Estimating Books, Software, Construction Costs, New Home Prices

Calculated Industries Scale Master II Estimator Basic Construction Cost Estimating RS Means Residential Cost Data 2005 Square Foot Costs, Assemblies Costs and Unit Costs with Location Factors to adjust material and labor costs to U.S. zip codes and selected locations in Canada Interior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors 2005 National Home Improvement Estimator Current labor and material prices for home improvement projects. 2005 Repair & Remodeling Cost Data 2005 National Building Cost Manual RS Means Building Construction Cost Data 2005 RS Means Square Foot Costs 2005 Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide 2005 CD Estimator Software for residential, commercial and industrial construction estimates. Dodge Unit Cost Guide 2001 Estimating Excavation RS Means Site Work & Landscape Cost Data 2003

One of the questions most often asked by our visitors is:

Well, the short answer is "normally between 45 and 150 dollars per square foot, with the average between $70 and $90". However, it is simply not realistic to expect anyone to be able to provide a narrowly defined dollar estimate to build or remodel any house without first knowing much more about the project in question.

Houses with basements typically cost more per square foot than those built on a concrete slab. Two story homes generally cost less per square foot than ranchers (because the roof assembly, which usually costs more than a second floor assembly, can cover twice as many square feet). When the square footage of a large garage is factored into the cost of a home the average square foot costs will be reduced. While a grand foyer, a two story open space, or ceilings that are taller than normal increase the volume of a house, which increases the overall price of that home. Hardwood floors, luxury marble baths, gourmet kitchens with built-in refrigerators and granite countertops all cost more per square foot than unfinished basements or garages, wall-to-wall carpeting, fiberglass tub surrounds, vinyl flooring, and post-formed laminate kitchen counters. Brick veneer costs more than vinyl siding and contractors generally receive more compensation to perform their work when there is a large demand for their services.

Then, there is the issue of how square footage is actually measured. Are all interested parties using the same criteria? Is the basement or garage included in the numbers? What about closets, pantry areas, staircases, decks or covered porches? Are square foot measurements determined using exterior dimensions, interior dimensions, heated floor space, and/or actual living space?

To complicate matters more, are the land costs factored into the construction costs? What about clearing, grading, driveways, walkways, well or water service, septic or sewer service, phone, electric, gas, final grading, seeding, landscaping......

Simply put, in order to develop an accurate construction estimate for your particular project, you must first decide exactly where and what you are building, develop a complete list of materials, and bid all of the major phases of construction with local contractors. Of course, this could be the ultimate "Catch 22" because before you can decide what and where you can afford to build, you need to know how much it will cost. Such is the nature of the beast, but here are a few books that might help.

Basic Estimating for Construction (Second Edition)
- by James A. S. Fatzinger
This manual guides readers through a material quantity survey, the conversion of the material quantities to a monetary value, & the addition of labor and equipment costs, using actual construction plans as a reference. Assuming no prior knowledge of blueprint reading and mathematics.

Means Estimating Handbook (Second Edition) - by John Chiang (Editor), John Ferguson (Editor), Joe Macaluso (Editor), Mel Mossman (Editor), William D. Mahoney, RS Means Engineering

Estimating in Building Construction
- by Frank R. Dagostino, Leslie Feigenbaum
This well-established text continues to provide construction, architecture, & engineering students with the solid foundation in theory they need before advancing to computerized estimating. Extensive examples & exercises are included to demonstrate estimate methodology & organization.

Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide
- by Michael C. Stone
Written by a contractor for contractors, this book provides very sound business advise for many who are considering starting various types of small businesses.

RS Means Residential Cost Data 2005: Square Foot Costs, Systems Cost, Unit Costs - by Howard M. Chandler (Editor) - Includes location factors to adjust material and labor costs to more than 930 U.S. zip codes and selected locations in Canada

2005 National Building Cost Manual (29th Ed) - by Dave Ogershok (Editor), Craftsman Book Company

2005 National Construction Estimator - by Dave Ogershok & Richard Pray, Craftsman Book Company (53rd Edition - Book & CD-ROM)

2005 National Repair and Remodeling Estimator - by Albert S. Paxton, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD-ROM)

2005 National Electrical Estimator - by Edward J. Tyler, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD ROM)

2005 National Painting Cost Estimator - by Dennis D. Gleason, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD ROM)

2005 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator - by James A. Thomson (Book & CD ROM)

2005 National Renovation & Insurance, Repair Estimator - by Jonathan Russell, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD ROM)

2005 CD Estimator - by Craftsman Book Company
Note: This is not a book. It is a software program that includes six estimating costbooks for the year 2004, 40 estimating & bidding forms, 85,000 construction costs for new construction, and a 70-minute interactive video that teaches you how to use this CD-ROM to estimate construction costs.

