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News and Announcements
CPR International, Inc. Issues ConcreteCOST Estimator for Excel Version 3.0. Update includes new reporting functionality and improved custom cost data format. Also includes data updates and Bill of Material report. ConcreteCOST Estimator Version 3.0 features new functions, features, user interface and concrete construction cost data updates for 2008. New Bill of Material report for material ordering. Several other improvements are implemented. More>> *** CPR International, Inc. Issues GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel Version 6.0 update for year 2008. Update includes new reporting functionality and improved custom cost data format. Also includes data updates and Bill of Material report. GeneralCOST Estimator Version 6.0 features new functions, features, user interface and cost data updates for 2008. New Bill of Material report for material ordering. Several other improvements are implemented. *** CPR International, Inc. Issues PaintCOST Estimator for Excel Version 7.0 update for year 2008. Update includes new reporting functionality and improved custom cost data format. Also includes a new report and data updates. PaintCOST Estimator Version 7.0 enhances all reporting functions as well as adding Material and Labor breakdown for custom cost data. Several other improvements are implemented. Cost data is updated for year 2008. Visual Estimator Selected by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to be listed in their Prestigious Industry Recognized Software Library. A very limited selection of software is evaluated and listed in this library to act as industry-standard cost estimating guide for the construction industry. We are proud to announce Visual Estimator, our flagship cost estimating product, has been selected as an outstanding cost estimating solution. Five Common-Sense Rules of Successful Estimating 1. A good estimate must start with a complete understanding of scope of work followed by an accurate quantity takeoff. It's all too easy to miss out identifying items of work in the project. This may be due to absolutely mundane reasons such as missing drawings, details or specs. It could be due to a misinterpretation of the scope based on an ambiguous statement or comment. Or, it could be due to a more serious reason such as lack of experience in conceptualizing the work to be performed in the field. 2. Understand your resources and their cost to you – material suppliers, labor force, subcontractors, construction equipment, indirect costs, management. Easier said than done, this requires a thorough analysis of costs. A cost engineer may very well team up with the comptroller, accountant, field superintendent, project manager, purchasing manager. Even outside labor consultants may be hired to reach cost data to be incorporated in estimates. Remember, such data is not static, but changing in time and periodic review and update is a must. 3. Evaluate your strength and weakness and establish comparative advantage This is where the upper echelons of management should participate extensively. Typically, they have the background experience not just within the company but with other companies and industries vis-à-vis competition. Once the main parameters are established, the middle management in collaboration within departments may detail out the analysis and attach workable numbers. These, in turn, become the ammunition of choice for the estimating department so that they can come up with an estimate that is not only sufficiently low but also profitable for the company. 4. Determine appropriate Overhead and Profit rates In order to achieve optimal overhead and profit applications, item 3 above has to be completed so that risk factors are established and evaluated. Considering the general description of profit as being the return for taking a risk, it’s essential that it has to be a calculated risk. To arrive at these figures, not only the company cost structure and records must be thoroughly analyzed but also competition must be evaluated. In general, it is not recommended to trim bid figures from overhead and profit since they represent the long term viability of an ongoing business concern. 5. Use sound estimator’s judgement and keep an open mind and ear When preparing a bid level estimate, care must be taken to identify not only labor and material cost items shown on the plans, but also labor and cost items that may not be reflected on the plans. This is where good estimating and estimator’s judgement comes into play. It’s allright to consult a project manager, an engineer, a field superintendent and even a simple workman. A few new ideas here and a few there may mean understanding the project better and trimming estimating costs which may in turn mean a winning and profitable bid as opposed to a disappointing loss.
