10 Things Every Estimator Needs to Know About Concrete
Dekr Estimation Inc.
Transforming Construction Estimation - Elevate your projects with accurate, efficient, and remote estimating services.
Concrete is the main component in construction because it acts as a backbone in almost every building. So, concrete estimation is essential for everything from strong foundations to large slabs and other structural parts. Calculating how much concrete you need can be tricky, especially if you are not from this field. Even a small mistake can cause big problems. If you estimate too little, it can lead to delays, extra costs, and structural issues. If you estimate too much, you waste money, materials, and resources. Concrete estimation services help you with correct estimation calculations so you can complete your project without any delay.?
About Concrete Estimating Services: Concrete estimating services determine how much concrete and money you need for a construction project. This includes looking at the amount of materials, labour, and equipment needed. These services are used for small and large commercial projects. In this blog, we'll look at what affects the cost of concrete and how to include it in your quotes and calculations. Here are the 10 things every estimator needs to know about concrete.?
Calculating the cost of concrete for a job involves more than just measuring volume and getting a quote. It's important to visit the site beforehand to understand where the concrete needs to be poured. Sometimes, ready-mix trucks can't reach the site easily to use their chute for pouring. In such cases, you might need to use a pump or, as a last resort, wheelbarrows to transport the concrete. Difficult site access can increase labour costs and impact the price you quote your customer. Narrow paths, uneven terrain, obstacles, and limited space can complicate and slow down the concrete pouring process. Weather conditions and ground stability also affect how efficiently workers and equipment can operate. Always assess the site's accessibility before providing a concrete work quote.
Concrete projects need careful planning. When estimating concrete needs, think about time limits, weather, and curing times. Extreme heat or cold can significantly affect the workability and curing times of concrete takeoff, sometimes necessitating adjustments to the mix design or placement methods. In cold weather, drying slows down, which can impact your project's timeline. Adjustments to mix design or placement techniques may be necessary to account for these conditions.
You might already know that concrete drying and curing are different processes. Concrete dries quickly, but curing and hardening take longer, sometimes weeks or even months. As concrete cures, it shrinks slightly. So, the construction material takeoff determines how to calculate how much concrete you need, whether you're using concrete estimating software for quotes or doing it by hand. Adding 5% to 10% more should cover shrinkage and any waste on site.?
If you're new to quoting jobs involving concrete, you might find it confusing how ready-mix companies price your project. Their quote typically includes the concrete cost and a charge for standing time. Standing time is when the concrete truck is on your site, whether it's pouring concrete or not. If you schedule the concrete too early and the truck waits around, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars extra. Make sure you only order concrete when you're fully prepared to use it. Also, ensure your client understands the standing time rates so you can recover costs if there are delays.?
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Concrete is highly alkaline, similar to acid, which means it can cause severe burns if it touches bare skin. When quoting projects involving concrete work, you must include special personal protective equipment (PPE) such as rubber boots for foot protection, gloves, goggles, and more. Workers handling concrete should also receive safety training to handle it safely. These costs should be factored into your labour rates in construction estimation services.
Concrete drying and curing is a chemical process where cement, sand, and stone mixed with water undergo an exothermic reaction, generating heat essential for hardening. Getting the mix right is critical because various ordinary chemicals can affect how concrete is set. For instance, sugar can delay or prevent hardening, depending on its amount. Additionally, the quality of water, whether hard or soft, also influences drying and hardening and impacts achieving the required strength.
If you're new to working with concrete, you might not be aware of bubbles or voids that can form when it's poured. These voids weaken the concrete, even if the mix is right, potentially causing the finished product to fail due to trapped air when it dries. Special equipment like pokers and vibrators are used to remove these bubbles from wet concrete.
In many cases, pouring concrete is just the beginning. You'll also need to budget for finishing it in your quote, all of which are provided by concrete estimation services. There are various concrete finishes to consider, such as stamped, float, and broom finishes, among others. Knowing the required finish helps you factor in equipment and labour costs in your estimate.
Dealing with concrete involves not only pouring new structures but also demolishing and removing it from sites. Transporting concrete to an approved dump site can be costly due to its weight of about 4,000 pounds per cubic yard or roughly 2.4 metric tons per cubic meter. Broken concrete takes up more space, often requiring multiple trips for removal, even if you can manage the weight. When quoting for concrete demolition, factor in the high costs of removing heavy concrete from your job sites into your calculations.
Concrete needs water to dry and harden properly, and it must stay moist during curing to achieve the right strength. In cold weather, the water in concrete can freeze before curing completes, preventing it from reaching the desired strength. Once this chemical process is interrupted by freezing, it can't be restarted. If concrete freezes before curing, it will likely need to be redone. One solution is to heat and cover the concrete, using a heat source and cover to prevent freezing. The method depends on where the concrete is placed, but it can be expensive. If you plan to pour concrete in winter, include these costs in your construction estimates.