Handbook

Imagine you’ve selected a contractor for redesigning your apartment. Now, it’s time to sign the contract, an integral part of which is the work estimate and materials required. It’s crucial to take this step seriously. Often, apartment or house owners opt out of hiring a qualified estimator, guessing the material costs and labor charges ‘by eye’. This approach can lead to several mistakes, such as:

 

1. Misjudging Material Consumption: Not knowing the standard consumption rates can lead to insufficient or excessive use of materials.
2. Partial Knowledge of Finishing Materials: While you might have some understanding of finishing materials, there could be a lack of knowledge regarding rough materials needed.
3. Ignorance of Work Sequence and Market Prices: This can lead to being easily deceived by unscrupulous builders and delays in work.

 

To avoid falling prey to your own inexperience in home renovation, it’s advised to seek help from a professional designer or estimator, showing them the preliminary work and materials estimate.

 

This article will guide you through the principles of competently preparing a construction estimate.

 

Determining Work Volumes:

 

Initially, clarify the scope of construction and repair work, including the number of workers and specialists, and roughly estimate the material costs. Identifying work volumes in construction is labor-intensive and requires professional knowledge of numerous standards and calculation schemes. This also helps set the timelines for various tasks.

Be wary of certain tricky construction ‘moves’. For instance, a contractor might charge for clearing old screed without actually doing it or claim to perform earthworks manually while using machinery. Carefully study the proposed work volumes to prevent artificial inflation.

Estimate Compilation Methods:

 

• Labor-Intensive Method: Used by independent crews, where the master quotes a price per square or cubic meter of work, including labor and other expenses. Here, the client provides the materials. The downside is the lack of formal contracts.
• Universal Method: A common approach listing necessary work types and material expenses, including transport, depreciation, and overhead costs.
• Detailed Method: Mainly used by design organizations, this method involves a thorough allocation of minor tasks, timelines, and materials, based on current rates and often using computer programs.

 

Determining Material Costs and Consumption:

 

Material consumption for different types of construction work is calculated according to fixed norms specified in construction documentation. As prices are not regulated, they are based on general market rates. It’s advisable to research local prices to avoid potential fraud by contractors.

In conclusion, if you need to prepare an estimate for home repairs or construction, feel free to contact Olesya Blashchenko, a designer who can compile a necessary list of work volumes and estimates. She can also assist in checking the accuracy and reliability of other contractors’ estimates.