Construction Codebooks > RS Means Estimating Guides > 2012 RS Means Hanscomb's Yardsticks: Cost Data for Canadian Constrctn

The 2011 Hanscomb's Yardsticks for Costing: Cost Data for the Canadian Construction Industry provides pre-figured costs for eight major Canadian regions coast-to-coast, in both metric and imperial.

• Estimate projects with confidence and accuracy.
• Improve project planning and budgeting.
• Reduce risk.

Pre-figured for eight major Canadian regions, coast-to-coast, in metric and imperial.

• All new 2012 current market unit costs—metric and imperial—for over 2600 construction components.
• All new 2012 composite unit rates for more than 300 installed systems—both metric and imperial.
• All new 2012 gross building costs for 34 typical structures at three quality levels: low, average, and high.

About the Author

• Hanscomb's Yardsticks for Costing is published by RS Means. It's a product line of Reed Construction Data, which serves the construction industry in the US, Canada, Mexico and other countries worldwide with information products and services.
• These provide cost, product and project activity information for design, construction, and facility management professionals and practitioners.
• Hanscomb Limited, established in Canada 50 years ago, is a firm that provides project control services for projects of all types and sizes throughout North America and (with its international affiliates) many other parts of the world.

1. How to Use the Manual.
2. Index to Section C.
3. Current Market Prices.
4. Composite Unit Rates.
5. Gross Building Costs.
6. Metric Conversions and Abbreviations.

• 1. General Requirements.
• 2. Site Work.
• 3. Concrete.
• 4. Masonry.
• 5. Metals.
• 6. Wood, Plastics, and Composites.
• 7. Thermal and Moisture Protection.
• 8. Openings.
• 9. Finishes.
• 10. Specialties.
• 11. Equipment.
• 14. Conveying Systems.
• 21. Fire Suppression.
• 22. Plumbing.
• 23. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
• 26. Electrical.
• 27. Communications.
• 28. Electronic Safety and Security.
• 31. Earthwork.
• 32. Exterior Improvements.
• 33. Utilities.

1. Define the scope. Your estimate needs to be for a specific scope of work. Be sure your estimate articulates and defines this clearly so eveyrone understands exactly what's being estimated.
2. Use a good cost data source. Well, here you are looking at the RS Means. You've got this one nailed.
3. Don't include general "fudge factors." Include specific ones. For example, calculate the exact cost of a bad weather day. Then estimate how many such days are likely to occur. That's your bad weather cost estimate, not some arbitrary number like 10%.
4. List constraints. These include time constraints, access issues, and anything else that might cause delays, produce extra work, or require additional resources. In a separate section of your estimate, include a cost breakdown of these. You won't need this information for the purposes of submitting a bid, but you will need it for purposes of risk assessment, project management, and T&C negotiations.
5. Include testing and adjustment in your estimate. Cost over-runs are often due to failure to properly test as the work progresses.
6. Don't forget daily mobilization and start-up costs.