• National Construction Estimator - Residential, industrial, and commercial new construction
• National Repair & Remodeling Estimator - Remove and replace costs for residences
• National Electrical Estimator - Electrical work in residential, industrial and commercial buildings
• National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator - Plumbing, heating, ventilating & air conditioning
• National Painting Cost Estimator - Painting, wallcovering and surface preparation costs
• National Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator - Costs for adjusting casualty losses

Square Foot Costs 2005 (26th Edition) - by R. S. Means, Barbara Balboni (Editor)

Means Contractor's Pricing Guide: Residential Detailed Costs 2002 - by R. S. Means

Building Construction Cost Data, 2005 (63rd Edition) - by R. S. Means

Building Construction Cost Data, 2001 (59th Edition - Looseleaf Binder) - by R. S. Means

Mechanical Cost Data 2005 (28th Edition) - by R. S. Means, Melville J. Mossman (Editor)

Electrical Cost Data 2005 (28th Edition) - by R. S. Means, by John H. Chiang (Editor)

Plumbing Cost Data 2005 (28th Edition) - by R. S. Means, by Melville J. Missman (Editor)

Interior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors Exterior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors

Exterior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors (9th Edition)
- by R. S. Means Company
A practical pricing guide for homeowners and contractors. Find out how much you should pay for your location for the 64 most popular remodeling and repair projects. All projects are illustrated, and include material costs, labor hours, and total project costs.

Interior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors (9th Edition)
- by R. S. Means Company
This guide gives the estimated costs of numerous common home repair projects, breaking them down item-by-item including labor costs. This helps avoid "sticker shock" when pricing home improvements and reveals areas where costs can be scaled back.

Historic Preservation: Project Planning & Estimating
- by R. S. Means Company
An essential reference for architects, contractors, owners, facility managers, developers, city planners, anyone involved in preserving or rehabilitating historic structures. This unique publication combines expert construction cost estimating with project planning & management guidance from some of the best known authorities in historic preservation. Sets forth the special requirements of historic building projects and shows how to estimate and control their costs.

Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book, 26th Edition
- by Frank R. Walker Co.
A guide to estimating material & labor costs, the Walker Building Estimator's Reference Book is renowned for the depth of detail & description contained in its 1,728 pages, providing the user a reference that is unique among books relating to estimating.

F.R. Walker's Remodeling Reference Book: A Guide for Accurate Remodeling Cost Estimates for Construction Professionals and Homeowners
- by Frank R. Walker Co.
Comphrensive guide to estimating remodeling jobs from the construction industry's leading publisher since 1915. Approaches remodeling estimates step by step, figuring the labor costs to remove old installations; figuring the amount of material needed for new installations; and estimating the labor costs to complete such installations.

Carpentry Estimating - by W. P. Jackson

Contractors Pricing Guide: Residential Square Foot Costs 2005 - by Robert W. Mewis

Contractor's Pricing Guide: Residential Detailed Costs 2005 - by Robert W. Mewis

Dodge Unit Cost Guide 2001 (Book & CD) - CD-ROM includes downloadable cost calculator plus Timberline Precision Estimating Basic trial version.

Estimating Tables for Home Building - by Paul I. Thomas

Estimating With Microsoft Excel: Unlocking the Power for Home Builders - by Jay Christofferson

Excel 2003 Formulas - by John Walkenbach (Book & CD ROM)

Estimating Excavation - by Deryl Burch

RS Means Site Work and Landscape Cost Data 2005 - by Eugene R. Spencer

RS Means Heavy Construction Cost Data 2005 - by Barbara Balboni

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