How to do an estimate

1. How to do an estimate

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. Means Cost Works • Provides item costs and production rates • Set up using MasterFormat 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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 2x8 floor? • Blocking?

14. 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?

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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