This best-selling reference for landscape contractors, designers, and facilities maintenance personnel – now updated in its fifth edition – features the latest design trends and technologies. Includes: Step-by-step explanation of the estimating process – including full sample estimate for a major landscape project – updated with current costs and the new MasterFormat classification system. Expanded and revised to address the latest materials and methods, including new coverage on approaches to green building that save water, reduce maintenance costs, and provide other benefits to the facility. Sample forms and worksheets that save you time and prevent errors, now available on a new companion website. Download the forms of your choice and customize them for your firm. Professional guidance on calculating and controlling equipment costs – whether purchased or rented – and how to apply them correctly to each job. Assistance in planning and identifying maintenance costs. Your best source for professional guidance on accurate landscape estimates and reliable bids. FEATURES: Includes a companion website with the book's forms and worksheets to download and customize. Features new coverage of the latest industry trends, materials, and methods to save water and reduce maintenance costs.

Answers all your questions about preparing competitive landscape construction estimates...Means Landscape Estimating is a thorough, easy-reading, organized working tool that talks you through every step of preparing effective bids and estimates in a minimum of time -plus guidance for planning jobs and marketing your company.Written by an award-winning landscape designer and contractor, this edition of Means Landscape Estimating features an updated sample estimate, new productivity information, and reproducible forms. It includes a chapter on how to use Means Site Work & Landscape Cost Data as a pricing resource.

This easy-to-read text provides professional methods for estimating and bidding landscaping projects and grounds maintenance contracts. The handbook gives tips on best techniques for saving money and winning jobs--plus sample forms and worksheets to save time and avoid errors.

A Complete Resource for Residential and Light Commercial Contractors -- based on the latest construction materials and methods. Learn how to: read and interpret building plans create an accurate takeoff, using a complete set of working drawings. Each chapter covers a major construction division, such as concrete, masonry and carpentry -- and uses plans, details and tables to illustrate plan reading and takeoff procedures. A checklist for each material division helps ensure that nothing is left out of your takeoff. Includes a complete set of residential plans from Home Planners, Inc., the nation's leading provider of home plans. With a detailed material takeoff, from site work to electrical. With over 160 illustrations, including commercial construction details.

Offers coverage of each important step in engineering cost control process, from project justification to life-cycle costs. The book describes cost control systems and shows how to apply the principles of value engineering. It explains estimating methodology and the estimation of engineering, engineering equipment, and construction and labour costs

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own landscaping business? Have you been hesitant to put your plans into action? This comprehensive guide contains all the necessary tools and strategies you need to successfully launch and grow your business. Using a friendly, entertaining approach, Owen E. Dell shares his experiences and down-to-earth advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based landscaping business. He shows you how to purchase the right tools, estimate start-up costs, price services, and stay profitable once in business. From painless recordkeeping to cost-efficient management techniques, Dell’s step-by-step methods are practical, innovative, and easy to understand. Special features and workbook pages include: - Business Plan Worksheet - Material and Labor Records - Cost Worksheets - Tips on social media, SEO, and making the Internet work for you - Profit-and-Loss Worksheet