Electrical & Construction Estimating Books, Costbooks,
Take-Off Tools and Software

- a must-have for construction company owners, CEOs, project managers, and supervisors

Agile Construction for the Electrical Contractor provides the tools and guidance needed to transform a traditional, reactive project management style to a new, proactive, profitable, and productive business management model - one that can quickly respond to changing industry needs and remain a profitable enterprise, even during the toughest of times.

In this groundbreaking new book, Dr. Daneshgari applies proven managerial techniques from other industries to electrical construction through the introduction of Agile construction - a new scientifically-based tracking system based on jobsite dynamics and the bottom-line impact of the three sources of cost drivers: money, materials, and manpower. - more

The mechanical and electrical portions of a building typically account for 30% or more of the construction costs. This type of work is very specialized and includes many various types of materials and installations which require detailed pricing - piping, valves, ducts, fans, chillers, condensers, conduit, transformers, etc.

All of these technical areas are covered. All costs are organized according to the industry standard CSI MASTERFORMAT which allows even the non-specialist to estimate easily. Over 8,000 unit prices, broken down into material and labor costs, and complete man-hour tables provide maximum coverage and flexibility. - more

Construction Estimating is a comprehensive introduction to estimating practices used in the construction industry.

This textbook contains 15 chapters covering estimating practices and methods and features content applicable to ledger sheet, electronic spreadsheet, and estimating software use.

The Sage Timberline Office Estimating Products CD-ROM provided with the textbook includes a demonstration release of the Sage Timberline Office estimating Extended Edition. - more

STOP PROFIT-ROBBING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT DISPUTES BEFORE THEY START

With this expanded new edition of Contractor's Guide to Change Orders in hand, contractors working on projects of any size - from remodeling jobs to skyscrapers - will have all the ammunition needed to:

Keep hidden construction delays and expenses from draining profit. (Only a fraction of chargeable amounts are ever identified by the owner or architects involved.)

Identify trouble spots in the contract, plans, specifications and site that are likely to result in added costs or delays.

Find, document and negotiate payment for every added delay and expense that slips past your "early warning system."

Negotiate and resolve change order disputes at every level so you are always a step ahead. - more

The most comprehensive contractor’s forms and letters reference available comes with a CD-ROM that allows users to easily and effectively manage every area of their contracting business!

This extraordinary CD resource contains a user-friendly interface in which all of the forms and letters are easy to find and utilize in both Microsoft Word and Excel formats.

Together, the book and CD provide over 150 of the most useful forms and letters available on topics such as general company and staff communications, customer correspondence, accounting notices, and more

The Reference Guide for Professional Electrical Estimating

The DEWALT Electrical Estimating Professional Reference is an essential guide to help the professional successfully bid on contracting jobs.

It covers both the traditional and “hurry up” methods of estimating, while explaining how and when to use each one.

This book will allow you to better understand overhead costs and profit margins to help you make the best decisions when estimating your electrical jobs. - more

DM S50L measures interior room dimensions up to 50 feet (15 m) and includes Zircon’s exclusive laser targeting to ensure accuracy.

Point the laser to the far wall, click the READ button, and the distance appears on the easy-to-read LCD screen in feet and inches or metric units.

DM S50L automatically measures length and calculates area, volume, and double segments. Easy-to-follow, on-screen graphics prompt users through functions for length, area, and volume measurements.

Laser targeting pattern shows the area of the cone-shaped sonic beam for more accurate measurement positioning. - more

40+ Essential Forms at your Fingertips!

• Accounting Forms
• Business Forms
• Contract Forms
• Estimating Forms
• Field Forms

With 2 copies of each form, you'll have all you need to efficiently run your Electrical business. - more

The Electrical Contractors' Business Forms CD-ROM is loaded with essential forms created just for the electrical industry.

These forms will help ensure that your business transactions always look professional and organized.

Available in both Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word format, you can fully customize each of the over 40 forms for quick and polished documents every time. - more info

DigiRoller Plus II
 

LE-CI6425 $169.95  $149.95

DigiRoller Plus II -
Digital Distance Measuring Wheel

Easy, One-Person Operation -
Take Fast, Digital On-Site Measurements!

Get fast, accurate measurements for all your on-site linear, area and volume estimates. Built-in functions automatically calculate and store square footage, cubic volumes and more for up to 9 different areas. Works and converts in all U.S. and Metric units.
Weighs just 3 lbs. and includes new kickstand. - more

Here is all the information you need for estimating and bidding construction and home improvement projects.

