Construction Estimating

Instructions:

• Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
• If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
• Match each statement with the correct term.
• Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. How do climatic conditions influence the amount of work actually completed in an hour?
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.
Both extreme hot and cold will tend to slow down the pace of work.
Direct Negotiation - Competitive Bidding
Bid bond requirements are stated in the advertisement of Bidders.They are usually amplified in the specifications.


2. Assemblies Estimate...
...
False
The estimator uses more detailed information such as the bay size - square feet of partition wall - number of plumbing fixtures - or square feet of carpet.
Lump-Sum Estimate - Unit Price Estimate


3. What is the bid bond and how does it protect the owner?
The bid bond ensures that if a contractor is awarded the bid with the time specified - the contractor will enter into the contract and provide all other specified bonds.If the contractor fails to do so without justification -the bond shall be forfeit
Lavatory
The amount of work that can be done in an hour
Contract Documents


4. The most reliable productivity rates come from historical data
True
Operating costs include everything required to operate each piece of equipment.Fuel - Grease and Oil - Electricity and Tire
Lavatory
Truly - its both - it will never be a science. Estimators rely on their - intuition - past experience - judgment and sometimes guesses.


5. Why do many contractors hesitate to bid just before the expiration of a union contract?
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.
Direct Negotiation - Competitive Bidding
The amount of work that can be done in an hour
There may be hesitation to bid a project just before the expiration of a union agreement due to the uncertainty of the outcomes of the negotiations. There is the possibility of a strike or dramatic increases in the prevailing wage rate.


6. How does insurance differ from a surety bond?
True
Truly - its both - it will never be a science. Estimators rely on their - intuition - past experience - judgment and sometimes guesses.
Liens
With insurance an insurance company assumes the financial liability fora specified loss.The surety guarantees the performance of a contractor.The surety company will try to recover any losses from the contractor.


7. Closely spaced beams supporting a floor or ceiling.They may be wood - steel - or concrete.
...
Invitation to bid
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.
Joist


8. On certain projects the owner may accept proposals only from contractors who are invited to bid.
True
The amount of work that can be done in an hour
Contract Documents
1. Better understanding of the work to be subcontracted -2. Establishment of fair cost estimate for evaluating subcontractor's bid - 3. Checking of a subcontractor's scope of work - and4. Determination of time duration that can be assigned to a sub


9. A sum withheld from each payment to the contractor in accordance with the terms of the owner-contractor agreement.
Overtime work - shift work - hazardous work conditions - or unusually strenuous work.
Retainage
...
1. The contractor can get the most suitable piece of equipment.2. The equipment is most likely newer and in a better state of repair.3. The rental company handles maintenance.4. The contractor does not tie up their capital.


10. Explain why using overtime is not recommended for most construction projects.
Units are assignable to jobs and are not shared by other subcontractors. Tractors; Scrapers; Front shovels; Hoes; Loaders and backhoe loaders; Hauling units; Compactors
The bid bond ensures that if a contractor is awarded the bid with the time specified - the contractor will enter into the contract and provide all other specified bonds.If the contractor fails to do so without justification -the bond shall be forfeit
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.
The Labor Hour


11. Under what conditions are wage premiums applied
Overtime work - shift work - hazardous work conditions - or unusually strenuous work.
True
False
Renting - Leasing - Buying


12. What unit of time is used to measure labor?
Master Format and Uniformat
The Labor Hour
The CSI format is a numbering system which divides the major areas involved in the construction project into 50 divisions (0 to 49). The format allows the contractor to develop a tracking system for all types of information.
True


13. Proposal prepared by prospective contractor specifying the charges to be made for doing the work in accordance with the contract documents.
Bid
Lump-Sum Estimate - Unit Price Estimate
True
Common labor and material portions


