Construction Cost Estimating
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Calculated Industries 4019 Materials Estimating Calculator $25.72 The Material Estimator is designed for contractors, trades people, and estimators who need to estimate materials and costs for concrete, fences, decks, bricks, tile, flooring, gravel, painting, drywall, panelling, and more. It helps users quickly and easily calculate material costs and allowances, and get exactly the materials they need. Reducing estimating errors will same time and money. Solar/b… |
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Cost and Estimating Guide Vol. I: Practices & Procedures $160.00 PDCA’s Const and Estimating Guide Volume I: Practices and Procedures presents a step by step method for estimating the cost of painting and decorating work. This manual will present viable methods for those in the industry to accurately perform this important task…. |
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QuickBooks Premier Contractor 2012 $249.99 Financial Management – Standard Retail – CD-ROM – PC… |
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Instant Estimator $12.96 Labor and Material Cost EstimatingSoftware for Contractors and BuildersProduct InformationEstimate project costs quickly easily and accurately with Instant Estimator – an essential business resource for every successful contractor. When it comes to construction costs nobody likes surprises. Instant Estimator puts the tools you need for accurate cost projections right at your fingertips. Esti… |
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Primavera SureTrak Project Manager 3.0 $750.00 Aimed at those who won’t put up with limits in their project management software, Primavera SureTrak 3.0 provides an excellent all-around package for getting control of time, resources, and budget. With excellent built-in Web and collaborative capabilities, this is a program that can simplify any busy manager’s life. To get started, SureTrak 3.0 bundles the KickStart tool, which lets even tho… |
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Calculated Industries 4080 Construction Master Pro Trigonometric Calculator $79.95 Built-In Time Saving Functions Complete Stair calculations for Risers, Treads, Stringer Length and Incline Angle |
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RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2012 (Means Building Construction Cost Data) $104.99 RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2012 is the most used, quoted, and respected unit price guide available to the construction industry. It is the professional estimator’s first choice for reliable price data for accurate budgeting and estimating, with more than 23,000 completely updated unit price lines…. |
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RSMeans Contractor’s Pricing Guide: Residential Repair & Remodeling 2012 (Means Residential Repair & Remodeling Costs) $23.55 RSMeans Contractor Pricing Guide: Residential Repair & Remodeling Costs 2012 provides reliable construction cost information for the residential repair and remodeling contractor, featuring total unit price costs for every aspect of the most common repair and remodeling projects. In a format organized for the way you build — from frame to finish, it covers every step needed to complete each task. … |
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RSMeans Electrical Cost Data 2012 (Means Electrical Cost Data) $98.54 This is an invaluable resource for anyone involved with the installation, planning and maintenance of electrical equipment and systems, with the latest costs for accurate electrical estimating. RSMeans Electrical Cost Data 2012 contains the latest electrical components and materials, wit extensive estimating reference tables…. |
Tips to Save Swimming Pool Construction Cost
Swimming pool construction costs vary depending on the size of pool you want installed, the material used, the complexity of design, the area you live in. Here are some general tips to help you cut on construction cost.
The contract you sign with your builder can be the most important step in building a swimming pool. It should provide specific information about the pool you are going to have built.
Make sure the dealer has a CSP Certified Service Professional on staff. The National Spa & Pool Institute trains, tests and retests pool service technicians before certifying them as service professionals and designating them as CSP Certified Service Professionals.
Ask the pool builder for a list of customer references. Contact those people and ask them how they felt about the entire pool building process, before and after the sale.
Beware of any swimming pool contractor who requires a substantial down payment, or who wants high percentages of the contract paid before much work has been done.
Never pay in cash. Use checks or money orders only. As far as a down payment, never pay more than 10 percent of the estimated price, or $1,000, whichever amount is lowest. The amount a pool/spa contractor can collect before starting may be even lower in your state. Pay only when you are satisfied that each phase has been completed to your satisfaction.
Hold the final 10 percent until you have received and reviewed the contractor’s completion notice. A release of lien from each subcontractor and building supplier (You don’t want a nasty surprise when you sell your home.) An approval from the local building or safety department.
Always compare prices and services of several contractors before you begin.
Get all your bids in writing, and then compare them. Make sure the bid specifies the materials to be used, including quantity, brand, size, color, etc. Don’t forget to include the clean-up costs.
The lowest bid is not always the best. All warranties offered by the contractor for labor and materials should be in writing as well. Also, request the written warranties from all equipment manufacturers.
Ask your contractor for the latest products, and if they could be cost-effective for the future.
Additional features such as tiling, waterfalls, etc will cost extra for the contractor to provide. Ask about the costs of these extra features you require when asking for a quote.
When choosing a pool heater or lighting, make sure it works efficiently.
Split your lighting systems on larger pools to reduce unnecessary lighting and costs.
You can use a cover on your swimming pool to minimize evaporation and reduce heating costs.
Install a solar powered heating system.
Install solar lights around your pool.
Save energy and time by selecting a larger filter versus a standard filter size. A larger filter reduces backpressure buildup, which helps your pump. You also do not have to clean your filter as often, saving you valuable time.
About the Author
Sonu Shah Currently Working as marketing executive for California swimming pool builders provides detailed information on swimming pool plans.
I am thinking of building a home, could people tell me if these are good estimates for construction cost?
I am thinking of building this home http://www.houseplans.com/plan_Details.asp?id=2160 in Wisconsin. The plan costs $1,060. I did cost estimates and the total construction costs ranged from $225,000 to $275,000 (because I fiddled around with some building material and building options). Would you say this is a good estimate?
Acermill is correct, those numbers are not good. Also keep in mind that you do not get to fiddle much with materials, those are building code.
Also, put aside about 10k for an architect if you buy those plans. If the planning department requires any change, no matter how small, you need new plans, signed and stamped by an architect. You will end up with 6-7 complete plans before you are done.
Personally I think you will be better off hiring an architect in your county in the first place (building rules are by county, so you may as well hire there).
Construction Cost Estimating Software
