Estimating in Building Construction

About our author Steven J. Peterson is a professor of construction management at Weber State University, where he joined the faculty in 2000. His specialty is the business side of running a construction company and managing construction projects. He is the author of Construction Accounting and Financial Management (2013), Construction Estimating Using Excel (2018), and Pearson's Pocket Guide to Construction Management (2012). He is the coauthor of Estimating in Building Construction (2019). Before becoming a professor, Steven spent 15 years working in the construction industry. He received an MBA and a BS in engineering from the University of Utah and is a licensed professional engineer.

1. INTRODUCTION TO ESTIMATING
1 - 1 General Introduction
1 - 2 Estimating Methods
Detailed Estimate
Assembly Estimating
Square-Foot Estimates
Parametric Estimates
Model Estimating
Project Comparison Estimates
1 - 3 Estimating Opportunities
1 - 4 The Estimator
1 - 5 Quantity Surveying
1 - 6 Types of Bids
1 - 7 Contract Documents
1 - 8 Bidding Information
1 - 9 Availability of Contract Documents
1 - 10 Sources of Estimating Information
Web Resources
Review Questions

2. CONTRACTS, BONDS, AND INSURANCE
2 - 1 The Contract System
2 - 2 Types of Agreements
Lump-Sum Agreement (Stipulated Sum, Fixed Price)
Unit-Price Agreement
Cost-Plus-Fee Agreement
2 - 3 Agreement Provisions
2 - 4 Bonds
Bid Bond
Performance Bond
Payment Bond
2 - 5 Obtaining Bonds
2 - 6 Insurance
Web Resource
Review Questions

3. PROJECT MANUAL
3 - 1 Introduction
3 - 2 Construction Specifications Institute
3 - 3 Invitation to Bid (Advertisement for Bids)
3 - 4 Instructions to Bidders (Information for Bidders)
3 - 5 Bid Form
3 - 6 Form of Owner - Contractor Agreement
3 - 7 General Conditions
3 - 8 Supplementary General Conditions
3 - 9 Specifications
3 - 10 Alternates
3 - 11 Addenda
3 - 12 Errors in the Specifications
Web Resources
Review Questions

4. THE ESTIMATE
4 - 1 Roll of Estimating
4 - 2 Organization
4 - 3 Notebook
4 - 4 To Bid or Not to Bid
4 - 5 Planning the Estimate
4 - 6 Site Investigation
4 - 7 Quantity Takeoff
4 - 8 Materials
4 - 9 Labor
4 - 10 Equipment
4 - 11 Specialty Contractors
4 - 12 Overhead and Contingencies
4 - 13 Profit and Home Office Costs
4 - 14 Workup Sheets
4 - 15 Summary Sheet
4 - 16 Errors and Omissions
Web Resources
Review Questions

5. COMPUTERS IN ESTIMATING
5 - 1 Overview
5 - 2 Benefits and Dangers of Computerized Estimating
5 - 3 Spreadsheets
5 - 4 Specialized Estimating Software
5 - 5 Takeoff Software
5 - 6 Building Information Modeling
Model Creation
Limitations and Potential Problems
Uses in Estimating
Potential Effects of BIM on Estimating
Extracting Quantities from Revit
Exporting Quantities to Excel
Web Resources
Review Questions

6. OVERHEAD AND CONTINGENCIES
6 - 1 Overhead
6 - 2 Home Office Overhead
6 - 3 Job Overhead (General Conditions, Direct Overhead)
6 - 4 Scheduling
6 - 5 Contingencies
6 - 6 Checklist
Undistributed Labor
Temporary Buildings, Enclosures, and Facilities
Temporary Office
Barricades and Signal Lights
Temporary Utilities
Repairs and Protection
Relocating Utilities
Cleaning
Permits
Professional Services
Labor Burdens and Taxes
Bonds and Insurance
Miscellaneous Equipment and Services
Web Resources
Review Questions

7. LABOR
7 - 1 Labor Hours and Productivity
7 - 2 Fair Labor Standards Act
7 - 3 Davis-Bacon Act
7 - 4 Unions-Wages and Rules
7 - 5 Open Shop
7 - 6 Labor Burden
7 - 7 Pricing Labor
Web Resources
Review Questions

