Construction Codebooks > RS Means Estimating Guides > 2012 RS Means Heavy Construction Cost Data 26th Edition

The valuable information in this heavy construction cost guide includes:

• 14,000 up-to-date price assemblies cost tables.
• Estimating reference section.
• Crew tables.

...and costs for:

• New construction.
• Demolition work.
• Repairs.
• Replacements.
• Change orders.

...and complete coverage of:

• Subsurface Investigation.
• Excavation, Demolition and Reclamation.
• Site Preparation and Foundations.
• Materials, Equipment.
• Sheeting, Cofferdams, Earthwork.
• Pre-engineered Structures.
• Tunneling and Microtunneling.
• Bridges, Piles, Caissons.
• Railroad, Marine Work and Airports.
• Paving, Surfacing and Striping.
• Water, Fuel Distribution and Piped Utilities.
• Sewerage, Drainage and Dewatering.
• Ponds, Reservoirs, Waterways.
• Power Communications.
• Site Improvements and Landscaping.
• Power Transmission and Distribution.
• Assemblies for Sewer, Transportation and Waterways

Unit Prices:

• 1. General Requirements.
• 2. Existing Conditions.
• 3. Concrete.
• 4. Masonry.
• 5. Metals.
• 6. Wood, Plastics and Composites.
• 10. Specialties.
• 12. Furnishings.
• 13. Special Construction.
• 22. Plumbing.
• 23. Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning.
• 26. Electrical.
• 27. Communications.
• 31. Earthwork.
• 33. Utilities.
• 34. Transportation
• 35. Waterway and Marine.
• 41. Material Processing and Handling Equipment.
• 44. Pollution Control Equipment.

Assemblies:

• A. Substructure.
• B. Shell.
• G. Building Sitework.

Reference Information:

• Equipment Rental Costs.
• Crews.
• Cost Indexes.
• Reference Tables.
• Square Foot Costs.

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.