"Includes free estimating software download"--Cover.

Current building costs for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Estimated prices for every common building material, the labor cost to install the material and a total installed cost. For those jobs where you can't rely on your past experience to estimate, rely on the prices in this national standard of construction costs to get you safely in the ballpark.

This manual shows you, in simple, easy -to-understand language, how to calculate the amount of dirt you'll have to move, the cost of owning and operating the machines you'll do it with, and finally, how to assign bid prices to each part of the job. Using clear, detailed illustrations and examples, the author makes it easy to follow and duplicate his system. The book ends with a complete sample estimate, from the take-off to completing the bid sheet.Included in this book: -- How to set up & use an organized & logical estimating system -- How to read plans & specs -- Why a site visit is mandatory -- How to assess accessibility & job difficulty -- How soil haracteristics can affect your estimate -- The best ways to evaluate subsurface conditions -- Figuring your overhead -- How to get the information you need from contour maps -- When you have to undercut -- Dealing with irregular regions and odd areas -- Factors for estimating swell and shrinkage -- Balancing the job: spoil & borrow -- Calculating machine owning & operating costs -- The two common methods of estimating earthwork quantities

Square-foot costs for residential, commercial, industrial, military, schools, greenhouses, manufactured homes, fire stations, libraries, churches, government offices and farm buildings. Includes important variables that can make any building unique from a cost standpoint. A smart resource for adjusters and appraisers using the cost approach.

How to succeed in the construction business step-by-step guidelines for estimating To be competitive, contractors and homebuilders need to know how to generate complete, accurate estimates for labor and material costs. This book guides readers through the entire estimating process, explaining in detail how to put together a reliable estimate that can be used not only for budgeting, but also for developing a schedule, managing a project, dealing with contingencies, and ultimately making a profit. Completely revised and updated to reflect the new CSI MasterFormat 2010TM system, the Second Edition of this practical guide describes estimating techniques for each building system and how to apply them according to the latest industry standards. Cost considerations and quantity takeoff and pricing are included for virtually every type of work found in residential and light commercial projects, from demolition, concrete, and masonry to windows and doors, siding, roofing, mechanical and electrical systems, finish work, and site construction. Complete with many new graphics and references to professional construction cost databases, the new edition provides experienced contractors and novices alike with essential information on: How to correctly interpret plans and specifications, reflecting updates to contract documents since the first edition Computer estimating techniques and new estimating software for performing quantity takeoff The best methods for conceptual estimating as well as the extremely useful topic of parametric estimating How to allocate the right amounts for profit and contingencies, and other hard-to-find professional guidance How a unit price estimate is built along with labor issues and budgeting for subcontractor work