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| AC & E Support
Services 3203 Lighting St. Suite 114 Santa Maria, CA 93455 Phone: (805)349-0049 Fax: (805)349-0089
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| The Eight Most Frequently Ask Questions About A C & E Support Services Estimates |
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A C & E Support Services
provide Construction Cost Analysis Services to the end user that reflect our
best estimate of the potential construction cost of any given project. The end
user can be assured that the final estimated cost outcome is the result of our
independent analysis of material quantities and their associated labor costs,
using the information provided to us by the Design Architects and Consulting Engineers Typically we have a draft estimate review meeting with the Design Architects to clarify
Engineering and Design details before submitting the estimate to the end user. The draft
estimate will then be adjusted to reflect those clarifications. The Independent Cost Estimate that we provide to the end user, is our best estimate, and
is not influenced by the Architect / Designer or any other entity that may desire a particular
projected cost outcome.
We have developed our own proprietary software
to generate the estimates. We purchase cost data from Saylor Publication Inc. We then convert
LSI's data into our database system and adjust the material and labor costs data in our system
to reflect current trends and market conditions There are many factors that influence the cost adjustments that we make to the source data, for
example: fuel and transportation cost; availability and cost of commodities such as steel, cement,
forest products; increases in subcontractor labor costs; the location of the project; and most
importantly, feed back from completed projects.
Our goal is to be within 7% of the lowest bid
and 5% of the highest bid for a given project, with a total spread of about 12%. There are situations where unforeseen market conditions, such as availability of materials, labor,
and energy costs severely impact the actual cost of construction. An example of this would be the impact of a natural disaster on the supply of construction materials or an increase in oil costs that impact the cost of asphalt. The time line of a project can impact the final cost of a project. For example, our estimate predicts that a project will start at a particular date and be completed within a certain period of time. Any changes in the projected time frame will have an impact on the final cost of a project vs. our estimate. Return to Top
The Project design decisions are made by the
needs and wants of the end user. The end user needs to establish a realistic budget early in the
design process and monitor the potential cost impact as the project design development process moves forward. The utilization of the cost information that is provided to the Architect / Designer and end user will
produce a more cost effective project within an established budget In order to avoid an expensive redesign of the project, it is desirable to establish the cost feasibility factor early in the project design process. The Architect / Designer and end user can make adjustments to the scope of the project without incurring unecessary redesign costs. Return to Top
The Conceptual Estimate Several project options may be under consideration to meet the end user's requirements. The line items (i.e.: Cost Centers) are developed by us, from the Architect / Designer input and from the material quantities and their associated costs. These line items are developed from "similar use" project estimates that are in our existing library. The purpose of the Conceptual Estimate is to provide probable cost data to establish which design concept may be the most feasible. The Conceptual Estimate or estimates should be viewed as comparative estimates, although it is possible to establish a realistic project budget based on the Conceptual Design Estimates. The Schematic Estimate The schematic estimates are usually developed from more refined elevations, floor plans, site plans, and written inputs from the Architect / Designer. The project at this stage of the process is more clearly defined than at the Conceptual Design Stage. The purpose of a Schematic Design Estimate is to set a project budget and provide a cost base line for the Design Development and Construction document estimates. The Design Development Estimate The Architect / Designer and the end user can use the cost data to make educated cost benefit decisions. The design development estimate also tracks the cost of both design changes and design refinements from the Schematic Design phase. The Construction Document Estimate Final adjustments such as bid alternate's and construction time lines can be established and applied to the bid documents. The Pre Bid Estimate
No not necessarily. Each project is different. The more complex the project the more decisions that have to be made by the Architect / Designer
and the end user. On less complex projects such as custom residential construction, the Conceptual and Schematic design
phases are often combined. The end user usually has an established not to exceed budget. A Schematic Estimate provides the Architect / Designer and the end user a realistic budget to work with. Modifications to the project scope can be made by the Architect / Designer and the end user before Design Development & Construction Documents are fully developed. Typically residential project estimates combine the Construction Document Estimate and Pre Bid Estimate so that the
end user can obtain construction financing and compare the competing contractors' bid proposals, before signing the construction
contract.
Our estimates utilize the CSI Coding system (Construction Institute Standards). The system is divided into 16 categories or divisions. The 16 divisions consist of the following:
Within each division there are a number of subcategory cost items with a numeric code and definition for each work item. The item coding is linked to the material cost of that item and the man-hours that are required to install that item. The Estimated Labor costs are determined by the average labor cost of the associated Sub Contractor Trade, multiplied
by the man-hour requirement. Note: In A C & E's proprietary System there are 25 Sub Contractor Specialties (per California Contractors License Board Classifications) Return to Top
General Conditions are the indirect costs of constructing a project; they include costs that are not directly associated with the physical construction. For Example:
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