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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
FEATURES IN THIS BOOK
The construction estimating information in this book is divided into two
main sections: Costbook Pages and Man-Hour Tables. Each section is
organized according to the 16 divisions of the MASTERFORMAT as shown on
the previous pages. In addition, there are extensive Supporting
Construction Reference tables, Geographic Costs Modifiers, Square Foot
tables and a detailed Index.
Sample pages with graphic explanations are included before the Costbook
pages and ManHour tables. These explanations, along with the discussions
below, will provide a good understanding of what is included in this book
and how it can best be used in construction estimating.
Material Costs
The material costs used in this book represent national averages
for prices that a contractor would expect to pay plus an allowance for
freight (if applicable), handling and storage. These costs reflect neither
the lowest or highest prices, but rather a typical average cost over time.
Periodic fluctuations in availability and in certain commodities (e.g.
copper, lumber) can significantly affect local material pricing. In the
final estimating and bidding stages of a project when the highest degree
of accuracy is required, it is best to check local, current prices.
Labor Costs
Labor costs include the basic wage, plus commonly applicable
taxes, insurance and markups for overhead and profit. The labor rates used
here to develop the costs are typical average prevailing wage rates. Rates
for different trades are used where appropriate for each type of work.
Taxes and insurance which are most often applied to labor rates include
employer-paid Social Security/Medicare taxes (FICA), Worker's Compensation
insurance, state and federal unemployment taxes, and business insurance.
Fixed government rates as well as average allowances are included in the
labor costs.
However, most of these items vary significantly from state to state and
within states. For more specific data, local agencies and sources should
be consulted.
Equipment Costs
Costs for various types and pieces of equipment are included in
Division I - General Requirements and can be included in an estimate when
required either as a total "Equipment" category or with specific
appropriate trades. Costs for equipment are included when appropriate in
the installation costs in the Costbook pages.
Overhead And Profit
Included in the labor costs are allowances for overhead and profit
for the contractor/employer whose workers are performing the specific
tasks. No cost allowances or fees are included for management of
subcontractors by the general contractor or construction manager. These
costs, where appropriate, must be added to the costs as listed in the
book.
The allowance for overhead is included to account for office overhead, the
contractors' typical costs of doing business. These costs normally include
in-house office staff salaries and benefits, office rent and operating
expenses, professional fees, vehicle costs and other operating costs which
are not directly applicable to specific jobs. It should be noted for this
book that office overhead as included should be distinguished from project
overhead, the General Requirements (CSI Division I) which are specific to
particular projects. Project overhead should be included on an item by
item basis for each job.
Depending on the trade, an allowance of 10-15 percent is incorporated into
the labor/installation costs to account for typical profit of the
installing contractor. See Division 1, General Requirements, for a more
detailed review of typical profit allowances.
Adjustments to Costs
The costs as presented in this book attempt to represent national
averages. Costs, however, vary among regions, states and even between
adjacent localities.
In order to more closely approximate the probable costs for specific
locations throughout the U.S., a table of Geographic Cost Modifiers is
provided. These adjustment factors are used to modify costs obtained from
this book to help account for regional variations of construction costs.
Whenever local current costs are known, whether material or equipment
prices or labor rates, they should be used if more accuracy is required.
Man-Hour Tables
The man-hour data used to develop the labor costs are listed in
the second main section of this book, the "Man-Hour Tables". These
productivities represent typical installation labor for thousands of
construction items. The data takes into account all activities involved in
normal construction under commonly experienced working conditions such as
site movement, material handling, start-up, etc. As with the Costbook
pages, these items are listed according to the CSI MASTERFORMAT.
Square Foot Tables
Included as an additional reference are Square Foot Tables which
list hundreds of actual projects for dozens of building types, each with
associated building size and total square foot building cost. This data
provides an overview of construction costs by building type. These costs
are for actual projects. The variations within similar building types may
be due, among other factors, to size, location, quality and specified
components, material and processes. Depending upon all such factors,
specific building costs can vary significantly and may not necessarily
fall within the range of costs as presented.
Editor's Note: The Sweets 2008 Cost Guides are intended to
provide accurate, reliable, average costs and typical productivities for
thousands of common construction components. The data is developed and
compiled from various industry sources, including government,
manufacturers, suppliers and working professionals. The intent of the
information is to provide assistance and guidelines to construction
professionals in estimating. The user should be aware that local
conditions, material and labor availability and cost variations, economic
considerations, weather, local codes and regulations, etc., all affect the
actual cost of construction. These and other such factors must be
considered and incorporated into any and all construction estimates.
©2007 BY BNi Publications Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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