8. EQUIPMENT
8 - 1 General
8 - 2 Equipment Productivity
8 - 3 Operating Costs
8 - 4 Ownership Costs
8 - 5 Leasing Costs
8 - 6 Rental Costs
8 - 7 Miscellaneous Tools
8 - 8 Cost Accounting
8 - 9 Mobilization
8 - 10 Checklist
Review Questions

9. SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS
9 - 1 Specialty Contractors
9 - 2 Request for Quote
9 - 3 Writing a Scope of Work
9 - 4 Checking Specialty Contractor Bids
9 - 5 Selecting Specialty Contractors
Review Questions

10. EXCAVATION
10 - 1 General
10 - 2 Specifications
10 - 3 Soil
10 - 4 Calculating Excavation
10 - 5 Equipment
10 - 6 Earthwork-New Site Grades and Rough Grading
Cross-Section Method
Average End Area
10 - 7 Perimeter and Area
10 - 8 Topsoil Removal
10 - 9 General Excavation
10 - 10 Special Excavation
10 - 11 Backfilling
10 - 12 Excess and Borrow
10 - 13 Spreading Topsoil, Finish Grade
10 - 14 Landscaping
10 - 15 Pumping (Dewatering)
10 - 16 Rock Excavation
10 - 17 Subcontractors
10 - 18 Excavation Checklist
10 - 19 Piles
10 - 20 Pile Checklist
10 - 21 Asphalt Paving
Web Resources
Review Questions

11. CONCRETE
11 - 1 Concrete Work
11 - 2 Estimating Concrete
11 - 3 Reinforcing
11 - 4 Vapor Retarder
11 - 5 Accessories
11 - 6 Concrete Finishing
11 - 7 Curing
11 - 8 Transporting Concrete
11 - 9 Forms
11 - 10 Form Liners
11 - 11 Checklist
11 - 12 Precast Concrete
11 - 13 Specifications
11 - 14 Estimating
11 - 15 Precast Tees
11 - 16 Precast Slabs
11 - 17 Precast Beams and Columns
11 - 18 Miscellaneous Precast
11 - 19 Precast Costs
11 - 20 Precast Checklist
Web Resources
Review Questions

12. MASONRY
12 - 1 General
12 - 2 Specifications
12 - 3 Labor
12 - 4 Bonds (Patterns)
12 - 5 Concrete Masonry
Concrete Block
12 - 6 Specifications-Concrete Masonry
12 - 7 Estimating-Concrete Masonry
12 - 8 Clay Masonry
12 - 9 Specifications-Brick
12 - 10 Estimating Brick
12 - 11 Specifications-Tile
12 - 12 Estimating Tile
12 - 13 Stone Masonry
12 - 14 Specifications-Stone
12 - 15 Estimating Stone
12 - 16 Mortar
12 - 17 Accessories
12 - 18 Reinforcing Bars
12 - 19 Cleaning
12 - 20 Equipment
12 - 21 Cold Weather
12 - 22 Subcontractors
12 - 23 Checklist
Web Resources
Review Questions

13. METALS
13 - 1 General
13 - 2 Structural Metal
13 - 3 Structural Metal Framing
13 - 4 Metal Joists
13 - 5 Metal Decking
13 - 6 Miscellaneous Structural Metal
13 - 7 Metal Erection Subcontractors
13 - 8 Miscellaneous Metals
13 - 9 Metal Checklist
Web Resources
Review Questions

14. WOOD
14 - 1 Frame Construction
14 - 2 Board Measure
14 - 3 Floor Framing
14 - 4 Wall Framing
Exterior Walls
Interior Walls
14 - 5 Ceiling Assembly
14 - 6 Roof Assembly
14 - 7 Trim
14 - 8 Labor
14 - 9 Wood Systems
14 - 10 Wood Trusses
14 - 11 Laminated Beams and Arches
14 - 12 Wood Decking
14 - 13 Plywood Systems
14 - 14 Wood Checklist
Web Resources
Review Questions

