Estimating Building Costs for the Residential and Light Commercial Construction Professional

by Del Pico, Wayne J.

• ISBN13: 9781394150113
• ISBN10: 1394150113
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2023-09-13
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Estimating Building Costs

Few aspects of a construction project are more fundamental than the cost estimate, which can mean the difference between a professionally executed project and a financial and legal disaster. Properly handled, a construction cost estimate can protect both the contractor and the client from losing money on a project. The estimate is the first step toward a successful project. For contractors, therefore, the knowledge required to construct an accurate price estimate is critical.

Estimating Building Costs for the Residential and Light Commercial Construction Professional provides this knowledge in a thorough and comprehensive guide. It takes readers step-by-step through the process of constructing a cost estimate, and provides guidance for incorporating cost estimates into budgeting, scheduling, project management, and more. The result is a fundamental guide to this critical aspect of the construction industry.

Readers of the third edition of Estimating Building Costs for the Residential and Light Commercial Construction Professional will also find:

• Fully updated text to reflect the new CSI MASTERFORMAT^™ 2020
• Analysis of cost considerations, quantity takeoff, pricing, and more
• Step-by-step guidance for developing a comprehensive cost estimate
• All-new sections covering scope of work, wage scales in the US, and a project overhead checklist
• Considerations for adding profit and contingencies to an estimate

Estimating Building Costs for the Residential and Light Commercial Construction Professional is an essential resource for contractors in residential and light commercial construction, as well as students studying construction management and construction estimating.

Author Biography

Wayne J. Del Pico is President of W.J. Del Pico, Inc., which provides management and litigation support services in the construction industry. He has more than 40 years of experience in construction management, scheduling, and estimating, and has taught construction courses at Northeastern University, Boston, USA, and Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he is currently senior affiliated faculty.

Table of Contents

Preface                  xv

About the Author              xvii

Introduction       xix

 

CHAPTER 1

The Basis of the Estimate                              1

Role of the Drawings in Estimating                            1

Design Development                      2

Organization of the Working Drawings                    3

Title Block                           5

Graphic Formats Used in Drawings                           6

Drawing Conventions                     9

Scope of Work                   17

Summary                             18

Questions/Problems                      19

 

CHAPTER 2

Understanding the Specifications                              21

Role of the Specifications                              21

Organizing Specifications by CSI MASTERFORMAT®                           22

The Project Manual                         26

Conflicts Between Drawings and Specifications                   36

Modifications to the Contract Documents                             37

Summary                             40

Questions/Problems                      41

 

CHAPTER 3

Calculating Linear Measure, Area, and Volume                    43

Units of Measure                             43

Decimal Equivalents                        43

Linear Measurement                      44

Angles                   45

Area and Square Measure                            46

Volume and Cubic Measure                         49

Summary                             51

Questions/Problems                      52

 

CHAPTER 4

The Quantity Takeoff and Pricing Phases                                55

Studying the Documents                               55

The Takeoff Phase                           57

Rules for Accurate Takeoffs                         58

Accounting for Waste                     65

Other Factors That Impact Quantities                      67

The Pricing Phase                             67

Unit Price Estimate                          72

Applying Prices to the Quantities                               76

Submitting a Bid                               78

Summary                             79

Questions/Problems                      80

 

CHAPTER 5

Understanding the Cost Elements of a Unit Price                                81

Materials                             81

Labor                     82

Equipment and Operating Expenses                        90

Indirect Overhead                            91

Profit                     91

Summary                             92

Questions/Problems                      92

 

CHAPTER 6

Division 1—General

Requirements                   95

Classifying Direct Overhead Costs                             96

Identifying and Quantifying General Requirements Cost Items                     100

Pricing General Requirements Items                        101

Project Closeout                               102

Indirect Overhead                            103

Summary                             104

Questions/Problems                      105

 

CHAPTER 7

Existing Conditions                          107

Assessment                        107

Subsurface Investigation                               108

Demolition and Structure Moving                             109

Remediation                      114

Existing Conditions Drawings                       121

Summary                             122

Questions/Problems                      122

 

CHAPTER 8

Concrete                              123

Concrete Materials                          124

Ready-Mixed

Concrete                              125

Formwork                           125

Flatwork                               135

Expansion Joints                               138

Control Joints                     139

Curing and Sealing                           140

Reinforcement                 141

Precast Concrete                              145

Cementitious Decks                        146

Gypsum Cement Underlayment                146

Embedded Items                              147

Vapor Barriers and Rigid Insulation                           148

Concrete Cutting and Boring                        150

Summary                             151

Questions/Problems                      152

 

CHAPTER 9

Masonry                              153

Mortar                 154

Brick                      156

Concrete Masonry Units (CMU)                 164

Stone                    170

Masonry Reinforcement                               172

Grout                    175

Masonry Anchors and Ties                           177

Masonry Restoration                      178

Masonry Cleaning                            180

Masonry Insulation                          181

Flashings                              182

Cutting Masonry Units                   183

Items Furnished by Other Trades                               185

Control Joints                     185

Incidentals for Fireplace and Chimney Construction                          186

Freight of Masonry Units                               188

Staging and Scaffolding for Masonry Work                            188

Cleanup                                190

Masonry Sealing                               190

Summary                             190

Questions/Problems                      191

 

CHAPTER 10

Metals                 193

Structural Steel                 193

Open-Web Steel Joists                   197

Metal Decking                   201

Light-Gauge

Metal Framing                   203

Studs and Track                                 205

Miscellaneous and Ornamental Metals                   206

Miscellaneous Costs                        213

Summary                             216

Questions/Problems                      217

 

