How to Estimate with RSMeans Data: Basic Skills for Building Construction(RSMeans)

A practical, hands-on guide to real-world construction estimating How to Estimate with RSMeans Data is the only instructional book on construction cost estimating that uses the most popular source of construction cost data, RS Means. This updated fifth edition includes new coverage on the role of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the estimating process, and over 300 sample problems and exercises that show you how to apply cost data to your building project based on the RS Means 2015 Building Construction Cost Data. The companion website provides access to RS Means CostWorks data, allowing you to use real-world numbers in your practice estimates, and the included Instructor's Manual provides step-by-step solutions to problems in the book. Focused on the practical aspects of estimating, this book emphasizes the application of estimating techniques—which are transferable to any estimating software—through problem solving and the ground-up creation of complete construction project estimates. Estimating skills are fundamental to the construction industry, and are applied by all parties at all levels throughout the industry. This book is a hands-on guide to the techniques and tools used to create a thorough estimate, with plenty of opportunities for practice. Apply cost data to all aspects of the building project Practice your skills on over 300 sample problems Construct a complete estimate using RSMeans Besides being an essential construction skill, learning estimating helps you become familiar with reading and understanding construction blueprints and how construction assemblies are built. Mastery of these vital skills is important to your future career, and How to Estimate with RSMeans Data is your ideal guide to a solid foundation.

Table of Contents:
Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction xiii Chapter 1: Basic Calculations 1 RSMeans Cost Data Format 1 Productivity and Activity Duration 7 Equipment Costs 10 City Cost Indexes and Location Factors 11 Chapter 2: Spreadsheet Types 15 Manual Spreadsheets 15 Electronic Spreadsheets 17 Using RSMeans Online Estimating 19 Square Foot Estimator 22 Chapter 2 Exercises—Set A 23 Chapter 2 Exercises—Set B 24 Chapter 3: Cost Estimating: An Introduction 27 Introduction 27 Definitions 28 Types and Purposes of Estimates 30 Types of Contract Award Methods 44 Types of Contract Agreements 48 Chapter 3 Exercises—Set A 61 Chapter 3 Exercises—Set B 63 Chapter 4: General Requirements 69 Estimating General Requirements 69 Project Duration 70 Architectural and Engineering Fees 72 Workers’ Compensation Insurance 74 Builder’s Risk Insurance 76 Sales Tax 77 Chapter 4 Exercises—Set A 79 Chapter 4 Exercises—Set B 80 Chapter 5: Adjusting RSMeans Data to Job Conditions 81 Markups on Labor Cost 81 Interpolation between RSMeans Items 84 Substituting Known Local Labor Rates 87 Overtime Productivity Loss and Extra Pay 88 Effect of Inflation/Cost Escalation 91 Unit Consistency 95 Adding, Changing, or Deleting Costs 98 Chapter 5 Exercises—Set A 102 Chapter 5 Exercises—Set B 103 Chapter 6: Concrete (Division 3) 105 Types of Concrete 105 Estimating Concrete 108 Additional Estimating Examples 127 Chapter 6 Exercises—Set A 130 Chapter 6 Exercises—Set B 132 Chapter 7: Masonry (Division 4) 137 Types of Masonry 137 Estimating and Waste Allowances 138 Productivity Factors 138 Quantity Takeoff 139 Chapter 7 Exercises—Set A 146 Chapter 7 Exercises—Set B 148 Chapter 8: Metals (Division 5) 151 Estimating Structural Steel 151 Chapter 8 Exercises—Set A 162 Chapter 8 Exercises—Set B 163 Chapter 9: Wood and Plastics, Thermal and Moisture Protection (Divisions 6–7) 167 Wood and Wood Products 167 Nominal versus Real Dimensions 168 Thermal and Moisture Control 169 Estimating Wood-Framed Structures 172 Using Units of Quantity 178 Chapter 9 Exercises—Set A 180 Chapter 9 Exercises—Set B 181 Chapter 10: Doors and Windows, Interior Finish, and Equipment (Divisions 8–14) 185 Using RSMeans Costs 185 Division 8: Openings 186 Division 9: Finishes 187 Division 10: Specialties 195 Division 11: Equipment 196 Division 12: Furnishings 196 Division 13: Special Construction 197 Division 14: Conveying Equipment 197 Chapter 10 Exercises—Set A 198 Chapter 10 Exercises—Set B 199 Chapter 11: Fire Suppression, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical (Divisions 21–28) 201 Fire Suppression 202 Plumbing 203 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning 204 Electrical 207 Communications 208 Electronic Safety and Security 208 Chapter 11 Exercises—Set A 209 Chapter 12: Earthwork (Division 31) 211 Types of Earthwork 211 Soil Excavation 212 Cost Basis 215 Truck Capacity 218 Excavate by Hand or Machine? 220 Optimum Number of Trucks per Loader 222 Equipment Rental Costs for Short or Long Periods 225 Renting versus Owning Equipment 228 Chapter 12 Exercises—Set A 229 Chapter 12 Exercises—Set B 232 Chapter 13: Equipment Analysis 235 Equipment Depreciation 235 Equipment Expenses 239 Equipment Rental 244 Chapter 13 Exercises—Set A 248 Chapter 13 Exercises—Set B 250 Chapter 14: Assemblies Estimating 253 Preliminary Cost Estimating 253 Assemblies Estimates 253 Combining Assemblies and Unit Costs 256 Chapter 14 Exercises—Set A 258 Chapter 14 Exercises—Set B 259 Chapter 15: Approximate Estimates 261 RSMeans Project Costs 261 Using Online RSMeans Square Foot Estimator 263 RSMeans Project Costs 270 Chapter 15 Exercises—Set A 275 Chapter 15 Exercises—Set B 277 Appendix A: Contractor’s Cash Flow 279 Appendix B: CSI Masterformat 285 Appendix C: Sample Estimating Forms 289 Appendix D: References 297 Index 303

About the Author :
Dr. Saleh A. Mubarak, is an independent consultant in the field of construction project management. He is a former professor of civil engineering and has over 25 years of diversified and international experience in the construction industry. He is also??the author of Construction Project Scheduling and Control, Third Edition. RSMeans has been the most trusted source of construction data for over 60 years. A division of Reed Construction Data, the company serves more than 250,000 construction professionals in the U.S. and Canada.