At times, it is important for the general contractor to prepare a detailed takeoff of items that are subcontracted. Knowing when to do the detailed takeoff and when it is simply extra work is important to both the accuracy and the completeness of the estimate.

Refer to the chapter Pricing Subcontractors’ Work of your course textbook Fundamentals of Construction Estimating and answer the following questions:

•The Summary section at the end of the chapter lists six potential problems with subcontractor bids. Which of the problem areas will cause the greatest risk to a general contractor if the subcontractor bids are not properly completed? Which will be of the least concern? Explain your choices with appropriate references, a rationale, and examples from your personal experience or research.

•For each problem listed in the textbook, identify two methods of either eliminating or minimizing the risk for the general contractor. Explain how these methods can be used to eliminate or minimize the risk.

Support your responses and comments with an appropriate rationale and examples from your experience or research.

PART II

Construction Crew

Understanding crew sizes, crew costs, and crew productivity is essential to the proper estimation of labor costs.

With reference to the textbook Walker’s Building Estimator’s Reference Book and Appendix A: Drawings and Outline Specifications of a Small Commercial Building from your course textbook Estimating in Building Construction, perform the following tasks:

•Create a construction crew and find the production rates and crew pricing for concrete work and rough carpentry work.

•How does using a crew affect the production rates used by the estimator? What are the risks associated with estimating using crew pricing?

Support your responses and comments with an appropriate rationale and examples from your experience or research.