How to Build a Foundation from Start to Finish

This exclusive video tutorial is presented by ProvenHelper. Our footage of a home addition project where we documented each step of the Foundation Work.

Things you will see in this video include: explanation of a crawl space foundation, foundation pinning, anchor bolts from foundation to framing, explanation of foundation footings (footers), explanation of various foundation processes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published By
Rajib Dey
www.quantity-takeoff.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to estimate the cost of Material

Material Pricing

The price of the materials is calculated in two different methods:-

Lump Sum: It is a process to supply all the Materials in a group. As for instance a steel supplier may propose to provide all of the structural steel, steel Joists and roof deck for an approved price.

Unit Price: It is a system provided by the supplier to supply the materials at a price per unit.

A ready mix concrete supplier may recommend to deliver 3000 psi concrete to the project for a price of RM 110 per cubic yard.

Quantity TakeOff 

It is a procedure to find out the required construction quantities. It can be segregated into:-

• Forecasting of the quantities of work
• Working out of the prices related to those Quantities

Quantity TakeOff Procedures 

Classification of work item- for instance : Brick wall section or concrete footing.

Estimation of quantity varying from linear, area, volume and unit.

After calculating the material take-off, estimator can gather brief knowledge on the actual field procedure. Concrete take-off will commence from volume for footings, grade beams, slabs and slabs for ground floor etc.

Generally quantity quantity take-off is performed by the application of forms. In order to regulate the worksheets, provide accurately allocated areas in which proper information is to be submitted facilitating follow-up for smooth evaluation.

Pricing Materials  

It is a system for allocating a RM value for a work item following a projected specification and prearranged A process quantity needed.

• After completion of quantifying of materials, the calculation of cost of materials should be started.
• The pricing of each work item should consist of the individual subcomponents:-
• Procurement of permanent and temporary materials
• Labor needed for setting up the materials
• Equipment necessary for shifting and installing materials
• Other consumables, eg. Fuel and tools

Material Costs

In general, the amount of purchase = the unit price, which is recognized as quantity discount.

Freight cost should be taken into consideration and included in the direct cost of the materials. This is very important if the site location is very distant from nearby suppliers.

Other concerns for material procurement:

• Quantity discount
• Interest rate
• Escalation
• Holding cost
• Credit facility
• Allowance for method of measurement of the bill item

Material Pricing basis   

• Published resources - Building Cost Indices
• Company Cost records - an in-house record of accurate documenting and compiling company cost from earlier jobs
• Vendor catalogues and quotations - prices are acquired directly from vendors from catalogues or indirect inquiries
• While Upon assembling prices from vendor, the following points must be taken into consideration:
• Payment requirements - cash, credit, credit term
• Delivery charges
• Lead time, product availability
• Price guarantee
• Quantity discount information
• Price rise clause

  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Arka Roy

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Plexxis Software launches the beta version of Electronic Price Agreement (EPA) for construction estimators

Plexxis Software introduces the Electronic Price Agreement (EPA) intended for the Drywall ERP estimating, digital takeoff, construction management software, and mobile app solution. It is still in beta stage. The estimator can apply it for getting the most updated material pricing for bids efficiently and precisely.

The application comes up with some intuitive features like filtering, sorting, automatic quantity conversion and material code matching standard. Another exclusive feature is the EPA Unit Of Measure Intelligence (UOMi) that aids estimators to forward a request concerning material pricing in the units of measure they prefer. As for instance lineal feet or number of screws. The supplier will also able to provide pricing in their favorite units of measure like sheets or box of screws. The UOMi will provide huge benefits to both estimators and suppliers by converting as well as updating pricing easily and smoothly.

Plexxis is also planning to include some exclusive features like Bid Protection, Search & Suggest, Code Match etc.

Bid Protection will allow estimators to alter quantities a little or merge quantities from several bids with the intension of avoiding third parties from finding out projects that are being bid on.

Search & Suggest feature helps suppliers to go with the same database search features like estimators and acquire the rapid item searches and the calculation of special offers outside of the estimators requests.

With Code Match the estimators can automatically matches their material codes with the codes utilized by the supplier. As a result both can immediately analysis items as required by them.

EPA beta testing is planned for 4 months. After that all Plexxis customers can utilize it for their work. To avail the demonstration of the product, wall and ceiling contractors can make contact with Plexxis. For getting more updates about the product visit the Plexxis website.

  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Arka Roy

www.qunatity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Improve your project management and estimating skills with newly launched cloud based estimating & project management applications

Now-a-days various construction companies utilize high-tech mobile gadgets to handle their estimating and project management data in the cloud. Several new cloud based applications are emerging in the market to make the construction processes easy and uncomplicated.

