No comments about Building Construction Cost Data Metric 1996.

No comments about Bookkeeping for Builders.

No comments about Concrete & Masonry Cost Data 1996 (14th ed, Issn 0739-8298).

No comments about Facilities Construction Cost Data, 2000 (Facilities Construction Cost Data).

No comments about Dodge Unit Cost Book, 1997 (Sweet's Unit Cost Guide).

1 comments about Mechanical Cost Data, 1999 (Means Mechanical Cost Data).

1. As many HVAC estimators apparently know, this book has cost data for just about every mechanical system you can imagine. While the book would be overkill for most folks, those who are considering significant home remodeling projects may find it worthwhile as a way to fairly evaluate bids. A certain amount of time and knowledge is required to figure out how to use the book, but once you do it's a goldmine. As an example, I used it a week ago to verify a $65,000 quote for a big renovation job a coworker's friend was considering and found out that the heat pump piping was ten times too high - $20,000 versus $2,000! It breaks out materials, labor and profit/overhead so you know exactly what you are getting into. Money well spent, especially if you get last year's edition... so the costs are a little lower - it's a good spot to start bargaining with contractors!

2 comments about Assemblies Cost Data 2000 (Means Assemblies Cost Data).

1. This book is great for those of us just starting out in construction - it breaks down each system so that you may price the pieces individually or as an entire system price.

   It's really great if you don't know what you should be looking for in a complete system. For example, what goes into a stem wall - this book explains it, and then prices each individual part. Great resource!




2. The Assemblies Cost Data method is a reliable and fairly quick way to generate an estimate. This is especially helpful if you want to compare the costs of different construction types (i.e. steel, pre-cast, cast-in-place). However, I found that I still needed the information in the more detailed Construction Cost Data book to fill in missing items, like demolition, louvers, or ceiling insulation.

No comments about Repair & Remodeling Estimating Methods (Means Repair and Remodeling Estimating, 1997).

5 comments about Building Construction Cost Data 1997 (Means Building Construction Cost Data).

1. introduction to cost control and what is a cost control



2. i need to have more in elaborate



3. This book is famous enough not to mention...
   We are using so much frequently...



4. For anyone in the construction management field, this text is a well-known reference. Nothing can replace your own firm's historical productivity data and quotes from subcontractors and suppliers, but RS Means can give you a good idea of where an estimate begins. It is a great tool for architects and owners to calculate preliminary cost estimates for a wide range of products.



5. This is a very complete compilation of cost data for commercial construction. The systems portion is very helpful for a quick estimation but the real value is in the wide variety of componets listed. This book will take awhile to learn to use for the new contractor but the investment in time is worth while.

No comments about Dodge Unit Cost Data, 1987.