Happy Estimating! **** Success or failure? It’s a fine line by Levent Sert Here’s an age-old question. Why are some businesses successful and thrive whereas others are not and fade away? Construction contracting business, perhaps more than any other, is a sandbox where this dichotomy is so painfully played out. Many millions are made and many are squandered. Let’s look into the few factors that make up the difference between success and failure. Perhaps the most important that comes to mind is a desire to succeed. Fire in the belly if you want to call it. It’s the fuel that drives the contracting business. It makes the individual to run out and work tirelessly to garner business. More than many other industries, in construction, this is so essential, in part because there is a considerable time lag between the cost estimating phase and the final billing. In between, there are ups and downs that have to be weathered with gumption and desire to succeed. Then there is the issue of industry knowledge and experience. Not that it is absolutely necessary but certainly a big plus. Sure, a construction contractor or builder, with the right mix of other factors, can in fact learn on the job. There are examples of such enterprising all around us, but more times than not, knowledge and experience will guide an individual to do the right thing and choose the right track and tools for success. Which brings us to the third and perhaps the most essential factor. That is, to make the right decisions in making technology work for you. Part of that is to choose the right tools of success and utilize these effectively. Choose the right cost estimating software and you are ready to step into the big league. Choose the wrong one, you have overpaid or been bogged down with endless training. Without a good, solid start, no construction contract will have a chance of survival and profits will be a faded delusion.
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Moisture out of control in your bathroom is bad Moisture in your bathroom is an everyday occurrence, but controlling it around your shower, bath tub, and sink is mandatory. The shower is the major source of water in your bathroom. The shower head is the normal first line of thought. You should also consider the steam from taking a shower should also be considered. The steam causes the dampness to linger long after you are out of your bath. The first thing that you can do is install a fan to exhaust some of the steam out. Usually directly over the shower stall is best, but some bathroom architecture does not allow for that. Close to the stall will work almost as well. A good check is watch the steam as someone is taking a shower to see the best place to place the fan. Another precaution to take is if there are any cracks in the showers surround. There usually nothing wrong with the structure. Just the structure contracting and expanding with the season. Just fill them in with some caulk. Paint the surround with some waterproof paint or sealant. Check for similar cracks around your sink and toilet. Make sure that you check the subflooring around the drain. If you can get under the subfloor and look at the underside of the subflooring to see if there is any evidence of water drainage. This is a common problem around the toilet when the wax ring fails. The biggest thing to pay attention to is if there is any water of any kind is getting to any wood. Check if there is any wood rot from prolonged exposure and fix it. After that stop any water getting to bare, unprotected wood.
Denton is the president of greathomeimprovements.com and a consultant for Department of Energy's Building America Division for the last 6 years. He is responsible for all the content and marketing for www.greathomeimprovements.com **** Is There Asbestos In Your Floor? A couple of years ago, I went to replace a vinyl floor in a basement level bathroom of my house. As I lifted up the old flooring I found the mastic was white with a fibrous look to it. Because my house was built over 20 years ago, I was concerned that I might have uncovered a source of asbestos in my home and just exposed myself to a risk of mesothelioma cancer. I stopped my project and did some further research. Prior to the 1970's many types of building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos. I used to watch my father, a private contractor, and I remember him using asbestos insulation for a heating pipe inside a wall. That was a long time ago, but the research I've done shows that this stuff is still very much with us as it is often more harmful to have it removed than to simply leave it alone. I found a local agency that does asbestos testing and gave them a call. I was told that usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material alone, if it is in good condition. This is because material that is more or less "stable" will not release asbestos fibers which means you don't have a significant expose risk. In this situation the risk is actually greater if you try to remove it. Asbestos isn't like radioactive material and isn't going to harm you just sitting there. You