How to Estimate with RSMeans Data

Using North America's most recognized construction cost data from RSMeans, this step-by-step guide develops problem-solving skills through over 300 sample problems and exercises. All of the major construction items, including site work, concrete and masonry, wood and metal framing, doors and windows, and more are covered. Access to a password-protected web site is included, which contains the instruction version of RSMeans Cos/Works, the electronic version of RS Means Building Construction Cost Data, and sample building plans and spreadsheets, enabling you to practice creating a complete construction estimate.

Using North America's most recognized construction cost data from RSMeans, this step-by-step guide develops problem-solving skills through over 300 sample problems and exercises. All of the major construction items, including site work, concrete and masonry, wood and metal framing, doors and windows, and more are covered. Access to a password-protected web site is included, which contains the instruction version of RSMeans Cos/Works, the electronic version of RS Means Building Construction Cost Data, and sample building plans and spreadsheets, enabling you to practice creating a complete construction estimate.

Acknowledgments ixIntroduction xiUsing RSMeans CostWorks Instructional VersionCD-ROM xvA Cautionary Note: Numerical Rounding and MathematicalJudgment xxiChapter 1: Basic Calculations 1RSMeans Cost Data Format 1Productivity and Activity Duration 6Equipment Costs 9City Cost Indexes and Location Factors 10Chapter 2: Spreadsheet Types 13Manual Spreadsheets 13Electronic Spreadsheets 14Using RSMeans CostWorks 17Additional RSMeans CostWorks Features 19Square Foot and Cubic Foot Costs 19Chapter 3: Cost Estimating: An Introduction 23Introduction 23Definitions 24Types and Purposes of Estimates 26Types of Contract Award Methods 36Types of Contract Agreements 39Chapter 4: General Requirements 51Estimating General Requirements 51Project Duration 51Architectural and Engineering Fees 54Workers' Compensation Insurance 56Builder's Risk Insurance 58Sales Tax 58Chapter 5: Adjusting RSMeans Data to Job Conditions63Markups on Labor Cost 63Interpolation between RSMeans Items 65Substituting Known Local Labor Rates 68Overtime Productivity Loss and Extra Pay 69Effect of Inflation/Cost Escalation 71Unit Consistency 74RSMeans CostWorks Estimator 75Adding, Changing, or Deleting Costs 79Chapter 6: Concrete (Division 3) 85Types of Concrete 85Estimating Concrete 87Additional Estimating Examples 105Chapter 7: Masonry (Division 4) 117Types of Masonry 117Estimating and Waste Allowances 117Productivity Factors 118Quantity Takeoff 119Chapter 8: Metals (Division 5) 131Estimating Structural Steel 131Chapter 9: Wood and Plastics, Thermal and Moisture Protection(Divisions 6-7) 147Wood and Wood Products 147Nominal versus Real Dimensions 148Thermal and Moisture Control 149Estimating Wood-Framed Structure 152Using Units of Quantity 158Chapter 10: Doors and Windows, Interior Finish, and Equipment(Divisions 8-14) 165Using RSMeans Costs 165Division 8: Openings 166Division 9: Finishes 167Division 10: Specialties 173Division 11: Equipment 174Division 12: Furnishings 174Division 13: Special Construction 174Division 14: Conveying Equipment 175Chapter 11: Fire Suppression, Plumbing, Mechanical, andElectrical (Divisions 21-28) 179Fire Suppression 180Plumbing 181Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning 182Electrical 185Communications 186Electronic Safety and Security 186Chapter 12: Earthwork (Division 31) 189Types of Earthwork 189Soil Excavation 190Truck Capacity 195Excavate by Hand or Machine? 196Optimum Number of Trucks per Loader 199Equipment Rental Costs for Short or Long Periods 202Renting versus Owning Equipment 205Chapter 13: Equipment Analysis 213Equipment Depreciation 213Equipment Expenses 217Equipment Rental 222Chapter 14: Assemblies Estimating 231Preliminary Cost Estimating 231Assemblies Estimates 231Combining Assemblies and Unit Costs 234Chapter 15: Approximate Estimates 237RSMeans Project Costs 238Using RSMeans Project Costs 239AppendixAppendix A: Answers for Exercises 249Appendix B: Contractor's Cash Flow 259Appendix C: CSI Masterformat 265Appendix D: Sample Estimating Forms 267Appendix E: References 275Index 281