Fundamentals of Construction Estimating

Abstract

Fundamentals of Construction Estimating is written to provide the reader with the resources necessary to learn how to estimate the construction costs of building projects making use of modern technology and following the methods employed by successful general contractors. The book is primarily intended for the person who is a beginning to learn the process of construction cost estimating whether he or she is student taking a course in estimating at college, or someone who has recently assumed estimating responsibilities in a construction organization. The text will also be of interest to construction managers, supervisors, and practicing estimators who, from time to time, may wish to refer to a source of estimating data or simply investigate how other estimators approach this subject. Approach The goal of the text is to describe easy-to-follow, step-by-step estimating processes that can be used with the latest technology to produce accurate forecasts of construction costs in the minimum amount of time. Estimates that follow these processes in their preparation are easy to review, and the end results are recognized by experienced estimators as the product of a professional. The procedures demonstrated are intended to reflect the basic core of the estimating discipline that is found in many different types of construction estimates. While the techniques developed here can be applied, with little modification, to the wide variety of construction work, the worked examples offered relate to a housing project and a commercial project selected for their relative simplicity so that the reader can concentrate on the estimating technique rather than having to spend time unraveling detail. The estimating process presented is not intended to be some radical new method of estimating; instead, it is estimating as it is currently pursued by professional estimators doing essentially what estimators have always done but with far more speed, accuracy, and thoroughness using all the modern innovations that advance the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. Note that all prices used in the text are for illustrative purposes only; actual prices of construction work vary considerably from place to place and from time to time and should be carefully considered before using them in actual estimates