need to breathe in the fibers to be at risk. However, if the asbestos material shows signs of wear or damage which includes tearing, abrasion, or water damage. Or if it is exposed to abrasion, extreme vibration or air flow you should have it repaired or removed by a professional as it may be "ejecting" fibers into the air. So there I am with a half torn up vinyl floor and the worry that I have just very much disturbed so-called asbestos material. Oops. My choices were now to have this tested, and if it did have asbestos fibers I would need it removed and possibly have my house decontaminated as well. If material on the EPA's "Sample List of Suspect Asbestos-Containing Materials Exit Ecology" was manufactured with asbestos in the past, it is safe to assume that it contains asbestos. In this case, I had no idea. I wasn't certain when these materials were manufactured and had no way to find out. Unless testing, the date of manufacture, the label, or the manufacturer verifies that the material is asbestos free, the material may be presumed to have asbestos and treated as though it contained asbestos without being tested or surveyed. It turns out there are many asbestos testing and Abatement Contractors. Some are listed locally in the Yellow Pages and many others can be found online. I called someone and we discussed all of the information I could find on my house. I had my floor tested and it turned out to be fine. I didn't need to have any asbestos removal or decontamination. Perhaps I was a little paranoid, but I've seen the effects of mesothelioma and I would just as soon not wait 30 to 50 years before finding out that something that I thought wasn't exposure actually was. If you live in a new home, you should nothing to worry about but many people live in fine older homes that were construction, repaired and renovated during times when asbestos-based materials were commonly used. A bit of testing if you think there's a possible risk is far less expensive that what could be in store further down the road. **** Moderate growth to this market in the first quarter 2006, as evidenced by the NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI), adds encouragement. The RMI, which measures remodelor perceptions of market demand for current and future residential remodeling projects, show current conditions index increased from 46.6 to 48.1 and future expectations went from 47.5 to 48.9. Dave Seiders, chief economist with the NAHB, says the accelerated home market experienced throughout the past few years is fueling a strong remodeling market. As market demand has slowed a bit for new housing Seiders believes a spike in remodeling activity isn’t uncommon as remodeling associated with purchasing a home “usually lags behind.” According to the RMI, the Baby Boomer generation (aged 46-64) accounted for the majority of remodeling work, with 91% of remodelors providing service to this demographic. **** How To Read A Construction Contract At some point or another in your life, you will want to construct something, be it a small shed or a treehouse all the way up to your very own custom built home. Many construction companies are required for larger projects and the contracts they can throw at you seem like they're written in latin. This article will help you to make sense of construction contracts. 1.Construction contract Home construction projects usually require signed contracts.A construction contract will not only protect the contractor, but it will also protect you. In today's day and age it is critical that a contract is signed for almost any undertaking. Contracts can help to solve numerous disputes. 2. Comprehending construction contracts Without legal knowledge, reading your first construction contract can be a challenge.But the good thing about most of these contracts it that they are written so that the buyer can understand them. Even though there may be some terminology that you are not familiar with, you should not have too difficult of a time deciphering a construction contract. 3. Prices and hidden fees The first thing that most people check for is the price. There is nothing wrong with this, but make sure that you do not get caught up on this area. Simply make sure that the price is what you agreed to, and that there are no hidden fees included. If there is something that you do not understand on the pricing portion, make sure that you ask. It is better to get all of the details up front, than to end up with a large bill in the end that you did not expect. 4. Completion dates It is important to comprehend completion dates in contracts. If the construction contract that you are given does not outline this, ask for a revision. By signing a construction contract that does not specify a completion date, you will be leaving yourself open for a big problem. Often times, one of the biggest problems that people have during a construction project is the length of time that they take. When you have a construction contract that says when the job has to be completed, you will be able to put your mind to rest. Numerous people have regretted not sorting out completion dates.
