Project Plans, Specifications, and Estimating
Core concepts
This domain rewards disciplined reading. Know the order of precedence in contract documents (usually the agreement, then addenda, then specifications, then drawings - but verify the contract's stated order). Understand CSI MasterFormat divisions, general vs. supplementary conditions, and addenda as pre-bid clarifications.
Estimating concepts: quantity takeoff, unit pricing, labor productivity, crew rates, overhead and profit, contingency, and escalation. Know the difference between direct and indirect costs, and between lump sum and unit price contracts. Bid questions often hinge on scope gaps - who furnishes and installs what.
Traps to watch
- Reading drawings without checking specifications and addenda - the spec often governs.
- Missing general conditions costs (supervision, temporary facilities, bonds).
- Forgetting sales tax, permits, and prevailing wage where applicable.
- Confusing allowance (estimating placeholder) with contingency (risk reserve).
- Assuming a drawing dimension overrides a written dimension - check the stated precedence.
Rule of thumb
Build the estimate in layers: quantities → labor → equipment → materials → indirect → markup. If any layer is missing, the bid is incomplete, not conservative.
Worked example
A takeoff shows 500 LF of wall at 4 hours per 100 LF. Labor hours = 500 ÷ 100 × 4 = 20 hours. At a loaded crew rate of $85/hour, labor cost = $1,700. Add material, equipment, indirect costs, and markup - not just material plus a percentage.