General Cost Estimation
Practical quantities, clear assumptions and the terms behind them.
ESTIMATING FIELD NOTES
How to approach general cost estimation quantities
Commercial estimating links measured quantities to unit rates, labour gangs, floor-area benchmarks and contractor overheads and margin. Keeping direct costs separate from markup or margin prevents pricing errors.
TAKEOFF CHECKLIST
- Verify whether floor-area rates use gross internal area or another defined measurement basis.
- Include employer on-costs and allowances when building up a fully burdened hourly labour rate.
- Distinguish markup on cost from gross margin on selling price when pricing tenders.
- Keep preliminaries, design contingency and tax outside trade unit rates unless stated.
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Cost Per m² / Sq Ft
Benchmark a project, or build a budget from a rate.
General Cost Estimation↗↗
Labour Cost
Hours, crew size and the cost of labour.
General Cost Estimation↗↗
Markup / Margin
Price a job without mixing up markup and margin.
General Cost Estimation