Metal Fabrication
Shop work that turns raw steel into the pieces a building needs.
Quick Answer
Metal fabrication is the shop process of cutting, drilling, welding and assembling steel and other metals into building components such as stairs, railings, lintels, bollards and embeds. Estimators take fabricated items off drawings by weight, linear foot or each, and price them with shop drawings in mind.
The Full Picture
Metal fabrication covers the shop work between raw material and a piece that can be installed. For a general contractor, the term most often refers to miscellaneous metals: stairs, ladders, handrails and guardrails, lintels, bollards, embedded plates, support frames and similar items that sit outside the main structural frame. Structural steel fabrication is a closely related shop operation, but the framing members are usually quoted as structural steel rather than misc metals.
Fabricated items are priced from three things: material, shop labor and finish. Material is carried by weight from shape and plate tables. Labor depends on cutting, welding and assembly time. Finishes such as galvanizing or paint can be a meaningful line, and welding, size limits for galvanizing tanks and shipping limits can affect how pieces are split. Drawings state the grade, typically A36 for plates, angles and channels, and the finish in the specifications.
On the plans, misc metals are scattered. Stairs appear on architectural and structural sheets, railings in details and enlarged plans, lintels in wall sections and schedules, and bollards on site plans. Division 05 specifications set materials, finishes and submittal requirements. That scatter is a classic cause of missed scope: the same item may be shown in several places or none that match.
Because the fabricator must produce shop drawings that the design team approves before cutting steel, the estimator should also account for submittals, lead time and coordination. Takeoff units vary: stairs by each flight or by riser, railings by linear foot, lintels by linear foot and size, bollards and embeds by each. Convert to pounds when the quote is by weight, and keep installation, grout, anchors and paint in separate lines.
Real Examples
Common Misconceptions
People assume: Misc metals are small, so they can be carried as an allowance.
Actually: Misc metals are scattered across many sheets and add up, and missing items are a common source of buyout gaps. Build a list from all drawings and the spec instead.
People assume: Metal fabrication is the same as structural steel.
Actually: They share shops and processes, but the main frame is usually bought as structural steel, while misc metals are a separate package with different submittals and often different bidders.
Does MeltPlan Solve This?
Partially — adjacentMeltPlan's takeoff pulls quantities from PDF plans, and US-based estimators review and adjust them, which covers counting and measuring items such as lintels, bollards and railings shown on the drawings. Shop pricing and fabrication are outside its scope.
Count misc metals scattered across plan sheets →Frequently Asked Questions
What are miscellaneous metals?
Misc metals are fabricated steel and metal items that are not part of the main structural frame, such as stairs, railings, lintels, bollards, embeds, ladders and support frames.
How is metal fabrication priced?
Typically by weight or by each, built from material, shop labor and finish. Get quotes from fabricators for the specific drawings.
Do metal fabrications need shop drawings?
Usually yes. The specification requires shop drawing submittals for review before fabrication, so lead time should be in the schedule.
Which Division covers metal fabrications?
Division 05, Metals. Check the project's specification for the exact section numbers it uses.
What grade of steel is used in fabrication?
Plates, angles and channels are commonly specified as A36, but the project notes and specifications govern. Stainless and aluminum are specified separately.