Estimate - industry standards - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

WestEndReno · 01-31-2010, 09:28 AM

I have read many posts regarding the estimate process but I am still looking for a master industry standary rate. I agree that there are many variables (location, difficult of the job, materials...) but is there a master sheet ie, painting is ??? per sqare foot, drywall is ??? per square foot.

I'm guessing that this would include ranges.

thanks,

**rselectric1** · 01-31-2010, 09:35 AM

http://www.meanscostworks.com/Promot...MCW&pCode=2000

RS Means may be what you are looking for. Can be quite complicated though. I'm sure there's a better link than this but it's a start.

KennMacMoragh · 01-31-2010, 10:12 AM

RS Means or the Craftsmen National Construction Estimator are basically the same thing. For Toronto, you would have to factor in the U.S to Canada exchange rate, and the area modification factor, Toronto prices are fairly high. But it's more accurate to call other subs in your area and ask for a square footage price over the phone if you are looking for an industry standard.

WestEndReno · 01-31-2010, 11:13 AM

True with the exchange rate, but with the dollar close to par (sorry US) the cost is not far off. I compared prices in both home depots in florida and toronto and there is very little difference. Our 13% taxes don't help.

It sounds like universal standards don't really exist which explains the extreme differences in quotes.

thank you all.

Buckknekkid · 02-02-2010, 07:37 AM

i went through a half a dozen estimating programs and webinars. Went back to excel and use hard bids and experience,, pm me if you get stuck

THINKPAINTING · 02-02-2010, 07:59 AM

Per sq ft rate will put you right into bankruptcy unless you know your own production rates, OH and all the other variables that go along with the job.

BuildersII · 02-02-2010, 09:46 AM

The only thing Means can help you with is getting an idea what averages are. Your costs are totally different. Figure out your production rates in units of Sq-ft / hr, and be sure to account for separate factors such as:

lineal feet of masking
sq feet of masking
sq ft rolled
sq ft sprayed

etc (everything that you do)

Then figure out how many hours you'll actually spend in the field making money instead of in the office planning for it.

Then figure out how much you want to make an hour.

Then figure out how much you need to pay your business expenses, (everything, profits as well and including materials unless you bill the customer directly for those per job.) Take that number and divide it by the hours you'll be working in the field. Add it to your desired hourly.

Now that you have your hourly rate, simply divide by however many units you're working on. For example, lets assume you want to make $35 an hour (whatever you think is fair since you spend a lot of unbillable time in the office) and your expenses and profit came to another $15 an hour. Lets say you can roll paint 100 sq feet an hour (for simple math purposes.)

($50/hr)/(100 sq-ft/hr) => .50 cents a square foot rolled

Word of warning: you have to take into account your individual cost factors, or you will likely lose money trying to be "competitive" by using straight means costing alone.

I always recommend the following book to people on how to figure costing:

http://www.amazon.com/Markup-Profit-.../dp/1572180714

Very helpful stuff. I wish estimating costs was easy, but it's time intensive in the beginning stages. The risk of undercharging is too great to not check yourself with hard math.

Good luck