Learn and Practice Estimating Techniques with the Construction Cost Data Used Most by Industry Professionals

Updated and Expanded New Third Edition! 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. A new chapter provides professional estimating guidance for plumbing (including fire suppression), mechanical and electrical.

Over 300 estimating exercises show you, in detail, how to estimate for a broad range of construction items and systems - including how to calculate general conditions and equipment costs.

Plus…

• Expert advice on preliminary or design-stage estimates - when and how to use Assemblies and Square Foot estimating techniques.
• Tips from professional practitioners, including widely used formulas and rules of thumb.
• Guidance on how to use the features of CostWorks Estimator.

Updated edition includes a fully functional instructional version of Means CostWorks CD-ROM. CostWorks enables you to quickly access construction costs on your computer... then customize them to your location and job conditions with the ease of point-and-click technology. Export your cost lists to a spreadsheet, or customize them using CostWorks Estimator. 270 pp.

The CD also includes:

• Cost data organized according to the 2004 CSI MasterFormat numbering system.
• Two sets of plans - one residential and one light commercial - to practice your estimating techniques in the context of an actual project.
• Fully worked-out solutions to sample estimating problems.

How to Estimate with Means Data & CostWorks, 3rd Edition - Table of Contents:

• About the Authors & Contributors
• Introduction
• Using CostWorks Instructional Version CD-ROM
• Installation
• Accessing Instructional Information:
• Building Plans & Spreadsheets
• A Cautionary Note: Numerical Rounding & Mathematical Judgment
• Basic Calculations
  • Means Cost Data Format
  • Productivity & Activity Duration
  • Equipment Costs
  • City Cost Indexes & Location Factors
• Spreadsheet Types
  • Manual Spreadsheets
  • Electronic Spreadsheets
  • Using CostWorks
  • Additional CostWorks Features
  • Square Foot & Cubic Foot Costs
  • Exercises
• Adjusting Means Data to Job Conditions
  • Markups on Labor Cost
  • Interpolation Between Means Items
  • Substituting Known Local Labor Rates
  • Overtime Productivity Loss & Extra Pay
  • Effect of Inflation/Cost Escalation
  • Unit Consistency
  • CostWorks Estimator
  • Adding, Changing, or Deleting Costs
  • Exercises
• Concrete (Division 3)
  • Types of Concrete
  • Estimating Concrete
  • Additional Estimating Examples
  • Exercises
• Masonry (Division 4)
  • Types of Masonry
  • Estimating & Waste Allowances
  • Productivity Factors
  • Quantity Takeoff
  • Exercises
• Metals (Division 5)
  • Estimating Structural Steel
  • Exercises
• Wood & Plastics and Thermal & Moisture Protection (Divisions 6–7)
  • Wood & Wood Products
  • Thermal & Moisture Control
  • Estimating Wood Structures
  • Using Units of Quantity
  • Exercises
• Doors & Windows, Interior Finish, & Equipment (Divisions 8–14)
  • Using Means Costs
  • Division 8: Openings
  • Division 9: Finishes
  • Cost Modifiers
  • Division 10: Specialties
  • Division 11: Equipment
  • Division 12: Furnishings
  • Division 13: Special Construction
  • Division 14: Conveying Equipment
  • Exercises
• Fire Suppression, Plumbing, Mechanical, & Electrical (Divisions 21–28)
  • Fire Suppression
  • Plumbing
  • Heating, Ventilating, & Air Conditioning
  • Electrical
  • Communications
  • Electronic Safety & Security
  • Exercises
• Earthwork (Division 31)
  • Types of Earthwork
  • Soil Excavation
  • Truck Capacity
  • Excavate by Hand or Machine?
  • Optimum Number of Trucks per Loader
  • Equipment Rental Costs for Short or Long Periods
  • Renting vs. Owning Equipment
  • Exercises
• Equipment Analysis
  • Equipment Depreciation
  • Equipment Expenses
  • Equipment Rental
  • Exercises
• General Requirements Estimating General Requirements
  • Project Duration
  • Architectural & Engineering Fees
  • Builder's Risk Insurance
  • Performance Bonds
  • Sales Tax
  • Exercises
• Assemblies Estimating
  • Preliminary Cost Estimating
  • Assemblies Estimates
  • Combining Assemblies & Unit Costs
  • Exercises
• Approximate Estimates
  • Means Project Costs
  • Using Means Project Costs
  • Exercises
• Appendix A: Exercises: Answer Sheet
• Appendix B: Exercises: Solutions
• Appendix C: Sample Estimating Forms
• Appendix D: References
• Index