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Learn and Practice Estimating Techniques with the Construction Cost Data Used Most by Industry Professionals
This step-by-step guide takes you through all the major construction items, now with expanded coverage of site work, concrete and masonry, wood and metal framing, doors and windows, finish work and roofing, plus a new chapter on plumbing/fire suppression, mechanical and electrical.
Includes a Fully Functional Instructional Version of Means CostWorks CD-ROM
Means CostWorks lets you quickly access construction costs on your computer then adjust them to your location and job conditions. Export your cost lists to a spreadsheet, or customize them using CostWorks Estimator.
The CD also includes:
- Cost data organized according to the 2004 CSI MasterFormat numbering system.
- Two sets of plans - residential and light commercial, to practice your estimating on actual projects.
Over 300 exercises show you how to estimate for a broad range of construction items and systems, including general conditions and equipment costs.
Plus . . .
- Expert advice on design-stage estimates, when and how to use Assemblies and Square Foot estimation.
- Tips from professionals, including widely used formulas and rules of thumb.
- Guidance on how to use the features of CostWorks Estimator.
From the Introduction:
Professional estimators quantify the needed resources, materials, labor, and equipment required by the scope of a project, and then price these items. This is a two-phase process that includes quantity takeoff and cost estimating. To complete the quantity takeoff, the estimator examines plans and specifications to determine total quantities of materials required, as well as labor and equipment. During the cost estimating phase, the estimator examines the direct costs of installed materials and equipment, labor rates, construction equipment and tool costs, and indirect expenses, such as overhead and profit. Inflation and market conditions are additional factors to consider.
Special problem-solving skills are required to obtain an accurate estimate. No matter what the source, construction cost data is rarely available in the perfect format for a particular estimate. It must often be adapted in some way, such as changing the number of units, the location, or the type of labor. Frequently, there is math to be done beyond what is required to produce the quantity takeoff, such as converting units of measure, adjusting for overtime, allowing for difficult access to the site, or factoring in other special considerations.
This book provides information about how the costs in RS Means Building Construction Cost Data (BCCD) are developed and presented. It also provides numerous sample problems that show how to apply this cost information. Following these guidelines will enable you to use the BCCD "to the max," creating a detailed estimate, made more accurate by utilizing the full capabilities of the data.
There are substantial changes in the 3rd edition. RSMeans has updated the organization of its unit price database from the Construction Specifications Institute's 16-division MasterFormat 95 to the 44-division MasterFormat 2004. This has necessitated a number of changes in the organization of Building Construction Cost Data, and hence, this book.
Among the most notable changes are:
- Equipment costs, formerly shown as Section 01590, have been moved to the Reference section as 01 54, Construction Aids, and 01 54 33, Rental Equipment.
- Square Foot Project Costs, formerly Division 17, have been moved to the Reference section as 50 17, Square Foot Costs.
- All reference information has been re-numbered to reflect the MF04 system.
The re-numbering has resulted in the rearrangement of data within this text.
Notable changes include:
- All cost data has been updated to the latest available for instructional purposes to provide realistic costs for users to learn how to estimate using Means data and Means CostWorks.
- Chapter 3, "Adjusting Means Data to Job Conditions," has been revised substantially and describes the CostWorks Estimator, a tool that allows data to be customized and estimate summary reports to be created. All items directly involved with earthwork topics have been moved to Chapter 10, "Earthwork" in this edition.
- Chapter 8, "Doors and Windows, Interior Finish, and Equipment," has been greatly expanded to more fully cover the changes to Divisions 8-14.
- Chapter 9, "Fire Suppression, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical (Divisions 21-28)," is a new addition.
- Chapter 13, "Assemblies Estimating," and Chapter 14, "Approximate Estimates," have been substantially revised.
Included with this workbook is an instructional version of CostWorks CD-ROM, the electronic version of RS Means Building Construction Cost Data. CostWorks includes the capability to create your own cost list estimates within the program, or to export data directly from the disk to a spreadsheet. You can practice your skills in creating a complete construction estimate using the building plans for a residential and a light commercial structure (provided on the CD-ROM).
Also included on the CD is CostWorks Estimator and a sample basic spreadsheet, complete with formulas. (See the "Using CostWorks Instructional Version CD-ROM" section for more information and installation procedures.)
Contents:
Chapter 1: Basic Calculations. Chapter 2: Spreadsheet Types. Chapter 3: Adjusting Means Data to Job Conditions. Chapter 4: Concrete (Division 3). Chapter 5: Masonry (Division 4). Chapter 6: Metals (Division 5). Chapter 7: Wood and Plastics and Thermal and Moisture Protection (Divisions 6-7). Chapter 8: Doors and Windows, Interior Finish, and Equipment (Divisions 8-14). Chapter 9: Fire Suppression, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical (Divisions 21-28). Chapter 10: Earthwork (Division 31). Chapter 11: Equipment Analysis. Chapter 12: General Requirements. Chapter 13: Assemblies Estimating. Chapter 14: Approximate Estimates.
About the Author
Saleh Altayeb Mubarak PhD is an expert in scheduling and project management and has more than 16 years of combined construction management and civil engineering experience. His estimating experience includes a wide range of residential and commercial projects, costing up to 75 million dollars. A former university professor and an active continuing education instructor, Dr Mubarak has contributed to numerous conventions, seminars, and other professional events. He holds a PhD in civil engineering from Clemson University, where he specialized in construction management. He also earned an MS in civil engineering from Ohio State University, specializing in structures, and a BS in civil engineering from Tri-State University in Indiana. Dr Mubarak has lived and worked in several countries, and currently holds a position as the scheduling manager for the Public Works Department in Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida. |
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