14. What is the best source for productivity data?

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15. What are the two most common methods by which a contractor can acquire a construction contract?
Direct Negotiation - Competitive Bidding
Generally - the advertisement describes the location - extent - and nature of the work. It will designate the authority under which the project originated. Concerning the bid - it will give the place where bidding documents are available and list the
External factors: market conditions and climatic conditions; beyond the control of the contractors.Internal factors: work conditions and management conditions
1. Construction Materials 2. Erection Labor 3. Fixed Equipment Costs


16. How does insurance differ from a surety bond?
Liens
With insurance an insurance company assumes the financial liability fora specified loss.The surety guarantees the performance of a contractor.The surety company will try to recover any losses from the contractor.
Joist
Instruction to bidders


17. Why is it a good idea for the general contractor to perform quantity surveys on work that is to be subcontracted out?

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18. What is the bid bond and how does it protect the owner?
Generally - the advertisement describes the location - extent - and nature of the work. It will designate the authority under which the project originated. Concerning the bid - it will give the place where bidding documents are available and list the
Contract Documents
The bid bond ensures that if a contractor is awarded the bid with the time specified - the contractor will enter into the contract and provide all other specified bonds.If the contractor fails to do so without justification -the bond shall be forfeit
Order of Magnitude Estimate - Square foot and cubic foot estimate - Assemblies(Systems estimate) - Detailed Estimate


19. Name 10 step process to bid

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20. The assembly of components to form the completed portion of a job.
Erection
The CSI format is a numbering system which divides the major areas involved in the construction project into 50 divisions (0 to 49). The format allows the contractor to develop a tracking system for all types of information.
Kept on the site over a longer period of time - throughout almost the entire construction phase.Cranes; Air compressors; Floodlights and light towersForklifts; Pumps
External factors: market conditions and climatic conditions; beyond the control of the contractors.Internal factors: work conditions and management conditions


21. On certain projects the owner may accept proposals only from contractors who are invited to bid.
Liquidated Damages
Direct Negotiation - Competitive Bidding
Lavatory
True


22. Describe the CSI MasterFormat and how it is used.
External factors: market conditions and climatic conditions; beyond the control of the contractors.Internal factors: work conditions and management conditions
Overtime work - shift work - hazardous work conditions - or unusually strenuous work.
The CSI format is a numbering system which divides the major areas involved in the construction project into 50 divisions (0 to 49). The format allows the contractor to develop a tracking system for all types of information.
The most reliable productivity records are the contractor's own historical data based on actual experiences performing similar work


23. What are the difficulties encountered by the estimator during the preparation of a project's conceptual estimate?
Predicting the cost in advance based on a model (formal or informal - plans and specifications) of a project
Published cost standards seldom represent 100% of the project under consideration.The location factor -The time factor
There may be hesitation to bid a project just before the expiration of a union agreement due to the uncertainty of the outcomes of the negotiations. There is the possibility of a strike or dramatic increases in the prevailing wage rate.
Bid


24. Legal claims against an owner for amounts due those engaged in or supplying materials for the construction of the building.
Liquidated Damages
The bid bond ensures that if a contractor is awarded the bid with the time specified - the contractor will enter into the contract and provide all other specified bonds.If the contractor fails to do so without justification -the bond shall be forfeit
Liens
Renting - Leasing - Buying


25. A bathroom sink
Operating costs include everything required to operate each piece of equipment.Fuel - Grease and Oil - Electricity and Tire
Lavatory
Skilled labor and material portions
Skilled labor and material portions


26. Five basic skills everyone should master

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27. What are some of the costs that must be included in equipment operating costs?
A. Tires and other wear itemsb. Fuel - lubricants - and filtersc. Repair reservesd. All of the above
Operating costs include everything required to operate each piece of equipment.Fuel - Grease and Oil - Electricity and Tire
Master Format and Uniformat
The amount of work that can be done in an hour


28. What are the advantages to a small contractor of renting equipment instead of owning?
1. The contractor can get the most suitable piece of equipment.2. The equipment is most likely newer and in a better state of repair.3. The rental company handles maintenance.4. The contractor does not tie up their capital.
The most reliable productivity records are the contractor's own historical data based on actual experiences performing similar work
The amount of work that can be done in an hour
The maintenance bond guarantees the owner that the GC agrees to correct all defects of workmanship and materials for a specified period (one to three years) following occupancy by the owner.