CHAPTER 11

Wood, Plastics, and Composites                                219

Rough Carpentry and Framing                    220

Finish Carpentry                               245

Architectural Millwork                   246

Structural Plastics and Plastic Fabrications                             248

Casework and Cabinetry                                249

Shop-Fabricated

Structural Wood                               252

Other Framing Systems                 253

Summary                             254

Questions/Problems                      255

 

CHAPTER 12

Thermal and Moisture Protection                             257

Waterproofing                 258

Dampproofing                   260

Thermal Insulation                           261

Vapor Barriers                   266

Air Infiltration Barriers                   267

Exterior Siding                   268

Roofing                                 271

Fire-Stop

Systems and Sprayed-Applied

Fireproofing                       294

Expansion Control                            296

Summary                             297

Questions/Problems                      298

 

CHAPTER 13

Openings                             299

Architectural Drawings                 299

Hollow Metal Frames and Doors                                304

Wood Doors and Frames                               307

Sliding and Swinging Glass Doors                               309

Special Doors                     312

General Notes on Estimating Doors                          314

Overhead and Coiling Doors                        316

Entrances and Storefronts                            317

Wood and Plastic Windows                          320

Metal Windows                                322

General Notes on Windows                         324

Roof Windows and Skylights                        324

Finish Hardware                                326

Glass and Glazing                             328

Louvers and Vents                           330

Summary                             331

Questions/Problems                      332

 

CHAPTER 14

Finishes                                333

Plaster Systems                                 334

Gypsum Wallboard Systems                        336

Gypsum Sheathing and Underlayments                 338

Metal Stud Framing and Furring                                 338

Tile                         342

Waterproof Membrane for Tile                 348

Acoustical Ceiling Systems                            351

Flooring                                354

Acoustical Treatment                     364

Painting                                365

High-Performance

Coatings                               368

Wallcoverings                    371

Green or Sustainable Products                   375

Summary                             375

Questions/Problems                      376

 

CHAPTER 15

Specialties                           379

Interior Specialties                           379

Exterior Specialties                          380

Taking-Off

and Pricing                          381

Summary                             382

Questions/Problems                      383

 

CHAPTER 16

Equipment, Furnishings, Special Construction,

and Conveying Equipment                           385

Division 11—Equipment                                385

Division 12—Furnishings                               391

Division 13—Special

Construction                      396

Division 14—Conveying Equipment                          402

Summary                             407

Questions/Problems                      407

 

CHAPTER 17

Fire Suppression                               409

Fire Suppression Systems                             410

Other Fire Suppression Components                       415

Summary                             418

Questions/Problems                      419

 

CHAPTER 18

Plumbing                             421

Plumbing Systems                           422

Parametric Estimating                    440

Summary                             441

Questions/Problems                      442

 

CHAPTER 19

Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)                             443

HVAC Systems                   444

Summary                             462

Questions/Problems                      462

 

CHAPTER 20

Integrated Automation                 465

Integrated Automation Systems                                466

Summary                             468

Questions/Problems                      468

CHAPTER 21

Electrical                              469

Electrical Labor                 471

Raceways                            472

Conductors and Grounding                          474

Wiring Devices and Boxes                             475

Starters, Boards, Switches and Transformers                        478

Load Centers                      481

Lighting                                483

Emergency Lighting and Devices                                484

Equipment Hookups                       487

Electrical Site Work                         488

Generator Set                    491

Automatic and Manual Transfer Switches                              492

Miscellaneous Electrical Work                    493

Summary                             495

Questions/Problems                      495

 

CHAPTER 22

Communications, Electronic Safety, and Security                                497

Communications and Electronic Safety and Security                          497

Summary                             506

Questions/Problems                      506

 

CHAPTER 23

Earthwork                           507

Civil Drawings                    507

Site Clearing/Site Preparation                     510

Excavation and Backfill                   512

Erosion and Sedimentation Control                          525

Shoring, Underpinning, and Trench Boxes                             526

Special Foundations and Load-Bearing

Elements                             528

Miscellaneous Considerations                    530

Summary                             530

Questions/Problems                      531

 

CHAPTER 24

Exterior Improvements                 533

Civil Drawings                    533

Bases for Paving                                535

Flexible Paving                 536

Rigid Paving                        540

Curbs and Walkways                       542

Paving/Parking Specialties                            547

Site Improvements                          548

Landscaping                       554

Labor for Exterior Improvements                              556

Miscellaneous Considerations                    556

Summary                             556

Questions/Problems                      557

 

CHAPTER 25

Utilities                                 559

Civil Drawings                    559

Water Utilities                   562

Water Supply Wells                         563

Sanitary Sewerage Utilities                           565

Storm Drainage Utilities                                570

Electrical/Communications Utilities                          576

Miscellaneous Considerations                    580

Summary                             581

Questions/Problems                      581

 

CHAPTER 26

Profit and Contingencies                               583

Profit                     583

Contingencies                    591

Summary                             593

Questions/Problems                      593

 

CHAPTER 27

Estimating by Computer                                595

Estimating Software                        596

Quantity Takeoff Software                           605

Project Overhead Summary Sheets                          610

Summary                             610

Questions/Problems                      611

 

CHAPTER 28

Conceptual Estimating                   613

Conceptual Estimating                   614

Summary                             618

Questions/Problems                      618

 

Solutions to Questions And Problems                      619

Index                     655