The documents that turn a rough estimate into a firm price, and why each one changes the number.
A steel price is only as good as the information behind it. Send a single beam sketch and you will get a single beam price, with a list of assumptions attached. Send a full set and we can price the job the way it will actually be built. Here is what makes the biggest difference.
1. The structural drawings, latest revision
Member sizes, grid layout, base plates and connections all come from the engineer's drawings. Check the revision letter in the title block before you send them. Pricing off superseded drawings is the most common reason a quote changes later.
2. Architectural drawings
These show finished levels, cladding and set-outs the structural set does not always carry. We use them to check that the steel actually fits the building, and to raise questions early instead of on site.
3. The engineer's general notes and specification
The notes set the steel grades, bolt categories, weld requirements and, most importantly, the coating system. Hot-dip galvanising, primer only or a full paint system can move the price more than the tonnage does.
4. Site details
- Address and access: can a crane or truck get in, and where can it set up?
- Working hours and any council or strata restrictions.
- Whether the site is occupied, live or shared with other trades.
- Induction, insurance and safety paperwork the head contractor needs.
5. Scope and program
Tell us whether you want supply only, fabricate and deliver, or fabricate and install, and when the steel needs to be on site. A tight date changes how the job is scheduled through the workshop.
Missing some of it?
Send what you have. We will cross-check the documents, list what is missing and tell you what we have assumed so there are no surprises when the job starts.