ESTIMATING IN

CONSTRUCTION
Building projects don’t
come assigned with
prices. Rather, it’s the
job of a construction
estimator to compile a
list of things such as
materials, cost etc to
determine the
estimated cost of a
construction project.
The things to consider
when estimating includes
1.Project Design and Scope
2.Quantity Take-Offs
3.Material Unit Costs
4.Waste Allowance
5.Labor Costs:
6.Seasonal variations

7.Contingency Planning
8.Preliminaries, overhead $
profit
 1. Project Design and
Scope

The first thing to consider is

the project design and scope.
The design and scope of the
project will determine the
type and amount of materials
required. It is important to
have the drawings and
project specifications,
including the dimensions and
materials to be used
 2.Quantity Take-Offs

A quantity take-off is an
essential process of
estimating in construction. It
involves taking
measurements of the
project's dimensions and
using them to calculate the
required quantity of
materials
 3.Material Unit Cost

The cost of construction

materials varies depending
on the location, the supplier,
and the quality of the
materials. Research the unit
cost of each material in the
area where the construction
is taking place.
 4.Waste Allowance

Consider the possibility of

waste when estimating in
construction. Construction
projects often generate
waste, and it is essential to
include a waste allowance in
your estimate to account for
this.
 5.Labor Costs

This involves determining the

number of workers, getting
their hourly rate, overtime
cost, benefit and taxes,
productivity and efficiency,
sub contractors cost,
equipment cost
 6.Seasonal Variation

The price and availability of

construction materials can
vary depending on the
season. Some materials may
be more expensive or harder
to obtain during certain times
of the year
 7.Contingency Planning
It is important to include a
contingency plan in your
estimate. This will help cover
unexpected costs or delays
that may occur during the
construction process.
8.Preliminaries, overhead $
profit (profit margin)
Estimating these in construction
can be more challenging due to
the variability and complexity of
some projects. Overall, it is
important to carefully analyze all
costs associated with a project
and the overall business
operations. Sometimes, these
three are usally arrived at in
percentages and will be duly
valued during valuation and Profit
can be negotiated as well.