Question

You are planning a sizeable shed/outbuilding construction for your property to store your seasonal tools and toys. You are going to do some of the work yourself to save money, but you only have so much time and skill to commit to the project so you know you will have to hire tradesmen for some of the tasks. You need to complete an estimate for the project for planning purposes. What options might you follow (short answer) to get your first estimate? Having moved forward with the project you are now estimating in detail, for the following tasks on your WBS, estimate in detail using unit costs along with quantities of materials and labour:

a. Framing;
b. Install electrical; and
c. Install garage style door.

Having completed your estimate for each, refine your solution using a 3-point estimate process to better refine your solution.

Where/how did you get your source data? What other sources might you use?

Answer 1

To estimate the cost for construction tasks, calculate unit costs and quantities, then refine with a 3-point estimate process using data from different sources like hardware stores, tradesmen, and online resources.

Step-by-step explanation:

To get a first estimate for constructing a shed or outbuilding, one might consider three main steps: calculating unit costs, estimating quantities, and conducting a 3-point estimate process. For the framing (a), electrical installation (b), and garage door installation (c), one would need to identify unit costs for materials like lumber and nails, types of labor involved, and possible time frames.

For example, when you need nails for framing, you can estimate the total weight required based on the number of nails per pound. Additionally, you can estimate the lengths and quantities of framing materials by considering standard sizes or by using a flexible tape measure for irregular measurements. To estimate electrical installation, you would calculate the number of outlets, switches, and the length of wiring needed, alongside the labor hours for an electrician. For a garage door, you'd factor in the cost of the door itself and the labor to install it.

The 3-point estimate process involves calculating an optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely scenario to refine your estimates. Source data could come from previous personal projects, standard construction guidelines, consultations with tradesmen, or hardware store pricing. Alternatives for source data include online construction forums, DIY guides, and professional estimate software.