protection and phased mobilization. Confirm whether access is shared with roofing or window contractors.
Measurement and scope checks
We reconcile facade elevations with the repair legend and any surveyed quantities before preparing a bid schedule. Each repair category keeps its specified unit, such as square feet, linear feet or individual units. Where exploratory openings may change the scope, the workbook identifies provisional work separately. This allows a contractor to propose an appropriate unit rate without presenting uncertain repairs as fully measured work.
Illustrative elevation repair schedule
The following quantities describe a fictional facade. They show why surface, linear and unit measurements should remain separate in a restoration bid.
| Repair | Measured input | Bid quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Full-area repointing | 80 ft × 25 ft less 400 SF openings | 1,600 SF |
| Lintel interface flashing | Eight openings at 6 ft each | 48 LF |
| Scheduled brick replacement | Surveyed individual units | 180 units |
Brick replacement may occur within the repointing area. Clarify whether associated joint finishing is included in the replacement rate so the same activity is not priced twice.
Deliverable, pricing basis and quote
Request an elevation-based workbook with base repairs, alternates and provisional items clearly separated. For pricing, supply access quotations or ask for the access assumption to be identified. The estimate can support bid comparison, but it is not a facade inspection, structural assessment or filing service. The proposal confirms output format, pricing inputs, excluded responsibilities, revision scope and delivery timing.
Explore our full masonry estimating services scopeQuestions about this scope
Do NYC facade rules apply to all New York projects?
No. Identify whether the property is in New York City and which requirements apply to it. Other locations have their own project and authority requirements. The masonry estimate follows the issued scope for the actual property.
Can you price an allowance for concealed backup repairs?
Yes, if the proposal identifies its quantity basis and uncertainty. Keep exploratory work and potential follow-on repairs separate from confirmed surface quantities, and use the owner’s requested unit-price format where available.
Is scaffolding part of the masonry total?
It can be, when expressly included. Shared scaffolding, sidewalk protection and access engineering are frequent boundary items. Provide responsibility assignments so the estimate neither omits them nor duplicates another contractor’s package.
Official project references
- NYC Department of Buildings facade program
Official city-specific inspection and facade-program reference. Repair design and estimating are separate responsibilities.