Guaranteed to improve your estimating skill and bidding results: What to look for in the plans. How to scope out the last 5% of job costs. Immunize yourself against common estimating mistakes.

Explains what you need for a career as a construction estimator, how to construct a take-off from the plans, how to check the details of an estimate, prepare a schedule, deal with subs, and calculate project overhead and profit.

Includes the National Estimator stand-alone estimating program with a 50,000 item database for residential, commercial, and home improvement work. - more

This is the practical guide to electrical estimating by the man recognized as the "Estimator of the Year." It takes you through every step of making an accurate estimate, from essential preliminaries to submitting the final bid.

Written by an A.S.P.E. National Estimator of the Year, it teaches you how to use labor units, the plan take-off, and the bid summary to make an accurate estimate, how to deal with suppliers, use pricing sheets, and modify labor units.

A complete estimate for a 6,000 square foot commercial building is included. You start with the scope of work, the materials and equipment to be used, installation requirements, and a complete set of plans for the electrical system. Work sheets, pricing sheets, the bid summary sheet, telephoned quotations and the spreadsheets are all provided so you can compare your work with what an experienced professional electrical estimator would do - more

Create your own Customized Estimating Program!

Most builders estimate with Excel because it's easy to learn, quick to use, and can be customized to your style of estimating. Here you'll find step-by-step how to create your own customized automated spreadsheet estimating program for use with Excel.

You'll learn how to use the magic of Excel in creating detail sheets, cost breakdown summaries, and linking. You'll put this all to use in estimating concrete, rebar, permit fees, and roofing. You can even create your own macros.

Includes a CD-ROM that illustrates examples in the book and provides you with templates you can use to set up your own estimating system. - more

Unique software that brings picture measurements to your PC computer. Perfect for estimating projects or appraising building values.

Simply place the DigiTarget (included) in the area to be measured and take a picture with any camera. Open the image in iphotomeasure and make one reference measurement. All other vertical and horizontal measurements are instantly scaled. Each measurement is saved, so you can print out or e-mail your image with the scaled measurements right on them.

Can't take the picture yourself? Email the DigiTarget PDF file to your potential Customer and have them print it out, place it in the area and photograph it. They can email (or snailmail) you the resulting picture, saving time (and money) by not having to visit the site yourself. - more

Laser Dimension Master -

Forget the cumbersome tape measure! Use the Laser Dimension Master to measure interior distances with the press of a button!

Just aim & shoot to get an instant digital readout. Measure with 99% accuracy up to 50 feet. Carry it in your pocket or briefcase, in the office or out in the field. - more

At last, a book on how to figure the right markup for a construction company!

This book gives you the key to operating a profitable, contracting business - figuring and using the correct markup on every job. It gives the simple mathematical principles and formulas that you can use, regardless of the type of work you do.

This book gives you tried and tested formulas, with step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow examples, so you can easily figure the markup that’s right for your business. Includes a CD-ROM with forms and checklists for your use.

Learn from the book yourself, and then use it to train your sales staff, in marketing techniques and calculating markup on their sales. Use the sample problems in the back of the book to test your own understanding, and to check your employees' grasp of how to figure markup. - more

Available after Nov. 30th 2009 - taking orders now

Current Labor and Material Cost Estimates for Residential, Commercial and Industrial Work

True Laser Measuring – Easy to Use, Fast and Precise

Measures to 100-feet with accuracy of 1/8-Inch or better over the entire range

The PREXISO X2 is a one-person laser measuring tool for distances, areas and volumes. It is easier and faster to use than a tape measure, and more accurate than ultrasonic measures.

Quick, accurate measurements will help you make accurate material estimates, which will save you time and money. - more

From operations turnover and document review to critical path analysis and the final project schedule, this complete guide to the management of residential integration projects breaks the planning down to eight basic steps.

Comprehensive coverage features detailed job descriptions for each member of the team, from project manager and lead installer to basic installer and technician.

Readers will learn how to define and estimate a project, develop a scope plan, write a scope statement, store project documents, and more as they develop a solid foundation for understanding project management in the context of the residential integration industry. - more

Filled with case studies and illustrations, this state-of-the-art design tool covers new solar technologies…design implementation techniques…energy conservation…the economics of solar power systems…passive solar heating power…and more

Estimating isn't always an easy job. Sometimes snap decisions can produce negative long-term effects.

