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Improving Construction Productivity... Since 1986 |
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Improving Construction Productivity... Since 1986 |
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News and AnnouncementsSubscribe to CPR Construction Software Newsletter featuring:
CPR, Inc. Announces Year 2012 Updates for Their Popular MS Excel Based Cost Estimating Software Programs Jacksonville, FL – November 3, 2011 - CPR, Inc. a provider of productivity software for construction since 1986, today announced year 2012 updates for their popular MS Excel based construction estimating software programs. The updates include new and improved features, functions, usability and reporting in addition to cost data updates reflecting changing material and labor pricing in today’s challenging economic conditions. Help system, User Manual and Step-by-Step tutorial have also been completely reworked to achieve a seamless and productive software experience. "Creating an accurate and reliable construction cost estimate has always been difficult and time-consuming; and yet, it is an absolute necessity for the success of the project." said L. Sert, Software Development Manager for CPR, Inc. “In order to streamline the process and give a distinct competitive edge to the estimator, we chose to base our popular cost estimators on the world-renowned productivity tool, Microsoft Excel”. He added: “A truly effective cost estimating solution requires three things: 1. Based on a full understanding and methodology of the general construction industry 2. Easy to implement while saving time and providing accuracy you can trust 3. Provide essential localized pricing along with flexibility and customization This is what we totally achieved with our year 2012 updates.” Hands-on testing has indicated that the updated programs painlessly create modifiable cost estimate reports based on point and click selections. The systems contain several worksheets containing user modifiable cost data for cost categories covering all 16 division of CSI (AIA) MasterFormat. A user simply has to select from the Lookup screens, thus eliminating the risk of missing important cost items for inclusion in the estimate. GeneralCOST 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/downloads.htm Upon registration, a user receives an authorization code to unlock full features of each program.
About CPR, Inc. Internet: http://www.cprsoft.com Tel: 904-220-0045
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-ŕ-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! **** 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? ****
MS Excel Based Construction Cost Estimating When it comes to construction cost estimating, Microsoft Excel still seems to be favorite for many companies in the construction arena. While many have developed their own estimating spreadsheets and templates, the reality is manually entering and managing data in spreadsheets leaves room for inefficiency. For companies creating hundreds of cost estimates a year, those inefficiencies can get way out of hand rather quickly. While technology adoption in construction may have slowed due to market conditions, those that are allocating computing dollars indicate the cost estimating process is at or near the top of the list. More>>> CPR’s Excel based cost estimating software programs are designed using Microsoft development tools, meaning its technology has a similar interface and can integrate with Microsoft Excel. CPR has been in this segment of the construction software market and is the leader in the length and breadth of installed base. Microsoft Excel has proven to be a solid tool for helping contractors take that first step from manual processes to the computer—a step in which most construction professionals are willing to take. It’s that next step, switching from an in-house developed Excel template to a professional and comprehensive cost estimating system that seems to make some hesitate. Yet as the market continues to focus on improving productivity and eliminating inefficiencies, we are seeing more contractors take that next step through the use of this familiar, yet advanced Excel based estimating technology using CPR software tools.
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