Engineer's Estimates
Engineer's Estimates
(OP)
I'm been trying to develop a library of costs for engineer's estimates, however I'm constantly calculating numbers from scratch. It takes time to think about how many hours and call on material prices. Does anyone know of a resource for cost estimates? I'd like to go to a source and look up how much it costs per acre to clear and grub, install pipe, grade land, etc.





RE: Engineer's Estimates
http://rsmeans.reedconstructiondata.com/
If you are trying to do it on the cheap, you can make your own searchable system with the excel spreadsheet and the access database programs.
RE: Engineer's Estimates
htt
I use get-a-quote quite often and have found it easier to use than rsmeans. I use the free online version. As always I compare my results/lookups to known/historic costs to confirm or verify the results. Also if you are in the United States, many State DOT's have databases containing historic unit costs. I know that Arizona has an online website. We also request bid tabs from previous projects from our government clients.
RE: Engineer's Estimates
An opinion is just that...an opinion. Yours might not match someone elses...so what. It doesn't create unnecessary liability.
RE: Engineer's Estimates
htt
the ADOT site is below (it's not easy to find)
http://wwwa.azdot.gov/e2c2/HistoricalPrice.aspx
note that construction bid prices vary depending on the method of contracting, scope of work and the owner as well as the region and particular project. They may only be useful as a general indicator of the price (therefore call it an opinion)
RE: Engineer's Estimates
I saw this in a pretty lengthy book put together for a local engineer. Seems like good advice. The word "estimate" apparently has legal baggage attached to it.
Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com
RE: Engineer's Estimates
RE: Engineer's Estimates
Many DOT's also publish their bid letting results, down to the unit price per pay item. I use MoDOT and IDOT results quite often. Obviously use good judgement, contracts of similar order of magnitudewith related work items, from the same county / region, ...
RS Means is good resource because it gives you an idea of the crew and equipment required for the job. While the DOT average might be say $500/acre for seeding, you won't get that on a 1/2 acre site. I usually pencil in a one day minimum for any any crew.
RE: Engineer's Estimates
WSDOT Unit Bid Analysis (Washington) give great Historic Data of average winning bids per line items for any range of months. You have to look at the WSDOT standard specs to see what is all inclusive in the price, but it can be easier than piecing every thing together from Means, especially installing underground pipe.
RE: Engineer's Estimates