Название: Commercial Steel Estimating
Автор: Kerri Olsen
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Отраслевые издания
isbn: 9780831190378
isbn:
Materials
Materials will be the total cost of steel on the job. This cost should be the actual purchase amount of the steel that is needed to build the project, including waste. Material purchases will be based on available lengths from either the warehouse or the mill.
Material suppliers often have steel reference guides they provide for their customers to use. These reference guides provide specific data including material weights and stock lengths, designed to assist their customers with making a purchase.
Hardware
The hardware slot is where you enter all your bolts, nuts, and washers. Having this category itemized at the bid stage makes budgeting easier after you get the job; you will already be aware of how much of your budget is for hardware without having to go back and break that out.
For the hardware line item, we generally consider bolts for the steel fabricator’s work only. Therefore, we include here anchor bolts for columns and embeds, steel-to-steel bolts for columns to beams, and beam-to-beam connections.
Buyouts
Buyouts can include grating, expanded metals, and railing brackets—anything that is necessary to complete the fabrication of the project. Some companies may require further breakdown of these items individually. If so, just make another line item for each one.
Large buyouts, like steel grating or heavy plate cutting, may be listed separately, including the weight of the item. This breakout will make it easier for other departments to see the applied budget. Supportive notes regarding lead time in scheduling and the timing of the financial commitments are helpful.
Paint
Because many shops do their own prime painting, it is good to have the cost of paint materials broken out for budgeting. This category is where you enter your estimated paint material cost. The company may also require costs for expendables associated with the paint, like cleaners, filters, or small tools (e.g., grinding wheels). Such expendable costs might be reduced to an average percentage for amortization purposes; this percentage would then be added to the actual cost of the paint.
Paint Labor
Structural and miscellaneous steels are generally prime painted unless shown as fireproofed or galvanized. Some shops do their own prime and finish painting; others ship the steel to a shop that will paint for them. This category is the place to enter either the labor hours to paint the coating or the cost of a supplier to perform that service. If painting is outsourced, costs may also have to be added at the line item for shipping and handling.
Galvanizing
Galvanizing is a buyout item that is often utilized for steel fabrications that will be exposed to extreme weather or caustic conditions. These items are broken out by weight, plus the additional (average) 10% weight factor for the galvanizing itself in order to get accurate pricing. Some shops consider galvanizing and some don’t. Be certain. Ask if the 10% (or other factor) needs to be added to the base weight to verify that the correct pricing is being generated.
Galvanizing pricing is particular to the types of fabrications requiring galvanizing; therefore, a galvanizing shop will need to be contacted to get this information. A list of items needing to be galvanized, along with the weight and size for them, will need to be compiled to obtain a correct price. It is a good idea to compile and send this information to the galvanizer as early as possible prior to bid date, allowing them enough time to price it accurately.
The line item for galvanizing provides an alert to the budget. It points out scheduling and financial concerns that other departments will have regarding the items to be galvanized. Remember to consider the handling and shipping costs involved as well so they may be added at the proper line item.
Handling
Some shops use this line item as a way to identify the “extra” labor hours it takes to work through a job; others do not. For example, some especially large fabrications may need special staging or moving around during fabrication. The time required for these activities may not be actual fabrication labor; this category is where those hours would go.
Shipping
Some shops ship their own steel, and some shops hire trucks. Depending on the size of your project, even if you ship your own steel, the project may warrant outsourcing. If so, call your selected trucking outfit or two and get a price.
To give you a reliable price that matches your needs, trucking contractors will need to know the weight, the destination, and approximate ship date. Advice about any oversize or overweight items will need to be provided. See Chapter 12 for more information on shipping.
After estimators calculate the individual category totals, these prices are entered into their respective line items. The result will produce a total cost for the fabrication project. From here, the extensions for pricing markups will be added. The items in this presentation may be manipulated to accommodate the client’s format, but the basics outlined in this chapter will remain a constant. Table 2.2 shows a completed sample.
Table 2.2 Completed Bid Summary
This pricing breakdown will keep you from any omissions while preparing the final number. This list of basic components identifies the typical bid categories. Further explanation regarding their use and significance has been provided. As steel estimators work to compile all the costs associated with most projects, line items may be added for special purchases that don’t fall into these categories.
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Steel estimators must produce bid letters that properly convey the work proposed and the conditions by which the intended work is to be performed. The bid letter (or scope letter) to the customer should identify:
1.A complete list of items that are to be included and excluded as the condition of the pricing
2.A list of qualifications that indicates compliance with the project documents
3.The specific payment terms and conditions