Of late, Calif based Corecon Technologies Inc., www.corecon.com, launched Corecon Mobile for Apple’s iPhone and iPad. This latest application was designed to be applied with Corecon V7, a web based estimating, project management, and job-cost suite of construction software.
 

The Corecon Mobile application contains all of the tools included in the present version. Besides, it comes with superior functionality and an advanced user interface that is well matched with Apple’s iPhone or iPad capabilities.

The iOS platform has been totally redesigned and customized for construction site functions. The field associates will be able to snap development photos, revise checklist and punchlist items as well as import contacts from mobile gadgets straightway. Apple’s speech-to-text is also utilized with this newest application to copy out voice dictation into written or printed form if it becomes difficult to use text.

All of Corecon’s products are tied with a shared platform and this feature facilitates the field stuff to log daily as well as enter timecards directly in the iPhone/iPad application to be shown in Corecon V7 instantly.

So the mobile based application facilitates the project team members to grab a superior level of realtime project management by the application of smartphone and tablet appliances.

  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Arka Roy

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Monitor and Control Excel Sheet for General Contractor

The must have Excel sheet for every Planning Engineer, Project Manager, Construction Manager, and whoever is involved in monitoring and controlling projects.

I created this Excel sheet from my best practices working as Planning Manager during my 11 years experiences. Do the scheduling in Primavera, and the Reporting, Monitoring, and Controlling in Excel.

Purchase The Excel sheet from the following link:www.planningengineer.net

Watch the following videos for more information about monitoring and controlling excel sheet:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Publsihed By

Arka Roy

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Perform Multi-Component Estimates inside One Framework through PRICE TruePlanning

PRICE TruePlanning™ is a cost estimating framework useful for estimating, business management, engineering & program management. It aids in minimizing the time and experience necessary to perform convincing, data-driven parametric estimating required at all stages of an organization ranging from executive, financial, and project/program estimating and management.

It performs as the only cost estimating supporting structure that can incorporate numerous cost models along with hardware, software, IT, assembly, and program management costs inside the same estimate. The PRICE TruePlanning framework develops the importance of numerous PRICE® Cost Models, facilitating estimators to be benefitted with quicker, more insightful, more consistent parametric estimating.

PRICE TruePlanning also allows clarifying the value of project cost histories in the parametric estimating procedure (by PRICE® TrueFindings™) and providing supports to combine dynamic Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Cost Element Structure (CES) mapping (through PRICE® TrueMapper™).

 PRICE TruePlanning comes with great features and benefits that will help to create estimates as per your detailed requirements and preferences. Besides, TruePlanning cost estimating applies "discrete numerical values" for leading cost drivers, associated with historical data, to produce for more authentic calibration than competitive alternatives.

TruePlanning contains the following exclusive features:-

• Generate estimates instantly and it helps users to make 30-60% savings in cost and cycle time.

• Make analysis of alternatives (AoAs) easy, by contrasting the impacts of multiple variables.

• Provide a basis for program maintenance activities throughout the prolonged period, for a superior life cycle cost estimating.

• A product breakdown structure for System of Systems (SOS) estimating combining several components under one framework, involving parent-child file relationships that maintain all systems, subsystems, components, and processes inside a single file hierarchy.

• The capacity to relate and view product breakdown structures, cost drivers and outputs in a solitary screen view simplifies the capacity to calculate design tradeoffs across diversified project variables.

• Supplementary program attributes make flexibility in arranging, scrutinizing, and handling cost estimating data and procedures for better insight along with search and mass-edit, year-by-year and total-life-cycle-cost viewing, capability to evaluate views across numerous projects over time, and endless charting combinations to assure exceptional reporting requirements.

• TruePlanning also comes with a wide array of Companion Applications that facilitate users to create custom applications and bring them into the TruePlanning estimation engine and cost models. These consist of an Activity Mapper, an Excel Solution bi-directional interface, Parametric Data Forms, a Sensitivity Analyzer, @Risk Integration, and Crystal Ball Integration.

  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Arka Roy

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LATISTA for Construction Management

Latista Technologies Inc recently launched LATISTA, an all-inclusive application in construction quality and field management.

It is well versed iPad and users will be able to admittance, view and mark up project documents online or offline.

The users can apply it for Issues, QA/QC, Punchlist, Safety and Documents. It is a protected, cloud-based, web and mobile software that offers a effective solution to field management.

How Latista can help you :-

• Become updated in the field with the most current project team data 
• Recover your time by marking up electronic documents in the field 
• Minimize errors by documenting problems and inspections electronically 
• Remain on schedule by applying mechanized notifications and workflows 
• Manage contractors in superior way providing management reports and alerts 
• Generate audit-able documentation to minimize risks

FREE DOWNLOAD

Published By

Rajib Dey

Content Writer

www.quantity-takeoff.com (A well known project estimating company)