This book was designed by the American Society of Professional Estimators as a set of standards to guide professional estimators. It's intended to help every estimator develop estimates that are uniform and verifiable.

Every step that should be included in the estimate is listed, as well as aspects in the plans to consider when estimating a job and what you should look for that may not be included. The result should help you produce more consistently accurate estimates. - more

Sweets Electrical Cost Guide 2010 -

McGraw-Hill Construction Sweets Electrical Cost Guide 2010 from BNi Building News and McGraw-Hill Construction gives you more value and better data than any similar guide available. Flip through the book for the industry's most precise, most thoroughly researched electrical construction costs. Your estimates, bids, specifications, and cost checks will come in in right on target with this annually updated guide.

2010 Sweets Electrical Cost Guide provides contractors, architects, engineers, and all other building professionals the highest available level of precision in predicting unit costs for:

Sitework - Electrical Materials and Methods - Wiring - Power - Low-Voltage Distribution - Lighting - Alarm and Security Systems - Communications - Sound and Video - Special Construction - Conveying Systems - Local Multipliers - And more

Scale Master II
w/ PC Interface Kit
 

LE-CI6325 $149.95 $119.95

Portable, Digital Take-Off Tool With 91 Built-in Scales & PC Interface - For Construction Estimators, Contractors or Anyone Who Works with Blueprints.

Thousands of construction pro's use the Scale Master II to bid faster and more accurately. Now it's time for you to gain the competitive edge, and perform take-offs with speed and confidence! Instantly double-check plans. Transfer data directly to your PC & estimating program (with PC interface (included)). Cut estimating errors and improve profits. - more

Scale Master II
 

LE-CI6130 $99.95  $89.95

Portable, Digital Take-Off Tool With 91 Built-in Scales & PC Interface - For Construction Estimators, Contractors or Anyone Who Works with Blueprints.

Thousands of construction pro's use the Scale Master II to bid faster and more accurately. Now it's time for you to gain the competitive edge, and perform take-offs with speed and confidence! Instantly double-check plans. Cut estimating errors and improve profits. - more

Just select the built-in scale factor to match the plan and roll the PlanWheel XLU2. The measurement is displayed instantly. PlanWheel XLU2 can be used Stand-Alone, or with your computer using XLU2 Interface kit (sold separately). - more

The industry standard take-off tool for entering linear measurements from your blueprints, maps, or plans into any Windows program. Just roll the scaler wheel along your print, then click to instantly transfer the measurement into your program. Scale-Link USB  includes the scaler wheel, connecting cable and transfer software. - more

The "First-Ever" Wireless Plan Wheel!  Scale-Link Wireless PlanWheel lets you scale dimensions into your PC up to 25 feet away!  
111 of the most common Architectural, Engineering, Map and Metric scale-factors built in. - Thousands of available user-defined scale-factors - Calculate auto-scale factors from reduced, enlarged or odd-scale drawings - Create any custom scale-factors for reduced, enlarged or unknown scale prints - Create, store and retrieve 2 user-defined scale factors... - more

Sweets Electrical Cost Guide 2010 -

McGraw-Hill Construction Sweets Electrical Cost Guide 2010 from BNi Building News and McGraw-Hill Construction gives you more value and better data than any similar guide available. Flip through the book for the industry's most precise, most thoroughly researched electrical construction costs. Your estimates, bids, specifications, and cost checks will come in in right on target with this annually updated guide.

2010 Sweets Electrical Cost Guide provides contractors, architects, engineers, and all other building professionals the highest available level of precision in predicting unit costs for:

Sitework - Electrical Materials and Methods - Wiring - Power - Low-Voltage Distribution - Lighting - Alarm and Security Systems - Communications - Sound and Video - Special Construction - Conveying Systems - Local Multipliers - And more

Ultra Scale Master Pro -

NEW! - Affordable Area Takeoff Tool and Digitizer System

Great for residential and light construction contractors:

• Measure and calculate areas, lengths and volumes for all types of polygons
• Fast and easy-to-use
• Affordable, portable and powerful
• Works with or without a PC - more

Take full advantage of your Ultra Scale Master® Pro digitizing capabilities by using Smart Takeoff!™- an affordable and simple-to-use graphic digitizing program that provides two- and three-dimensional perspective graphic display of digitized images.

When combined with the speed and accuracy of the Ultra Scale Master® Pro digitizing tool, this system is invaluable as part of any construction cost estimating system. - more