Estimating and bidding software: these programs speed up the process, improve accuracy, and increase profitability

Masonry Construction, Sept, 2003 by Ron Holzhauer

A thorough and conscientious approach to estimating and bidding often determine whether a masonry contractor survives. If these tasks are done poorly, the contractor gets no work because the price was too high or gets too ranch because the bid was too low and money is lost on every job. If they are done properly, the contractor has the right materials and manpower ready for installation at the right time while making a fair profit.

Computers and related software packages greatly facilitate the completeness of the take-offs and the accuracy of the bid numbers. The user-friendly programs are relatively inexpensive and simple to use with just a little training. Self-help programs and manufacturers' technical service desks and phone lines are readily available to answer any questions or assist with problems. Realistically, however, the programs are simple to learn and run on most computers.

The list at the end of this article indicates a number of companies that offer software for masonry estimating. The specific approach used by the programs to do the estimating job might vary, but the features, benefits, and end results of each are basically the same. The techniques mentioned in this article are how Tradesmen's Software performs the estimating and bidding tasks.

Benefits

Estimating software provides unparalleled benefits in speed and accuracy compared to traditional manual takeoffs. It is not uncommon to cut estimating take-off time up to 95%, while virtually eliminating any calculation errors since the program does all the work.

Entering relevant information for the masonry estimating task is a relatively simple procedure. Wall section information for the proposed project is entered in two ways. Select all individual items that make up a particular wall section for a proposed project or click and drag a standard predesigned wall section assembly from the program's database. (A typical database has about 50 product categories and over 400 products.) Enter the length of the wall in Metric or Imperial units or use a digitizer to gather the wall length information. Using the digitizer totals the wall lengths and lays down a path to graphically display the project takeoff in 3-D. This process is repeated for each wall section.

The estimator then inputs his company's lay rates for each piece of the job, profit margin and overhead expenses, and material cost to customize the package to the company. Once this data is entered and the calculations are made, a dozen or more reports and breakdowns can be generated related to specific aspects of the job or the entire project. For example, reports can be created for the quantity of every piece of material required in the job, time estimates to do each task. material and price by wall, and total job cost. The tables on this article's opening spread show typical report data.

A total bid proposal is generated by the program and forwarded to the potential customer. The software integrates easily with project cost/accounting systems and also can be used for design/build approaches.

The introduction of color graphics and 3-D imaging adds another dimension to the software programs. It is now possible to "see" the finished job from an overview or specific detail perspective in any mode or elevation which is a great aid to the foremen leading the work "What if" changes can be made to the original masonry design and shown to the owner and architect for their thoughts in design/build situations. It is possible to take a "walking tour" through the planned structure with the 3-D capabilities. Catching one mistake while viewing the finished 3-D graphic could save a mason contractor thousands of dollars.

Any mason contractor--large or small--will most likely benefit from taking an automated approach to their estimating and bidding procedures.

By a Mason, For a Mason

Bill Pacetti's career--at least in the early years--parallels that of many craftsmen in the masonry industry. His father, grandfather, and great grandfather were bricklayers and stonemasons; and he and his brother followed in their footsteps After high school, he graduated from the union apprenticeship program and proceeded to lay countless brick and block on hundreds of jobsites in the Chicago area.

In 1978 the mason decided to go out on his own and formed Pacetti Brothers Construction Inc.. The business eventually grew to about 80 men doing numerous schools and nursing homes. Pacetti worked with several general contractors in the area who expected the mason to bid their jobs even though he had all the work he could handle.

Pacetti continued to work in the field during the day, and then spend evenings and weekends doing all the estimating and bidding on future work. It got to the point where the days just did not have enough hours to get everything done.

In the mid-1980s a friend showed Pacetti some spreadsheets and suggested that he consider using a computer to simplify and speed up the bidding and estimating process. Pacetti knew nothing about these machines; he was a brick guy.