15. THERMAL AND MOISTURE PROTECTION
15 - 1 Waterproofing and Dampproofing
15 - 2 Membrane Waterproofing
15 - 3 Integral Method
15 - 4 Painted Method
15 - 5 Insulation
15 - 6 Air and Water Barriers
15 - 7 Aluminum and Vinyl Siding, Soffit, and Fascia
15 - 8 Stucco
15 - 9 Roofing
15 - 10 Roof Areas
15 - 11 Asphalt Shingles
15 - 12 Wood Shingles
15 - 13 Slate Shingles
15 - 14 Clay and Concrete Tile
15 - 15 Sheets, Tile, and Shingles Formula
15 - 16 Metal Roofing
15 - 17 Roof Insulation
15 - 18 Built-up Roofing
15 - 19 Membrane Roofing
15 - 20 Flashing and Trim
15 - 21 Roofing Accessories
15 - 22 Labor
15 - 23 Equipment
15 - 24 Caulking
15 - 25 Checklist
Web Resources
Review Questions

16. DOORS AND WINDOWS
16 - 1 Window and Curtain Wall Frames
16 - 2 Accessories
16 - 3 Doors
16 - 4 Prefitting and Machining (Premachining) Doors
16 - 5 Prefinishing Doors
16 - 6 Door Frame
16 - 7 Hardware
16 - 8 Accessories
16 - 9 Checklist for Doors and Frames
16 - 10 Glass
Review Questions

17. FINISHES
17 - 1 Drywall and Wetwall Construction
17 - 2 Supporting Construction
17 - 3 Types of Assemblies
17 - 4 Drywall Types
17 - 5 Drywall Accessories
17 - 6 Estimating Drywall
17 - 7 Column Fireproofing
17 - 8 Wetwall Construction
17 - 9 Plaster
17 - 10 Lath
17 - 11 Accessories
17 - 12 Suspended Ceilings
17 - 13 Flooring
17 - 14 Wood Flooring
17 - 15 Laminate Flooring
17 - 16 Resilient Flooring
17 - 17 Carpeting
17 - 18 Tile
17 - 19 Wood Panels
17 - 20 Painting
17 - 21 Finishes Checklist
Web Resources
Review Questions

18. ELECTRICAL
18 - 1 Electrical Work
18 - 2 Single Contracts
18 - 3 Separate Contracts
18 - 4 Coordination Requirements
18 - 5 Electrical Estimates
18 - 6 Electrical Estimates Using Assemblies
18 - 7 Detailed Electrical Estimates
18 - 8 Conduit and Wiring
18 - 9 Checklist
Review Questions

19. PLUMBING
19 - 1 Plumbing Work
19 - 2 Single Contracts
19 - 3 Separate Contracts
19 - 4 Coordination Requirements
19 - 5 Plumbing Estimates
19 - 6 Plumbing Estimates Using Assemblies
19 - 7 Detailed Plumbing Estimates
19 - 8 Piping
19 - 9 Fire Sprinklers
19 - 10 Checklist
Review Questions

20. HEATING, VENTILATING, AND AIR-CONDITIONING
20 - 1 HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning) Work
20 - 2 Single Contracts
20 - 3 Separate Contracts
20 - 4 Coordination Requirements
20 - 5 HVAC Estimates
20 - 6 HVAC Estimating Using Assemblies
20 - 7 Detailed HVAC Estimates
20 - 8 Checklist
Review Questions

21. PROFIT
21 - 1 Profit
21 - 2 Assessing Risk
21 - 3 Assessing the Competition
Review Questions

22. OTHER ESTIMATING METHODS
22 - 1 Overview
22 - 2 Project Comparison Method
22 - 3 Square-Foot Estimating
22 - 4 Assembly Estimating
Web Resource
Review Questions

Appendices
A. Drawings and Outline Specifications for Small Commercial Building
B. Drawings and Outline Specifications for Residential Building Project
C. Drawings and Outline Specifications for Commercial Building Project
D. Drawings for Billy's C-Store
E. Drawings and Outline Specifications for Real Estate Office
F. BidSim
G. Conversions
H. Sample Equipment Costs
I. Common Terms Used in the Building Industry
J. Spreadsheets