How to make an estimate - a sample

The most important stage in the design of any building or system is the preparation of cost estimates. The estimate allows the customer and the contractor to establish the contractual value under the contract, optimally plan and analyze the entire range of construction works, allocate cash investments, and also carry out interim financial calculations.

First, decide on the method of calculating the cost of the estimate. In modern construction, the base-index method is more often used. The estimated cost of work includes three components: direct and overhead costs, planned savings. Direct costs are the sum of expenses for the purchase of materials, the operation of equipment, and the wages of workers. They are calculated by any of the chosen methods.

Overhead costs are the costs of organizing, managing and maintaining a construction site. When calculating them, take into account the applied coefficients.

Planned savings - an estimated profit that covers the costs of the company for its successful functioning. This includes the costs of improving the production base of the enterprise, developing infrastructure, paying taxes, and ensuring decent working conditions for employees. Estimated profit is also calculated taking into account existing coefficients. To calculate the estimated cost, you must decide on the type of estimated standard. In the direct preparation and calculation of estimates, take into account all types of work used, the amount of materials, time, workers and equipment involved. Ready-made programs for calculating the mass of steel, the area of ​​​​painting, the volumetric weight of building materials can be useful to you. Select the material (surface to be machined), enter the initial data and get the result. To simplify the work on the preparation of estimate documentation, there are programs - DefSmeta Free, My estimate, Lightweight estimate, Micro estimate, etc. The free Micro estimate program does not need to be downloaded. She works online. Register on the site. In the left corner, click "Make an estimate" and fill in the required fields. Indicate the type, section, name of work and area (quantity). In this program, it is possible to choose building material. The program warns about the absence of the average cost of material for each item of work at the bottom of the table. You can print the list of required materials and the finished estimate by clicking on the buttons "Print material for the estimate" and "Print estimate" respectively. Download the free DefSmeta Free program to work offline on your computer. In the start window, check the box "Show help for working with the assistant" and click the "Make a new estimate using the assistant" button. For a small amount of construction work, select the section "Determining the cost by type of work." If you have planned a large-scale construction, then click on the section “Determining the cost of work on premises”. Specify coverages (types of work). Set the amount of work to be done. Then select the type of work from the list provided. In the next window, it will be possible to adjust the scope of work by selecting related ones. Similarly, fill in all the data for the selected coatings (walls, floor, ceiling, etc.).