Introduction To Estimating, Plan Reading And Construction Techniques

INTRODUCTION TO ESTIMATING, PLAN READING AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

Gary Anglin

Preference :

Estimating should be learned with equal measures of plan reading and construction techniques. All three of these subjects are better understood by reviewing plans, lots of them. This book has hundreds of drawings, plus sketches to explain construction techniques. There is a good reason that the industry uses the term “interpretation” instead of plan reading, and the best way to learn this subject is to see a great many examples. Construction techniques, which here is assumed to mean “how to build”, is explained for these projects. Estimators use a two-step process to price a construction project. The first one, describing and quantifying labor and materials, is called “taking off ” the work, a reference to collecting or quantifying the information from the plans. This involves measuring, adding, and multiplying various units of measure – lengths, widths, heights – and working left to right on a “takeoff ”. The result in the right-hand column is the appropriate unit of measure needed for pricing (cubic yards of concrete, linear feet of wood baseboard). Only these ending quantities are forwarded to Step 2, the pricing sheets, or estimate. The quantities found in Step 1 are sent to an “estimate”, the pricing sheet, where labor cost and material costs are figured for them. A portion of the pricing estimate, a quantity column, is devoted to receipt of the quantities just figured on the takeoff. Of course, individual costs for concrete footings or wood baseboard would not be counted on a takeoff and priced on an estimate unless these individual costs are needed. If subcontractors are doing this work, the estimator does not need to count them. They do need to be counted, however, if either the work is being done in-house or an estimator is preparing a budget for an owner and perhaps does not have a subcontractor involved in pricing at the time. Three trades that require a lot of takeoff arithmetic include concrete, masonry, and carpentry. This book contains dozens of case studies for them that all end with a takeoff. A unique takeoff format (column arrangement) for each trade is used, which provides a head start for the student. This structure focuses attention on the important metrics that must be determined from the plans. The use of formatted takeoffs greatly helps with the organization of a great many numbers and prevents some of the confusion that a lot of data collecting presents.