Estimating building costs for the residential and light commercial construction professional
Second edition
by WaynE j. DEL PiCo

Estimating building costs for the residential and light commercial construction professional: Estimating has taken on a new significance in today’s competitive construction marketplace.

If you consider new technology, the size in both scope and dollar amounts of today’s construction projects, and the creative delivery systems employed by today’s construction professionals, estimating is perhaps the most important function of the successful construction company.

From the time a construction project is proposed, and throughout its life, the estimate provides information that is critical to its success.

If you are a student of construction or pursuing a career as a construction professional, you understand the need to create, organize, format, and deliver an estimate for use in budgeting for a project, developing a plan or detailed schedule, and managing the project.

The estimate is essential to the execution of all work and for maintaining project control.

The key to producing an accurate estimate lies in the organization of the information that will be used to determine the amount of material, labor, and equipment required for the project.

Based on this information, the estimator can apply prices, contingencies, and then profit.

The estimating process does not end here.

Once the project is awarded and the work begins, the original estimate will be revisited over and over again.

Estimating building costs for the residential and light commercial construction professional will be reviewed, referred to, praised, criticized, second-guessed, and, yes, even cursed as the project progresses.

And in the end, it will be put to the final test of profitable or not.