Construction Cost Estimating Using Planswift

Dr. Abdul Wahab

Adjunct Faculty University of Southern Mississippi USA

Projects Director Forella Group LLC, VA

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 Agenda

• Syllabus overview

• Review of basic estimating math

• Planswift

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 Review of Basic Construction Math

Common Conversions
Common Conversions used in the U.S are inch, foot, yard, mile
1 ft = 12 inches
1 Yard = 3 ft
1 mile = 5280 ft
Example:
20 ft to inches?

12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠
20𝑓𝑡 ∗
1𝑓𝑡
20*12 inches
240 inches

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 Review of Basic Construction Math

Convert 450 inches into ft & inches

1𝑓𝑡
450 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 ∗ = 37.50 𝑓𝑡
12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠

37 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑡

0.50𝑓𝑡 ∗ 12 = 6 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠

37 ft 6 inches

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 Review of Basic Construction Math

Add the following

3 ft 8 inches
5 ft 9 inches
6 ft 9 inches

= 14 ft 20 inches
= 14 ft + 12 inches + 8 inches
= 14 ft + 1 ft + 8 inches
= 15 ft 8 inches

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 Review of Basic Construction Math

Subtract 5 ft 7 inches from 8 ft 3 inches

8 ft 3 inches

5 ft 7 inches

8 ft 3 inches = 7 ft 15 inches

Now,

7 ft 15 inches

5 ft 7 inches

2 ft 8 inches

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 Unit Conversions

Convert 9550 ft to miles

Sol:
1 mile = 5280 ft

1 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒 5280 𝑓𝑡
𝑜𝑟
5280 𝑓𝑡 1 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒
1 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒
9550 ft *
5280 𝑓𝑡

1.808 miles

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 Unit Conversions Cont’d

The following are some common conversions for area and volume.
1 square foot = 144 square inches
1 square yard = 9 square feet
1 acre = 43,560 square feet

1 square mile = 640 acres

1 cubic foot = 1728 cubic inches
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

1 gallon = 231 cubic inches

1 cubic foot = 7.5 gallons

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 Unit Conversions

Area Calculations
Sol:
A= L*W

Area = 270 ft2 30 ft

90 ft

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 Unit Conversions

Volume Calculations
Sol:
V= L*W*H (or depth)

V = 40 ft*25 ft*10 ft
10 ft
V=1000 ft3
25 ft
50 ft
3 ft = 1 yard
27 ft3 = 1 yard3
1000 ft3 = 37.037 yard3
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 Ratios

A concrete mix uses a mixture of cement, sand, and crushed stone in the ratio of
1:3:4 by weight. Thus, for every pound of cement used, 3 lb of sand and 4 lb of
crushed stone are mixed with it. How much of each component is necessary if 6000
lb of concrete mix is needed for a job?
Sol:
1+3+4 = 8
Ratio of Cement = 1 ∗ 1
8
Ratio of Sand = 3
8

Ratio of crushed stone, 4 = 1

8 2

Multiply the fraction that represent each component

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 Ratios

1
∗ 6000 = 750 lb cement
8

3
∗ 6000 = 2250 lb sand
8

1
∗ 6000 = 3000 lb crushed stone
2

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 Proportions

Proportions are the comparison of two ratios e.g 2/4 = 3/6

There are two rules in setting up any proportions
All proportions, whether direct or inverse, can be set up in a similar fashion as long as two rules
are observed:
1. Always set up the fraction so that the same units are over each other. For example: 5 in./8 in.;
6 ft/11 ft.
2. Always set the smaller unit over the larger unit:

𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙
=
𝐿𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝐿𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒

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 Proportions

If ABC Construction Company can build four identical ranch houses in 9 weeks. How many
weeks would it take to build 20 houses?
4 houses = 9 weeks
20 houses = ? Weeks

4 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 9 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑠
=
20 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑋 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑠
4X = 9*20
X = 9*20 ÷ 4
X = 45 weeks

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 Proportions

A construction crew of 6 carpenters (all working at the same rate) can build a house in 5 weeks.
How long would it take a crew of 10 carpenters to build the same house?
6 carpenters = 5 weeks
10 carpenters = ? Weeks

6 carpenters 𝑋 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑠
=
10 carpenters 5 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑠
6*5 = X*10
30 ÷ 10 = X
X = 3 weeks

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 Parameters and Areas

Find the perimeter of a triangle with sides of 8, 5, and 7 inches.

B

c a

A b C

P= a + b +c
= 8 in. + 5 in. + 7 in.
= 20 in.

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 Parameters and Areas

Find the Area of a triangle with sides of 9, 5, and 7 inches.

