How to Estimate with RSMeans Data: Basic Skills for Building Construction

Dr. Saleh Mubarak, PE. holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering, with specialization in construction management. He has over a decade of experience as a structural engineer, cost estimator, field engineer, scheduler, project manager, and instructor. In 2007 he was chosen as part of the PMI team to write the new Project Scheduling certification exam. Dr. Mubarak is currently Head of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at the College of Engineering in Qatar University. He is the author of Construction Project Scheduling and Control, Third Edition, also published by Wiley. RSMeans, a division of Reed Construction Data, has been the leading publisher of construction cost data for over 60 years. The company provides products and services to more than 250,000 construction professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Chapter 1: Basic Calculations RSMeans Cost Data Format Productivity and Activity Duration Equipment Costs City Cost Indexes and Location Factors Chapter 2: Spreadsheet Types Manual Spreadsheets Electronic Spreadsheets Using RSMeans CostWorks Additional RSMeans CostWorks Features Square Foot and Cubic Foot Costs Chapter 2 Exercises Set A Chapter 2 Exercises Set B Chapter 3: Cost Estimating: An Introduction Introduction Definitions Types and Purposes of Estimates Types of Contract Award Methods Types of Contract Agreements Chapter 3 Exercises Set A Chapter 3 Exercises Set B Chapter 4: General Requirements Estimating General Requirements Project Duration Architectural and Engineering Fees Workers Compensation Insurance Builder s Risk Insurance Sales Tax Chapter 4 Exercises Set A Chapter 4 Exercises Set B Chapter 5: Adjusting RSMeans Data to Job Conditions Markups on Labor Cost Interpolation between RSMeans Items Substituting Known Local Labor Rates Overtime Productivity Loss and Extra Pay Effect of Inflation/Cost Escalation Unit Consistency RSMeans CostWorks Estimator Adding, Changing, or Deleting Costs Chapter 5 Exercises Set A Chapter 5 Exercises Set B Chapter 6: Concrete (Division 3) Types of Concrete Estimating Concrete Additional Estimating Examples Chapter 6 Exercises Set A Chapter 6 Exercises Set B Chapter 7: Masonry (Division 4) Types of Masonry Estimating and Waste Allowances Productivity Factors Quantity Takeoff Chapter 7 Exercises Set A Chapter 7 Exercises Set B Chapter 8: Metals (Division 5) Estimating Structural Steel Chapter 8 Exercises Set A Chapter 8 Exercises Set B Chapter 9: Wood and Plastics, Thermal and Moisture Protection (Divisions 6 7) Wood and Wood Products Nominal versus Real Dimensions Thermal and Moisture Control Estimating Wood-Framed Structure Using Units of Quantity Chapter 9 Exercises Set A Chapter 9 Exercises Set B Chapter 10: Doors and Windows, Interior Finish, and Equipment (Divisions 8 14) Using RSMeans Costs Division 8: Openings Division 9: Finishes Division 10: Specialties Division 11: Equipment Division 12: Furnishings Division 13: Special Construction Division 14: Conveying Equipment Chapter 10 Exercises Set A Chapter 10 Exercises Set B Chapter 11: Fire Suppression, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical (Divisions 21 28) Fire Suppression Plumbing Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Electrical Communications Electronic Safety and Security Chapter 11 Exercises Set A Chapter 12: Earthwork (Division 31) Types of Earthwork Soil Excavation Truck Capacity Excavate by Hand or Machine? Optimum Number of Trucks per Loader Equipment Rental Costs for Short or Long Periods Renting versus Owning Equipment Chapter 12 Exercises Set A Chapter 12 Exercises Set B Chapter 13: Equipment Analysis Equipment Depreciation Equipment Expenses Equipment Rental Chapter 13 Exercises Set A Chapter 13 Exercises Set B Chapter 14: Assemblies Estimating Preliminary Cost Estimating Assemblies Estimates Combining Assemblies and Unit Costs Chapter 14 Exercises Set A Chapter 14 Exercises Set B Chapter 15: Approximate Estimates RSMeans Project Costs Using RSMeans Project Costs Chapter 15 Exercises Set A Chapter 15 Exercises Set B