ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 263 guests, and 17 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#19047 12/19/02 02:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5
F
Junior Member
What are some of the ways everyone is bidding jobs, residential & commercial. How much per opening, etc.

#19048 12/19/02 07:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
Most comm is done the old fashioned way, a take off from the plans.....
The per opening thing works for a "plain vanilla box" type job, but anything with any detail gets the take off.

We don't do resi, so I can't comment inteligently. Most of the resi guys I know do the "piece" for the builders and $$$ for the "extras".
John


John
#19049 12/20/02 05:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 440
Likes: 3
Member
I'm with Hotline. The only way to do it right is by doing a detailed take off.
I can't speak for resi because I haven't really been involved with it that much.

Regards,
Doc


The Watt Doctor
Altura Cogen
Channelview, TX
#19050 12/20/02 08:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member
OK guys,
I've seen this mentioned several times about detailed take offs. When we do commercial bids we count openings for lights and general use receptacles. When you do a detailed take off for general use ckts. do you estimate conduit and wire by the foot, plus openings???

Our current project has approximately 8,000 openings. It took two men two days just to count the openings........I can't imagine the time it would take to try and detail this stuff.

We do detail out special equipment, ckts., HVAC, feeders, etc.

Just curious,
GJ

#19051 12/20/02 09:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 840
C
Member
GJ,

Estimating is a full time job!!

When I was learning to estimate, each "opening" would be taken off and entered into the estimating program as an assembly. For instance, 1 receptacle would include one 4" box with strap, mud ring, 2 #10 screws, a ground pigtail, a receptacle, plate, 40' 3/4"EMT (or MC cable, depending), and 120' #12 THHN.

So yes, in my experience, every foot of conduit and wire is counted.

Hope this helps.

Peter


Peter
#19052 12/20/02 10:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 324
A
Member
I work commercial like GJ. I figure degree of difficulty on the general openings (exposed work, ceiling height, structural design). Then I adjust my price scale to fit the job.

Line item on the rest, service, AC, motors and so forth.

Resi is priced by 120v openings, low voltage, 240v drops and service entrance. No pricing by the sqft.

#19053 12/20/02 11:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member
"When I was learning to estimate, each "opening" would be taken off and entered into the estimating program as an assembly. For instance, 1 receptacle would include one 4" box with strap, mud ring, 2 #10 screws, a ground pigtail, a receptacle, plate, 40' 3/4"EMT (or MC cable, depending), and 120' #12 THHN. "

CT,
OK, you then have figured your material cost for an opening assembly. How is that different than pricing by the opening? I guess it makes the computer happy?

GJ



[This message has been edited by golf junkie (edited 12-20-2002).]

#19054 12/20/02 11:59 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member
Arseegee,

That is exactly how we do it too. Works for me.

GJ

#19055 12/21/02 01:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 840
C
Member
GJ, yeah, I guess I misinterpreted your question. Oh well...


Peter

[This message has been edited by CTwireman (edited 12-21-2002).]


Peter

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5