How to do an estimate Steps 1 Estimate

How to do an estimate

Steps • 1) Estimate from bottom up – How you construct the project – Lets you get an understanding of project path – Lets you find errors in plans – Lets you get best use out of equipment and labor • Minimize mobilization/demob • Minimize learning curve

Steps • 2) Use spreadsheets when possible – Easy to follow – Keeps work neat – Allows you to use formulae for calculating totals – DO NOT FACTOR NUMBERS

Steps • 3) Add waste or production factors to quantities/time – Want an exact number without waste so that someone can check your work – Want to be able to see what waste is

Steps • 4) Determine Insurance, Fees & Profit, overhead, contingency – All based on estimate – Need to be able to add into the bid to determine the final bid amount

Steps • 5) Have someone else check estimate – Look for mistakes – Ensure that all items are bid – Ensure that numbers for contingency etc look right

Scheduling Aspects • Estimate looks at quantities • Schedule looks at time – To get time scheduler must know quantity and production rate • Must understand how estimator developed the item price • All assumptions must be in estimate calculations

Means Cost Works • Provides item costs and production rates – Set up using Master. Format divisions – Allows you to build an estimate item by item – Estimator will do all math – Need to input the quantities in the right units – Provides crews to use (labor by type and equipment) – Provides cost with or w/o O&P

Means Cost Works • Can do cost based on geographical area • Can do union or open shop • Can do unit price or project pricing

Means Cost Works • Must know more than quantities – Depth of trench • • LF / day changes with depth Type of machine changes with depth Safety - do you need shoring or a trench box? Width of trench – need to work

Means Cost Works • Must know more than quantities – Extra soils • How deep a layer would you need to place to get rid of 100 cy of soil on a 5 acre site? - 0. 148” • 2 acre site – 0. 372” • 1 acre 1’ deep = 1613 cy – Does the activity include materials? • Concrete can be placed – no concrete

Means Cost Works • Must know more than quantities – How far off the ground are you • Roofing assumes you will be in the air • Siding, Masonry does not – need to factor in lost time • Concrete forms – may need staging for safety – Staging areas • Where is material, how does it get moved to work area

Means Cost Works • Must know more than quantities – Bathrooms – plumbers may knock out studs to get tubs and showers in • Need a carpenter to come back and replace • Tubs and showers against an outside wall need to be insulated before installation – Part of rough Plumbing • Pipe runs – ¼”/foot – how far can you run a pipe in a 2 x 8 floor? • Blocking?

Figuring Quantities – Electricians • Must caulk all holes between floors • Kitchen – – – – – 1 circuit for Refrigerator 1 circuit for microwave 1 circuit for dishwasher 1 circuit for stove 2 circuits (min) for outlets Must have outlets on island GFCI if near sink 1 circuit for garbage disposal How many home runs?

Figuring Quantities – Electricians • • • GFCI circuits Heat type Laundry Cable/phone/internet Cabinet locations Outlets in rooms – Every 12’ of wall – On any wall >2’ – Within 2 ‘ of doors

Figuring Quantities • Carpenter – Blocking in walls • Where? – Door headers – bearing or non-bearing – Window and door RO – Insulation – where – Type – more work required for spray foam

Figuring Quantities • Carpenter – Blocking in walls • Where? – Door headers – bearing or non-bearing – Window and door RO – Insulation – where • Type – more work required for spray foam

Figuring Quantities • Concrete – # of jogs – When does slab get poured – Column footings