Estimating Concrete Work Checklist

Continuous footing (footers) or grade beams

Pad footings (pads) or pile caps
Foundation walls and retaining walls
Slabs on grade and curbs
Suspended slab and slab bands
Topping on metal or wood decks
Tie beams and columns
Stairs (suspended or on ground)
Miscellaneous concrete (e.g., fill to metal stairs, bollards, column bases)
Essentially, concrete estimate is the takeoff of the following (with material, labor, and equipment):
Formwork (sfca)
Concrete (cy)
Reinforcing (lb or ton)
Curing and finishing (sf)
Miscellaneous items (e.g., layout, fine grading, insulation, damp proofing, soil treatment, slab
vapor barrier, caulking of saw-cut joints)

Foundation excavation and backfill, slab base, may already be completed by an earthwork subtrader.
If not, include these items when estimating concrete work. You may find the following advice helpful.

Check all plans for complete information, not architectural and structural sheets alone. For example,
equipment pads and conduit encasement may only show on mechanical and electrical drawings.
Always read concrete specs and structural notes for information such as aggregate sizes, strengths,
admixtures, and finishing.
Carefully plan the method to place concrete: direct chute, bucket, crane, pumping and conveyor
belts, for example. Visualize how many pours are required: foundation, slab on grade, walls,
columns, suspended slabs, slab bands. When there are several floors, plan it floor by floor and
consider coordination with other trades.
For concrete volumes, do not deduct small opening areas (e.g., doors, windows, penetrations) for
floors and walls. Allow additional formwork and finishing (chamfer strips, etc.) for such openings.
For every concrete item exposed (e.g., column corners, exterior walls, stair walls), allow enough
finishing costs (sandblast, rubbing, patching).
Go through your estimate for possible omissions (e.g., the rebar unloading, field testing, heating
for pouring in winter, water reducers or accelerators, setting embeds, grouting and caulking for
tilt-up wall panels).