B
c
a

A b C

A =B*h*1/2
A = 5*9*1/2
= 22.5 inches2.

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 Perimeter and Area of Rectangles

Figure Area Perimeter Shapes

Rectangle A = L *W P = 2(L +W) W

L
Square A = S2 A = 4*S S

a
Parallelogram A= b *h P = 2a * 2b
h
b
b
Trapezoid A = 1h(B +b) P = a + b + c +B
2 h c
a
B
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 Perimeter and Area of Rectangles

Here are three different methods to find the area of the house plan shown.
Sol:
40’

30’ 24’

12’
Method 1:

B A = 30 ft * 12 ft = 360 ft2
A 28’ * 24’ B = 24 ft * 28 ft = 672 ft2
12’ * 30’ Area of house: 1032 ft2

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 Perimeter and Area of Rectangles

Method 2:

A
40’ * 24’ A = 24 ft * 40 ft = 960ft2 B = 6
ft * 12 ft = 72 ft2 Area of house:
1032 ft2
B 12’ * 6’

Method 3:

40’ * 30’
40 ft * 30 ft = 1200 ft2
-(28 ft * 6 ft) = -168 ft2 Area of
house: 1032 ft2
-(28’ * 6’)

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 Perimeter and Area of Circle

Figure Area Perimeter Shapes

Circle A = ∏r2 Circumference = 2∏r

Or r

C = ∏d

r = radius of the circle

d = diameter of the circle

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 Perimeter and Circle

Example: Find the area of the ring shown (green area)

Sol:
Area of the ring = Aoutside –Ainside
5”

Both are circles so use A =∏r2

A outside = ∏(5)2 = 78.5in2 10”

Area inside = ∏(2.5)2 = 19.625 in2
Area of the ring (green area) = 78.5 – 19.625 = 58.9 in2

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 Quiz

Two drain pipes measuring inches I.D. (inside diameter) flow into one main pipe by means of a “Y” connector. What
should be the minimum diameter of the main pipe to accommodate the flow from the two smaller pipes? (The cross-
sectional area of the main pipe must be as large or larger than the total cross-sectional area of the two pipes flowing
into it.)

Please turn in your quiz to your instructor on Canvas for class participation credit

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 Planswift

Review of basic estimating

concepts Planswift for quantity takeoffs
o Basic Calculations
What is PlanSwift?
o Address Number
o Crew • A takeoff and estimating software used in construction.
o Daily output
o Labor Hours • Helps measure and quantify materials from digital plans.

o Total Incl. O&P

• Speeds up the estimating process with automation.
o Unit
o Productivity and Activity
Duration
o Examples
o Equipment Cost
Planswift

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 Planswift

Review of basic estimating

concepts Key features
o Basic Calculations
• Digital Takeoff: Measure areas, lengths, volumes, and counts directly from
o Address Number
o Crew blueprints.

o Daily output • Cost Estimation: Assign unit costs to materials and labor for quick budget
o Labor Hours
calculations.
o Total Incl. O&P
o Unit • Custom Assemblies: Create and save custom material and labor

o Productivity and Activity assemblies for repetitive tasks.

Duration
• Integration with Excel: Export takeoff data for further processing in
o Examples
o Equipment Cost spreadsheets.

Planswift • Plugins & Add-ons: Compatible with various trade-specific plugins for MEP,

concrete, drywall, etc.

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 Planswift

Review of basic estimating

Benefits
concepts
o Basic Calculations • Increases accuracy in quantity takeoff.

o Address Number • Reduces manual calculations and errors.

o Crew
• Saves time compared to traditional paper takeoffs.
o Daily output
o Labor Hours • Improves bid efficiency and competitiveness

o Total Incl. O&P

Industries Using PlanSwift:
o Unit
o Productivity and Activity • General Contracting

Duration • Electrical, Mechanical, & Plumbing (MEP)

o Examples
• Flooring and Roofing
o Equipment Cost
Planswift • Concrete and Structural Engineering

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 Planswift

Review of basic estimating How It Works:

concepts
• Import PDF or CAD drawings into the software.
o Basic Calculations
o Address Number • Use measurement tools to calculate required quantities.

o Crew • Assign pricing to materials and labor.

o Daily output
• Generate reports and export data for cost estimation.
o Labor Hours
o Total Incl. O&P • More can be seen in the images listed below

o Unit
o Productivity and Activity
Duration
o Examples
o Equipment Cost
Planswift

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 Planswift

Review of basic estimating

How It Works:
concepts
o Basic Calculations
o Address Number
o Crew
o Daily output
o Labor Hours
o Total Incl. O&P
o Unit
o Productivity and Activity
Duration
o Examples
o Equipment Cost
Planswift

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Questions?

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