How We Work
Precision at every phase — from first estimate to final punch list. We bring rigorous cost management and clear communication to every project we take on.
Where We Start
The initial bid can happen anywhere from project inception to building permit approval. We meet you wherever you are in the process and provide the level of estimate your current design documents support.
At project inception
A ballpark budget based on your goals and the site — before any design work begins. Helps you confirm the project is feasible and set realistic expectations.
During early design
Built from early floor plans and concepts. Detailed enough to guide design decisions and compare material or structural options before the drawings are finished.
From completed construction documents
A full quantity takeoff against permit-ready drawings — our most detailed pre-permit number, used to lock in scope and gather competitive subcontractor bids.
At building permit approval
Your final estimate before signing. Once permit corrections are in and most finishes are selected, this number reflects 90–95% accuracy on the cost to build.
Not sure where you are in the process? We can assess your project’s stage in a single conversation.
From Groundbreaking to Move-In
PGC actively manages every phase — coordinating trades, tracking costs, and keeping the schedule to deliver your project on time and within budget.
Permitting, subcontractor bidding, scheduling, and site logistics planning. PGC coordinates all trades and locks in pricing before a single shovel hits the ground.
Demolition, grading, excavation, underground utilities, forming and pouring the foundation — everything below grade is set and inspected.
Erecting the wood or steel frame that defines the building envelope — floors, walls, roof structure, and sheathing.
Installing ductwork, wiring, and plumbing lines inside the walls before they are covered. Rough inspections happen at this stage.
Thermal and acoustic insulation is placed, inspected, and then covered with drywall. Tape, mud, and texture follow.
Cabinetry, flooring, tile, painting, windows, doors, siding, roofing, and landscaping — everything that makes the space livable and complete.
A final walk-through generates a punch list of outstanding items. All items are resolved, final inspections are passed, and the certificate of occupancy is issued.
The Foundation of Every Estimate
Accurate quantity takeoff is the most critical step in construction management. It underpins budget reliability, subcontractor selection, and project control. Every number in a PGC estimate traces back to a real measurement, a real labor rate, and a real market condition — not a percentage guess or a ballpark range.
Every PGC estimate is organized using the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat division system — the industry-standard framework for identifying and categorizing every scope-of-work item. This ensures nothing is overlooked, enables apples-to-apples comparison of subcontractor bids across all divisions, and provides clear cost accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
PGC triangulates every estimate against three independent sources to ensure accuracy and defensibility.
PGC's own database of completed Bay Area projects — actual costs, trade breakdowns, and material quantities from jobs we have personally managed and built.
The construction industry's most widely used cost reference, updated annually with labor and material unit costs by region and trade.
Current regional construction cost indices from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — keeping our estimates calibrated to live market conditions.
Tell us about your project and we’ll get back to you with next steps — usually within one business day. No back-and-forth, no obligation.
Prefer to talk first? Call us at (925) 549-1658.