Principles of Trade Estimating

This much acclaimed textbook; used for many years by the author to teach the subject, was written in an easy-to-read, conversational manner providing an "insider's insight" into the highly complex and secretive world of sub-contractor (a.k.a. "trade") construction cost estimating. Written from his personal experience over many years in the New York City construction industry, Mr. Syken unravels the art and science of trade estimating from a generic perspective that is practical and easily understood by all concerned.
Until now, trade estimating was the poorer relation to "general construction" cost estimating with the focus of most educational material on the latter. Typically, the literature for trade estimating was/is "trade specific" meaning it focused on just one of the many construction trades exclusively (i.e. electrical, plumbing, carpentry etc.).
From his extensive experience teaching the subject, the author paints the subject with a broad brush making the "principles" applicable to any/all construction trades. Until the introduction of this textbook, there was no way to understand trade estimating except by the "learning by doing" method. For the first time the novice, tradesman and/or even the experienced estimator can learn before doing what trade estimating is all about.
Unlike general construction estimating which is more abstract and emphasizes the all-inclusive unit price, trade estimating cannot take this "shotgun" approach. By necessity, trade estimating must take a "rifled" approach and hit the target every time since a trade estimator is only as good as his/her last estimate.
The reader will learn about the process of trade estimating in the logical, concise method followed by professional trade estimators including;
* ethical and professional standards;
* the role/attributes of a trade estimator;
* the bidding process;
* the work environment;
* tools of the trade;
* creating a reference library;
* rules of the game;
* standard abbreviations, terminology and symbols;
* contract requirements;
* drawings and specifications;
* defining the scope of work;
* unit and alternate pricing;
* revisions and addenda;
* reviewing/recording the drawings and specifications;
* familiarization/indexing;
* referencing techniques;
* schematics;
* where to start?;
* the quantity survey;
* formatting the survey sheets;
* summations;
* the concept of a rough and finish quantity survey;
* units of measure/scaling the drawings;
* color coding techniques;
* sketching techniques;
* Q&A/note-taking;
* reading between the lines;
* long-lead considerations;
* conversion/waste factors;
* cost analysis/factors;
* cost differentials;
* establishing labor production rates;
* establishing/applying overhead and profit;
* the "spread-sheet method" for establishing unit/lump-sum prices;
* allowances;
* value engineering;
* formal proposals;
* proposal specifications;
* negotiations;
* making mistakes;
* war stories;
* the PC and trade estimating;
* lessons learned
Contrary to popular belief, the construction process does not begin the day the governor "turns the sod" with a gold-plated shovel. In reality, it started long before when the estimators started to review the bid documents contributing their knowledge and expertise to discovering errors and omissions, cost-savings ideas etc. In particular, it's when the trade estimator/s begin to look at a construction project that these things and "true" costs are revealed. In this way - particularly in the world of "fast-track" construction, trade estimators play a significant role in influencing the final design and bringing projects in on time and on/under budget.
Considered "The Bridge" between the two-dimensional world of a conceptual architectural/engineering design and the three-dimensional world of actual construction, trade estimating; when properly understood and practiced, provides the keystone for the entire construction industry. This book makes that very clear.