Thinking of a house remodel? Here are a few ideas that will focus on remodeling as investment. Increasing your house's value. This will happen when you make upgrades to your existing space and not just fixing it up. Most upgrades will increase the value of a house. However, the size of the increase may depend on the size of the upgrade. In most cases, remodeling can give you a pretty good uplift in value, but beware! The increase in value is not automatic and depends on what you do and how you do it. Average figures as experienced by remodelers are:
The examples above provide considerable returns when it comes to selling your house. But, don’t forget the benefit of living in a much nicer and comfortable space until you sell. How much is that worth? **** *** For Immediate Release ***
CPR International, Inc. Announces Release of ConcreteCOST Estimator™ for Excel Version 2.0 LA GRANGE, IL – May 1, 2007 - CPR International, Inc. a provider of productivity software for construction since 1986, today announced ConcreteCOST Estimator™ for Excel, a significant update within CPR’s family of cost estimating productivity tools for the MS Excel platform. ConcreteCOST Estimator is designed for concrete contractors, builders, remodelers and cost estimators. With built-in modifiable concrete construction unit cost data indexed for local areas, it has the simplicity, speed and accuracy that construction professionals need to achieve bidding success while functioning within the familiar yet powerful MS Excel environment. Once again, CPR International, Inc. has reviewed and implemented many features suggested by its expanding user base. ConcreteCOST Estimator Version 2.0 features several new and enhanced functionality such as:
ConcreteCOST Estimator painlessly creates modifiable cost estimate reports based on point and click selections. The system contains several worksheets containing user modifiable cost data for cost categories covering concrete construction including excavation, sitework, reinforcement steel, concrete placing and repair. A user simply has to select from the Lookup screens, thus eliminating the risk of missing important cost items for inclusion in the estimate. "Creating an accurate and reliable concrete construction cost estimate has always been difficult and time-consuming; and yet, it is an absolute necessity for the success of the project." said Levent Sert, Head of Software Development for CPR International, Inc. “In order to streamline the process and give a distinct competitive edge to the concrete contractor, we chose to base ConcreteCOST Estimator on the world-renowned productivity tool, Microsoft Excel”. ConcreteCOST Estimator for Excel is distributed free on a try-before-you-buy basis. A 7-day trial edition is available to download free at: http://www.cprsoft.com/cctsetup.exe Upon registration, a user receives an Authorization Code to unlock full features of the program. Registration fee: $89.00.
About CPR International, Inc.
As the housing market continues to slump, more and more Americans are opting to remodel their homes. A recent poll conducted by Angie's list, a popular online source and magazine known for reviewing and rating home services, found homeowners will spend 13 percent more on home improvements and maintenance projects in 2008, averaging $11,250. Projects that are most likely to provide a return on their investment are proving particularly popular with consumers this year. The five most-planned home projects for 2008 include kitchen/bath remodel, landscaping/yard work, general remodeling, flooring and interior painting. Several remodeling trends appear to be emerging in 2008 including a desire to make homes more environmentally friendly. Green Remodeling Environmentally-friendly features are usually associated with new construction but those consumers in older, existing homes, also have many easy, affordable and immediate steps they can take to make their home more 'green'. Installing low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads can help reduce water consumption and water heating costs. Repairing leaky faucets also will save a significant amount of water from being wasted each week. Saving electricity is also possible with the purchase of appliances featuring the Energy Star rating. Homeowners should also consider renewable resources when purchasing flooring products. Bamboo is a grass and replenishes itself naturally in the wild, so by using bamboo, consumers preserve the habitat of endangered wildlife. In addition to bamboo, cork is another great option for those wishing to create a green or eco-friendly home. Cork is considered a green product because the same tree can be harvested numerous times. Solid hardwood floors are also a "green" choice in comparison to other flooring options such as carpet, which needs to be replaced often and is not usually recycled. Practicality As homeowners decide to stay in their homes for a longer period of time, a few added elements of practicality have become more important while remodeling. Many older homeowners look for ways to remain in their home as they "age in place." Examples of this practical remodeling include creating an ample about of store space as empty-nesters look for ways to condense their belongings and removing carpet to reduce allergy inducers. Older homeowners may consider their needs in the future" ways that will improve mobility, including the addition of hardwood floors to their home. Texture & Color A splash of both bold color and texture is huge for 2008. Whether it is a bright red accent wall, vibrant purple pillows, or blue hardwood flooring, color the perfect way to bring life into the home. Incorporate texture with embossed wallpaper, plush fabrics or even your flooring. Handscraped flooring, a specialty sanded hardwood, is bigger than ever - each with a unique look and feel. Whether it is converting a home to be more environmentally friendly, adding some practical comfort or implementing a splash of color or texture, there are a number of ways homeowners can freshen up their space for years to come. However, trends come and go and homeowners are advised to choose projects that best reflect their lifestyle and future plans.
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