Take-off/estimating - what do you use.
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Hmmm, I had a look around for Quantity Surveyor forums, but I couldn't find any. It sounds like a QS would be the ideal person to ask about this subject (actually maybe not- this software could put them out of a job!).
Jackson
Jackson
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here are a few that I use or send to people...
I would never bid from one of these and would not use it for real cost estimating. I don't think anything can replace the human experience module.
http://www.building-cost.net/ this one has to be done correctly to work well. but it uses real data from all over the country. you have to spot check the results to ensure nothing funny gets through.
http://www.contractors.com/h/info/resources.html this is a list of small estimators.
I use a excel spread sheet that I made way back when, and then input my square footages, volumes, linear measuremtns and such after setting it up with local cost.
I'd love to see what you came up with Bruce.
Krisidious
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Modelhead, I use Envisioneer for modeling, working drawings, and take-off estimates. It uses RS Means data, have a look, http://www.rsmeans.com. However as Kris said, nothing beats human experience and input, it took me a long time to tweak by adjusting labor costs that were acceptable for my area, also inputting material costs for the actual materials that I would be using, and these both need adjusting constantly.
Mike
alpro
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Hi Modelhead
Any news on a beta program? I would be interested in testing.
Tim -
are the actual material costs going to be entered manually or is there some sort of central database that you can tie into?
for me, the biggest headache for producing estimates is getting the local material prices (i work all over the country and occasional, outside of the u.s.).. material costs vary by thousands of dollars depending on the region..
if it's up to the user to keep the database up to date, i don't really seeing this as much of an advantage unless they're generally dealing with a small variety of materials to be bought in the same region of the country..the easiest way for me to deal with this is to fax/email my material packages out to suppliers in the area i'm going to be working in.. i usually get the quotes back on the same day and when i'm ready to buy, the companies already have the orders..
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Modelhead
I am very interested in this too. Take-off is a significant issue for me at the moment as I am doing lots of small but fast turnaround jobs.
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Thanks modelhead, sounds very good.
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Modelhead,
Add me to the list of interested parties. Most of our work right now is decks,stairs, fencing, outdoor kitchens, exterior structures(garages, pole barns, pergolas and such)joe
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You know what you're really doing here, m.h.? You're adding some BIM functionality to SketchUp. That's a really big deal.
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Hi all, I am also a builder and I have spent time working out the best way to get take offs for estimating purposes. I would be interested in try out the beta version as I may be able to give you some good feed back and learn a thing or two.
Below is what I use to estimate, you all may be well past this point but I will throw in where I am up to. Please dont hessitate to leave comments if you can see a better way.
I have been building component assemblies of as many job items as I can e.g a door requires 1 Jamb, 2 hinges (internal), 1 lock, 1 latch, 2 lengths of architrave, & labour to be fitted. I make all of these items a component then I make 1 componet out of the lot.This allows me to add a componet which has a break down in the outlinner. From here i've got onto a fantastic Ruby called component reporter.rb made by TIG. This ruby exports all of the components to excel in a klist form. Here the information can quiet easily be exported to quickbooks or any database that imports from excel (although i am yet to do it as I need to format the spreed sheet correctly). As you would all know the above component reporter is not a be all and end all solution. Estimating requires square meter or square feet measurements when estimating bricks, concrete, roof coverings, dry wall and the like. I have been estimating them by assigning a colour, hatching or material to the item required. I then select the material required, right click and select area > material and write in the quantity in my spread sheet. I am sure that there would be a ruby to do this its just I am not up to that yet.
I can see that sketchup and rubies have the capabilities to do these jobs, it just a mater of us getting the information in the correct spots. When this happens this will reduce our estimating time by more than half and should reduce the likely hood of missing items when quoting. I also think that if a job sequence number was added to the items & components we could also set out shedules. -
modelhead you can count me in on the beta. Estimating withing SU would be beneficial.
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