Estimating Building Costs for the Residential and Light Commercial Construction Professional

Wayne J. Del Pico is President of W.J. Del Pico, Inc., where he provides construction management, litigation support services for construction-related matters, and construction education. He has more than thirty years of experience in construction project management and estimating and has been involved in projects throughout the United States. Mr. Del Pico is a frequent seminar presenter for RSMeans as well as other public and private clients. He is the author of Builder's Essentials: Plan Reading and Material Takeoff and coauthor of The Practice of Cost Segregation Analysis: Maximizing Tax Benefits for Building Acquisitions and Construction.

Foreword / xii About the Author / xiv Introduction / xvi Chapter 1 The Working Drawings / 1 The Role of the Drawings / 1 Design Development / 1 Organization of the Working Drawings / 2 Title Block / 4 Graphic Formats Used in Drawings / 5 Drawing Conventions / 7 Conclusion / 13 Chapter 2 Understanding the Specifications / 14 The Role of the Specifications / 14 Organizing Specifications by CSI MasterFormat / 15 The Project Manual / 19 Conflicts Between Drawings and Specifications / 27 Modifications to the Contract Documents / 27 Conclusion / 30 Chapter 3 Calculating Linear Measure, Area, and Volume / 31 Units of Measure / 31 Decimal Equivalents / 31 Linear Measurement / 32 Angles / 33 Area and Square Measure / 34 Volume and Cubic Measure / 37 Conclusion / 39 Chapter 4 The Quantity Takeoff and Pricing / 41 Reviewing the Documents / 41 Beginning the Quantity Takeoff / 42 Rules to Follow for Accurate Takeoffs / 43 Accounting for Waste / 49 Other Factors That Affect Quantities / 50 The Unit Price Estimate / 55 Pricing the Quantities / 58 Submitting a Bid / 60 Conclusion / 60 Chapter 5 Understanding Material and Labor Costs / 61 Materials / 61 Labor / 62 Indirect Overhead / 67 Profit / 68 Conclusion / 68 Chapter 6 General Requirements / 69 Fixed and Variable Costs / 70 Identifying General Requirements Cost Items / 73 Applying Prices to General Requirements Items / 73 Conclusion / 74 Chapter 7 Existing Conditions / 75 Assessment / 75 Subsurface Investigation / 76 Demolition and Structure Moving / 77 Remediation / 81 Existing Condition Drawings / 87 Conclusion / 88 Chapter 8 Concrete / 89 Concrete Materials / 90 Ready-Mixed Concrete / 91 Formwork / 91 Flatwork / 100 Expansion Joints / 102 Control Joints / 103 Curing and Sealing / 104 Reinforcement / 105 Precast Concrete / 109 Cementitious Decks / 110 Embedded Items / 110 Vapor Barriers and Rigid Insulation / 112 Conclusion / 113 Chapter 9 Masonry / 114 Mortar / 115 Brick / 116 Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) / 126 Stone / 129 Masonry Reinforcement / 133 Grout / 136 Masonry Anchors and Ties / 138 Masonry Restoration / 139 Masonry Cleaning / 141 Masonry Insulation / 142 Flashings / 142 Cutting Masonry Units / 143 Items Furnished by Other Trades / 145 Control Joints / 145 Incidentals for Fireplace and Chimney Construction / 146 Freight of Masonry Units / 147 Staging and Scaffolding for Masonry Work / 148 Cleanup / 149 Masonry Sealing / 150 Conclusion / 150 Chapter 10 Metals / 151 Structural Steel / 151 Open-Web Steel Joists / 155 Metal Decking Structure / 159 Light-Gauge Metal Framing (LGMF) / 160 Studs and Track / 162 Miscellaneous and Ornamental Metals / 163 Miscellaneous Costs / 169 Conclusion / 172 Chapter 11 Wood, Plastics, and Composites / 173 Rough Carpentry and Framing / 174 Finish Carpentry / 196 Architectural Millwork / 198 Structural Plastics / 200 Casework and Cabinetry / 200 Conclusion / 203 Chapter 12 Thermal and Moisture Protection / 204 Waterproofing / 204 Dampproofing / 206 Insulation / 207 Vapor Barriers / 210 Air Infiltration Barriers / 211 Exterior Siding / 212 Roofing / 215 Fire-Stop Systems and Sprayed Fireproofing / 234 Expansion Joints / 236 Conclusion / 237 Chapter 13 Openings / 238 Architectural Drawings / 238 Hollow Metal Frames and Doors / 242 Wood Doors and Frames / 245 Sliding Glass Doors / 246 Special Doors / 249 General Notes on Estimating Doors / 252 Overhead and Coiling Doors / 252 Entrances and Storefronts / 253 Wood and Plastic Windows / 256 Metal Windows / 257 General Notes on Windows / 258 Roof Windows and Skylights / 259 Finish Hardware / 260 Glass and Glazing / 263 Louvers and Vents / 264 Conclusion / 265 Chapter 14 Finishes / 266 Plaster Systems / 267 Gypsum Wallboard Systems / 268 Gypsum Sheathing and Underlayments / 270 Metal Stud Framing and Furring / 271 Tile / 275 Waterproof Membrane for Tile / 279 Acoustical Ceiling Systems / 281 Flooring / 285 Acoustical Treatment / 292 Painting / 294 High-Performance Coatings / 297 Wallcoverings / 297 Green or Sustainable Products / 303 Conclusion / 304 Chapter 15 Specialties / 305 Interior Specialties / 305 Exterior Specialties / 306 Taking-off Quantities / 307 Conclusion / 308 Chapter 16 Equipment, Furnishings, Special Construction, and Conveying Equipment / 309 Division 11 Equipment / 309 Division 12 Furnishings / 313 Division 13 Special Construction / 319 Division 14 Conveying Equipment / 324 Conclusion / 330 Chapter 17 Fire Suppression / 331 Fire Suppression Systems / 332 Conclusion / 337 Chapter 18 Plumbing / 342 Plumbing Systems / 343 Conclusion / 358 Chapter 19 Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) / 359 Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Systems / 360 Conclusion / 374 Chapter 20 Integrated Automation / 376 Integrated Automation Systems / 376 Conclusion / 379 Chapter 21 Electrical Systems / 380 Electrical Labor / 382 Raceways / 382 Conductors and Grounding / 383 Wiring Devices and Boxes / 385 Starters, Boards, and Switches / 388 Lighting / 392 Emergency Lighting and Devices / 393 Equipment Hookups / 395 Miscellaneous Electrical Work / 397 Conclusion / 398 Chapter 22 Communications, Electronic Safety, and Security / 399 Communications and Electronic Safety and Security / 399 Labor / 406 Conclusion / 408 Chapter 23 Earthwork / 409 Civil Drawings / 409 Site Clearing/Site Preparation / 412 Excavation and Backfill / 414 Erosion and Sedimentation Control / 424 Shoring and Underpinning / 425 Special Foundations and Load-Bearing Elements / 427 Miscellaneous Considerations / 429 Conclusion / 429 Chapter 24 Exterior Improvements / 430 Civil Drawings / 430 Bases for Paving / 432 Flexible Paving / 433 Rigid Paving / 436 Curbs / 439 Paving/Parking Specialties / 441 Site Improvements / 443 Landscaping / 446 Labor for Exterior Improvements / 449 Miscellaneous Considerations / 449 Conclusion / 449 Chapter 25 Utilities / 450 Civil Drawings / 450 Water Utilities / 452 Water Supply Wells / 454 Sanitary Sewerage Utilities / 455 Storm Drainage Utilities / 460 Electrical/Communications Utilities / 466 Miscellaneous Considerations / 469 Conclusion / 469 Chapter 26 Profit and Contingencies / 470 Profit / 470 Contingencies / 475 Conclusion / 477 Chapter 27 Estimating by Computer / 478 Estimating Software / 479 Quantity Takeoff Software / 489 Project Overhead Summary Sheets / 489 Conclusion / 489 Chapter 28 Conceptual Estimating / 492 Conceptual Estimating / 492 Conclusion / 496 Index / 497