What are the different types of Estimates on Construction Projects?

By -

When you start a construction project, you should start an estimate for the construction work,

There are several estimates that you need to be aware of as you continue with your project.

Conceptual Stage

At this conceptual stage, you should start with some schematic and preliminary drawings of your desired project.

You may meet with your Architect or an experienced Design-build Firm that can provide these drawings to you.




From there, you want to inquire about the first kind of estimates,

For home builders and small commercial projects, you may want to look at a price per square foot. This square foot price would be from the General Contractor or Construction Manager's previous projects.

Conceptual Price Estimate

Another estimate would be the conceptual price method. A builder or Architect may have historical data that conceptually shows the project. 

For Instance, I was involved in building a 25-million-gallon Water treatment plant that produced 25 million gallons of water daily. Thus, their conceptual estimate was 1 million dollars per 1 million gallons per day.



These square foot or conceptual estimates give the Owner a starting place so that he or she can set the parameters and scope of work for their project while establishing a budget for their project.

The project then moves to the Preliminary design stage. This is where the designer shows the project on your property plot plan and floor plans.

At this stage, a more accurate construction takeoff of the quantities of the components that make up the project can be established. 

From these takeoff quantities, your Construction Manager can provide an estimated cost for each quantity.

The detailed construction estimate can be compared with your budget.


  • Preliminary Estimate

.Value Engineering

The Construction Manager at this time can introduce some Value Engineering options that can be reviewed and priced up.

 These would remain options for the Owner to use if their final estimate for the project is over their intended budget for the project. 

An estimate for these Value Engineering options can be established at this time.

And finally, you will have your Architect or Design-Builder finalize the drawings showing all of the necessary design including the civil design, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing design.

At this final design, you would then have the Design-build firm or Construction Manager price up the project. The final price would be the final Estimate.

At this stage, you can incorporate any Value Engineering options that may be necessary so that you can meet your desired budget.


Shettig Construction Management provides Professional Design-Build Construction Management services from the inception of your project through completion. www.shettig.com mshettig@gmail.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

When is it good to use the Design-Build Method on Construction Projects?

By -
Image
The Design-build method on your construction project versus the traditional Design, bid, build method. Project: Huntsman Chemical Computer Building Addition, Conroe, Texas  I met Huntsman in mid-August and reviewed their completed drawings for the project.   They required that their project be complete by December 1 st . Their design showed a 44’ x 40’ painted block addition, one story along with bar joists and a structural steel deck with poured concrete and a gable steel frame roof with metal roof panels.                                  Bar joists with metal deck and poured concrete deck. METAL BAR JOISTS SCHEDULE PROBLEM Bar joists require a 10–12-week delivery after the shop drawing review. This puts the delivery in early December. Their design is a 7-month schedule project, not the 3 months that they desired. REDESIGN OF THE PROJECT TO A STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAMING I discussed with them that they would have to change the design to a structural steel beam design instead of the bar
Read more

Notices of Nonperformance to a Trade Contractor on a construction project

By -
Image
  Bridgewater College Dormitory Project Let me give you an example of an underperforming contractor from one of my past projects. I was involved in the building a $2.7 million Bridgewater Dormitory on the Campus of Bridgewater University in Bridgewater, Virginia. The Structure is 3 stories with a basement. Bridgewater Dormitory Liquidated Damage Project This was a liquidated damage clause project. The project had to be completed before the school year started in late August. Liquidated Damages clause means that if we go over the allotted time for the project then we would be charged a specific amount for each day that we were over the time limit. So,  the overall schedule of this project was very critical to the completion of the project. The critical path of this project was the construction of the exterior masonry work which included the brick and the Capstone on the top of the building. Every Trade Contractor is tied to the overall schedule of the project and the completion date.
Read more

Pre-Construction in the Design Build Method of Construction

By -
Image
The Design-Build Method is an alternative in the building of your project.  In the Design-Build method, you will start an immediate collaboration with your Design-Build consultant (DBC) The Pre-Construction activities are the first part of the Design-Build Method. The pre-construction phase starts with a Preliminary drawing or sketch that can be generated by the Design-Build consultant or the Owner. Develop Estimates and Budgets From there, you want to establish the Budget of the project from the design stage through the construction stage. The DBC team will start with square foot estimates. As more detailed drawings are completed by the  D BC, they will develop a more detailed construction estimate.   Incorporate Value Engineering into your  project. At this point, the DBC will develop some Value engineering suggestions and Options for the building. The Value Engineering suggestions would look at alternate materials, methods, and components in the design that can add value and reduce
Read more