Builder's Essentials: Estimating Building Costs for the Residential & Light Commercial Contractor

This book provides a detailed look at every construction specialty and explains all the components, takeoff units, and labor needed for well-organized, complete estimates.

This book gives you a step-by-step process for putting a bid together in an organized fashion, enabling you to remain competitive and make a worthwhile profit. Get details on components, take-off units, and labor hours – for site work, concrete and masonry, framing, roofing, siding, and finish work -- plus HVAC, plumbing and electrical, and special construction. 400+ pp.

Follow the methods in this book and you'll create well-organized, complete estimates by:

• Correctly interpreting plans and specifications.
  
• Developing accurate and complete labor and material costs.
  
• Understanding direct and indirect overhead costs... and accounting for time-sensitive costs.
  
• Using historical cost data to generate new project budgets.