29. A work order - usually prepared by the architect and signed by the owner or the owner's agent - authorizing a change in the scope of the work and a change in the cost of the project.
Order of Magnitude Estimate - Square foot and cubic foot estimate - Assemblies(Systems estimate) - Detailed Estimate
1. Review scope 2. Quantity takeoff 3. Price materials 4. Price labor 5. Price equipment 6. Obtain specialty contractor's bid 7. Obtain supplier's bid 8. Calculate taxes - bonds - insurance - and overhead 9. Contingency 10. Profit
Punch List
Change Order


30. A common error made by GCs in their dealings with subcontractors is to hand them a single technical specifications section relating to their trade - without copies of either the General Requirements or the General and Supplementary General Conditions
...
False
Truly - its both - it will never be a science. Estimators rely on their - intuition - past experience - judgment and sometimes guesses.
Contract Documents


31. Describe and provide examples of specific use equipment and general use equipment.
Units are assignable to jobs and are not shared by other subcontractors. Tractors; Scrapers; Front shovels; Hoes; Loaders and backhoe loaders; Hauling units; Compactors
1. Better understanding of the work to be subcontracted -2. Establishment of fair cost estimate for evaluating subcontractor's bid - 3. Checking of a subcontractor's scope of work - and4. Determination of time duration that can be assigned to a sub
True
Invitation to bid


32. Working drawings - specifications - general conditions - supplementary general conditions - the owner-contractor agreement - and all addenda (if issued).
True
True
Contract Documents
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.


33. The equipment used on construction projects can be divided into three categories: Owned - leased - and rented.
True
Order of Magnitude Estimate - Square foot and cubic foot estimate - Assemblies(Systems estimate) - Detailed Estimate
False
Truly - its both - it will never be a science. Estimators rely on their - intuition - past experience - judgment and sometimes guesses.


34. A sum withheld from each payment to the contractor in accordance with the terms of the owner-contractor agreement.
Retainage
Predicting the cost in advance based on a model (formal or informal - plans and specifications) of a project
Internal Factor - External Factor - Project Related-Factor
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.


35. stimating labor requires determining the number of work hours to do a specific task and then applying the wage rate.
True
Retainage
Published cost standards seldom represent 100% of the project under consideration.The location factor -The time factor
The loss in value of equipment that the contractor owns.The loss is a result of age - wear and tear - and obsolescence


36. Describe the composition of the Construction Cost Index (CCI).
The practice of withholding a percentage of the payment due to the contractor for the work performed and completed for that payment period.Retainage can affect the cash flow of the contractor and must be considered in the preparation of the bid.
The amount of work that can be done in an hour
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.
Common labor and material portions


37. Name two systems that establish standards for the building design/construction estimating process.
Truly - its both - it will never be a science. Estimators rely on their - intuition - past experience - judgment and sometimes guesses.
Direct Negotiation - Competitive Bidding
True
Master Format and Uniformat


38. Describe and provide examples of specific use equipment and general use equipment.
Internal Factor - External Factor - Project Related-Factor
As-built drawings
Retainage
Units are assignable to jobs and are not shared by other subcontractors. Tractors; Scrapers; Front shovels; Hoes; Loaders and backhoe loaders; Hauling units; Compactors


39. Under what conditions are wage premiums applied
Overtime work - shift work - hazardous work conditions - or unusually strenuous work.
Units are assignable to jobs and are not shared by other subcontractors. Tractors; Scrapers; Front shovels; Hoes; Loaders and backhoe loaders; Hauling units; Compactors
Bid bond requirements are stated in the advertisement of Bidders.They are usually amplified in the specifications.
The performance bond guarantees the owner that - within limits - the contractor will perform all work in accordance with the contract documents - and thatthe owner will receive the project built in substantialagreement with the documents.


