What Are The Top Five Concrete Estimation Services Tips?

Use of Ready-Mix Concrete 

Most commercial and residential projects use ready-mixed concrete for the construction of their projects. The ready-mix company is given the quantity, quality control requirements, strength, cement type, and so on for the ready-mixed concrete, and they then provide a quote for how much the material will cost. Large-scale projects and projects that are away from the cities where the concrete is mixed up on the job site Concrete estimation services in this case would necessitate the concrete estimator working thoroughly with all of the required materials, such as sand, cement quantity, admixtures, water ratio, and so on.

A lot of consideration is required for the onsite mixing for the batch plant assembly. It is determined by the size of the project and the amount of concrete required; additionally, the size and number of batch plants are determined.

In the end, to complete the estimated amount of concrete, you need to access the source of materials; the main consideration here is the distance from the site. Well, sometimes the specified quality of the material might not be available at the near-site facility, and then it will have a serious impact on the concrete cost estimation. To easily access the proportionate requirement of concrete ingredients, it is recommended to consult a professional mix design specialist civil engineer.

In this article, we will discuss some specific tips that will assist you in accurately determining concrete estimation services for you. However, before reaching out for tips, go through the general guidelines while approaching the concrete estimation. 

General Guidelines for Concrete Estimation 

• “Cubic Yards” is the unit of concrete estimation. While working on the drawings, all of the calculations are made in cubic feet. Then these cubic feet are converted into cubic yard quantities, as most ready-mix concrete companies price the concrete by the cubic yard. 
• The floor slabs, roof slabs, sidewalks, pavements, and slabs on grade are all measured according to length, width, and thickness. They are in both cubic feet and cubic yards.  
• In the slab elements, there should be some irregular shapes. They are measured by breaking them into smaller, meaningful shapes so, that accurate measurements can be taken.
•  Columns, Foundation Footing, and beams are also computed in cubic feet and cubic yards. This can only be done by taking the running length of these items and then multiplying them by the cross-sectional area. When transferring from one side to the other, the footing length working can be tricky; be careful to only add corners once. Additionally, because it extends from the sides, the footing would be longer than the wall.
•  The general overall wastage percentage for wall footings, columns, beams, and slabs may range from 5% to 8%. 
• When working with the numbers, holes smaller than 2 square feet are typically disregarded. Additionally, when calculating the volume, the areas occupied by the accessories, embeds, and reinforcing bars are not considered.

Below are a few tips that will enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of your concrete estimation services.

Tip No. 1

Examine the specifications

Thoroughly review the project specifications to determine the requirements of the floor slabs, footings, walkways, etc. You should better make a list of the following items for each element. 

1. Concrete Type 

2. Concrete Strength 

3. Concrete Color 

4. Any special curing and testing requirements 

Tip No. 2 

Matching Drawings and Specification Requirements 

Review the construction drawings. You should also match the specification requirements and all the concrete items marked on the drawings. If you notice a difference, contact the owner, designer, engineer, or architect for insurance.

Tip No. 3

Determining Quantities from Working Drawings 

You should determine the quantities from the working drawings for concrete estimation services. 

• On each wall section and the foundation plans, check for the footing sizes. There might be different footing sizes for the different walls. 
• All the sources for estimating concrete slabs are mostly available on the wall sections, structural details, and floor plans. 
• Plot, site plans, and section details are reviewed to estimate exterior walks and the driveway concrete quantities. 

Tip No. 4

Consideration for Improving Concrete Estimation 

Each of the following factors must be considered individually for accurate concrete estimating in USA.

• Steel reinforcement
• The reinforcements’ accessories (beam and slab bolsters, high chairs, bar ties, and tie wire
•  Formwork
• Pre-mixed concrete
• Setting up the concrete
• Completing the upper surface

Tip No. 5 

Give Special Attention to Concrete Forms

The primary cost for concrete estimation services is forming.

• The selection of the forms that are most appropriate for the work is one of the key components in estimating concrete
•  Total square feet is the measurement used to estimate forms.
• To utilize the workforce and equipment for putting concrete effectively, there must be enough forms available for erection.
• All required bracing and shearing are included in the pricing for forms-in-place.
• Pay close attention to staff productivity and wage rates.

Conclusion 

There are so many variables that affect the constructem estimating services on a project. Each project has its requirements. Concrete estimation services technology is getting more advanced day by day. Numerous studies have been done that show that using various reinforcement materials, admixtures, placement techniques, etc., the quality of concrete may be improved.