construction estimating software

[William Fidell]

Frank Cox wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:36:47 -0500
> Robert L Cochran <cochranb at speakeasy.net> wrote:
> 
>> But as another poster mentioned here, you need to consider the timing.
>> In house construction timing is a very important factor in controlling
>> costs. From the excavator to the roofer, you need to plan and time the
>> work of a large number of specialists plus usually a crew of laborers. I
>> don't know what to suggest these days.
> 
> It's my understanding that he's mostly interested in a materials list, though I
> could be wrong.  The way that he explained it to me, he wants to be able to
> design and draw his house, then get a list of "582 2x4's, 96 bales of
> insulation, 250 sheets of plywood" and so on.
> 

Having trained and worked in civil engineering I can say that I can't 
remember anyone ever using any but a spreadsheet. Usually split into 
logical sections (eg phase 1, phase 2 or roads, drainage) and 4 columns 
(description / spec, number of units, price per unit, total price). 
Grand totals stuck in whenever needed.

You can add man hours and plant hire to this easily because the unit can 
be a number, hour or day, or fixed price.

W