40. What are the two most common methods by which a contractor can acquire a construction contract?
Direct Negotiation - Competitive Bidding
Order of Magnitude Estimate - Square foot and cubic foot estimate - Assemblies(Systems estimate) - Detailed Estimate
Master Format and Uniformat
There may be hesitation to bid a project just before the expiration of a union agreement due to the uncertainty of the outcomes of the negotiations. There is the possibility of a strike or dramatic increases in the prevailing wage rate.


41. The location where material can be stored in relationship to the construction project affects productivity.
The Labor Hour
True
1. Better understanding of the work to be subcontracted -2. Establishment of fair cost estimate for evaluating subcontractor's bid - 3. Checking of a subcontractor's scope of work - and4. Determination of time duration that can be assigned to a sub
Truly - its both - it will never be a science. Estimators rely on their - intuition - past experience - judgment and sometimes guesses.


42. Order of Magnitude Estimate...
1. Construction Materials 2. Erection Labor 3. Fixed Equipment Costs
The loss in value of equipment that the contractor owns.The loss is a result of age - wear and tear - and obsolescence
Scheduling overtime for more than several weeks can result in huge productivity losses.
A gross unit such as the number of hospital beds is used.


43. List the factors affecting labor productivity
Addenda
True
External factors: market conditions and climatic conditions; beyond the control of the contractors.Internal factors: work conditions and management conditions
Internal Factor - External Factor - Project Related-Factor


44. A good database of past project experiences is essential to preparing a quick and accurate estimate.
True
Master Format and Uniformat
Kept on the site over a longer period of time - throughout almost the entire construction phase.Cranes; Air compressors; Floodlights and light towersForklifts; Pumps
Generally - the advertisement describes the location - extent - and nature of the work. It will designate the authority under which the project originated. Concerning the bid - it will give the place where bidding documents are available and list the


45. What are the benefits of renting equipment?
Units are assignable to jobs and are not shared by other subcontractors. Tractors; Scrapers; Front shovels; Hoes; Loaders and backhoe loaders; Hauling units; Compactors
The ability to procure the right piece of equipment for the job when the unit is needed
Both extreme hot and cold will tend to slow down the pace of work.
The bid bond ensures that if a contractor is awarded the bid with the time specified - the contractor will enter into the contract and provide all other specified bonds.If the contractor fails to do so without justification -the bond shall be forfeit


46. What is retainage? Why should a contractor be concerned with a retainage clause in a contract?
Order of Magnitude Estimate - Square foot and cubic foot estimate - Assemblies(Systems estimate) - Detailed Estimate
The practice of withholding a percentage of the payment due to the contractor for the work performed and completed for that payment period.Retainage can affect the cash flow of the contractor and must be considered in the preparation of the bid.
Operating costs include everything required to operate each piece of equipment.Fuel - Grease and Oil - Electricity and Tire
Renting - Leasing - Buying


47. What is retainage? Why should a contractor be concerned with a retainage clause in a contract?
The practice of withholding a percentage of the payment due to the contractor for the work performed and completed for that payment period.Retainage can affect the cash flow of the contractor and must be considered in the preparation of the bid.
False
Lump-Sum Estimate - Unit Price Estimate
Internal Factor - External Factor - Project Related-Factor


48. What are the benefits of renting equipment?
With insurance an insurance company assumes the financial liability fora specified loss.The surety guarantees the performance of a contractor.The surety company will try to recover any losses from the contractor.
The ability to procure the right piece of equipment for the job when the unit is needed
Overtime work - shift work - hazardous work conditions - or unusually strenuous work.
Order of Magnitude Estimate - Square foot and cubic foot estimate - Assemblies(Systems estimate) - Detailed Estimate


49. What is the best source for productivity data?

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50. Operation costs include...
A. Tires and other wear itemsb. Fuel - lubricants - and filtersc. Repair reservesd. All of the above
The ability to procure the right piece of equipment for the job when the unit is needed
Skilled labor and material portions
Contract Documents