The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Estimating Frame And Brick Houses
Adding cost of sash as above, $10, we have a total for the cost of the conservatory exclusive of floor, roof and foundation, which was previously given, of $24.
We have now completed all we undertook to do in the way of estimating, with regard to the brick house. It must be understood that we have not made any attempt to estimate on painting, glazing, polishing, plumbing, heating or electric work, only in so far as these trades required the assistance of the carpenter, and for any work he would likely be called upon to do under his own contract we have made reasonable allowance.
In all cases when prices of materials are given they have been based on those current in the neighborhood where these estimates have been prepared and have not been given with a view to having them quoted by the estimator when making up his tender, but merely as an illustration of the manner in which he may arrive at approximately correct results.
We have gone over this building very carefully, item by item, and the intending estimator will see that the results have cost considerable labor, but not more than an estimate on any similar building would entail if the estimator had an earnest desire to obtain figures upon which he could rely. We might also state that we have found in an experience of many years that in ordinary dwellings, costing from $2,000 to $15,000, the average time required to estimate will run from two hours for each $1000 for the first $3000 down to 30 minutes per $1,000 for the more costly buildings. In other words, a building costing, say, $12,000 will require fully 12 hours' time to take out all the quantities and estimate all labor and materials required to complete the structure, and then the estimator must be fairly quick at figures and have his schedule of prices for hardware, glass and all other materials and labor ready at hand.
One of the great troubles with young and inexperienced estimators is that they will take home a set of plans and specifications, read over the latter hurriedly once, perhaps twice, take hast) measurements from the plans, also hurnedl) coi;nt windows, doors and other openings, then figure for an hour or two and make up their tenders If they get the work the) sign the contract and then commence to study the specifications more closely in order to get at their exact meaning Probably they then discover to their disadvantage that they call for more than they figured on in their tender Even the drawings show some things that haye been overlooked, so that at the very outset of the work the young contractor is handicapped. All this goes to prove that no one can be a successful contractor without he is careful at his figures, but it does not follow that all careful figurers make successful contractors. Without the care, however, the second is impossible.
