Construction Estimating Services in Kentucky

Distinguish site/foundation release from a complete building bid

Kentucky's 815 KAR 7:120 includes an elective expedited site-and-foundation review before full review of the complete construction documents.

Provide the release letter and the sheets it covers, including foundations, underground services and structural interfaces. Quantify concrete, reinforcement and excavation from those details. Put unissued superstructure or fit-out work in a separately agreed budget allowance, rather than labeling an early release as a complete design. Confirm permit and review costs with the project team; an estimating deadline is not an agency review promise.

Kentucky Legislative Research Commission: official reference

Do not turn a Kentucky shell package into a fit-out total

DHBC's April 2025 submission guide explains that interior non-load-bearing partitions, stairs/ramps, HVAC and electrical systems are not typically part of shell review unless detailed plans for them accompany that package.

Send a package matrix marking included structural walls, roof, exterior enclosure, fit-out and each trade system. Measure separately issued tenant partitions and finishes only once. For a proposed shell-plus-fit-out alternate, price the actual added details instead of multiplying shell area by an assumed complete-building rate. Permit coverage and contractual bid scope must both be confirmed; one does not establish the other.

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction: official reference

Include the plumbing issue and specialty design boundaries

The DHBC guide has a separate commercial/multifamily plumbing submission process and identifies specialty shop drawings such as fire-protection systems, range hoods, prefabricated trusses and metal buildings.

Supply the plumbing utility plan, fixture layout and risers along with the relevant specialty vendor scope. Separate factory fabrication from field anchors, supports, wiring, piping and patching shown in the design. If a shop design is pending, request a clearly bounded provisional quantity basis and contractor quote. Estimating cannot supply that design or confirm its approval; later issued drawings need a recorded revision check.

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction: official reference

Prepare the Kentucky estimate package

Release letter and covered sheets

Identify the measured stage without inferring a full-building approval.

Foundation/shell/fit-out responsibility matrix

Prevent the same wall or finish being counted in two packages.

Utility plans, fixture layout and plumbing risers

Reconcile underground work with building connections.

Specialty vendor drawings and inclusions

Separate fabrication from anchors, connections and patching.

Revision register, quotes and crew-hour basis

Retain drawing issues, delivered prices and contractor labor assumptions.

Specify the returned breakdown

Request a drawing-referenced workbook with foundation, shell, fit-out and specialty-interface subtotals. Quantities follow supplied dimensions and schedules; a priced version uses dated material quotes and contractor-approved crew/rate inputs. Addenda should identify which package changed and whether a provisional specialty allowance became measured work. More stages or unresolved shop-design inputs affect the estimating fee and schedule.

Can a Kentucky shell estimate be used as the complete tenant build-out price?

Only if the requested scope includes the detailed interiors and systems. Ask for a shell/fit-out matrix and separate subtotals so missing tenant work is visible rather than implied by a combined total.

How should pending Kentucky specialty shop drawings be estimated?

Provide the designer's criteria and vendor scope, then agree a provisional basis and exclusions. Reconcile anchors, supports and trade connections after issued shop details arrive; the estimate does not design or approve them.