Outsourcing Estimating

At Construction Estimating Support we treat the customer as a top priority, providing an exceptional construction estimating service right through the project. From its embryonic start through to the final step in the build, as part of our construction estimating service, Construction Estimating Support recognises there are times when an in-house estimator will be stretched whilst trying to juggle various ongoing projects. We therefore offer a full out sourcing service to the customer.  Our construction estimating service makes certain that the customer is fully briefed as the project progresses, whilst removing any concerns or anxiety for the client.

A hot topic in the construction news is the need for companies to consider utilising an out sourced estimating service. The strong recommendation is that a thorough evaluation is undertaken of any outsourced resource to guarantee quality of service.  Out sourcing estimating can be the single solution, delivering a top quality service to professionals who know and understand the business needs of the contractor and sub contractor, taking on board all of the construction estimating service requirements.  UK Estimating Support is the leading expert in this field and the customer can be assured of a construction estimating service of the highest standard.

There are many benefits of out sourcing the estimating to a constructing estimating service:

Preliminaries 

Defining and scoping out any project is crucial to any construction estimating service and at UK Estimating Support we genuinely believe in working with the customer. We believe in giving our clients the extra edge by providing an insightful and comprehensive understanding of the cost implications and supply preliminaries which are broken down in to two main areas, time and fixed costs.

The old adage “time is money” is entirely apt when it comes to the construction industry. The preliminaries stage of a contract is perhaps the most important stage in saving time in advance.

We fully understand the cost implications when it comes to time, and as such as part of our construction estimating service, the time element of each project is broken down even further, into “Time Related Costs” and “Management and Established Costs.”  With regard to time related costs, this is detailed by outlining the costs that are incurred over the entire period of the construction, the actual time involved.  The management and established costs are the costs involved to employing quantity surveyors, a project manager, planners, supervisors, any administration carried out by staff and so basically it encapsulates the micro detail of the costs, providing the customer with an incisive and clear picture of the costings of the two components that make up the complete value of the time element.

Another part of the costing involves looking at fixed costs whereby tangible items such as flooring, walls, plastering, electricals and many other aspects, are given a value or a cost.  These are categorised and priced, and form part of the statement of premlinaries.  Such detail has long been expounded by the press when detailing the construction news and this is forefront in our construction estimating service as UK Estimating Support wholeheartedly believes in communication, and that means detail and micro information.

By highlighting key areas and by being specific in the preliminaries, this means that the customer is completely in control of their finances, receiving an extensive cost explanation right down to the smallest detail and this construction estimating service is axiomatic, ensuring the maximum amount of information is captured and costed.  Everything is quantified and given a value, whether that’s time or fixed costs, a full explanation is provided as part of the construction estimating service.

Provisional Sums and contingencies 

As the leading provider to the construction industry, offering a comprehensive construction estimating service, and as part of our commitment, Construction Estimating Support will look at the project in its entirety and capture key elements, ensuring nothing is left to chance and that a complete cost structure is presented to the customer.  This includes areas that have not been defined for one reason or another but will still need to budgeted for as well as highlighting areas which have yet to be costed.  This ensures that nothing will be omitted when the detailed costings are put together, and acts as a prompt for the project manager.  These are demonstrated as the provisional sum and contingencies.

The provisional sum is exactly that.  When a tender has been submitted but for one reason or another, the exact figure has not been obtained, then a provisional or interim figure is inserted against an item, time, or material.  This is normal within the construction estimating service industry, as often prices for materials will vary enormously, but in order to describe it and include it in the billing, a provisional sum is used and there are illustrated as a rounded number.  This helps with the flow of the project as it is not slowed down by waiting for a set price, but allows the management of the build to continue and provides the customer with an approximate figure and an insight into projected figures.

With any business it is vital to have a contingency as projects can come across unexpected problems and therefore a contingency figure must be accounted for to allow for flexibility and ensure the build remains on plan, hitting the key milestones at the right time.  Failure to include a contingency budget could set the project back while further funds are found to overcome a certain issue or problem, but by illustrating a contingency figure as a rounded number right from the outset, this forward planning ensures the build remains on course.  The construction news has long been calling for the construction estimating service to anticipate and provide contingency budgets for unforeseen problems but this is something Construction Estimating Support automatically builds in to the costing for the customer.  This guarantees clarity and transparency for the client as well as acting as a check list.  We believe this is an elementary yet important factor of our construction estimating service.

Estimates Include:

To use and old saying “the devil’s in the detail” is completely appropriate when it comes to a top construction estimating service. Construction Estimating Support believes in providing the customer with a detailed cost breakdown and this is absolutely essential in ensuring accuracy of costs.  Over the years, Construction Estimating Support has been involved in many different projects and our expertise across all fields makes our construction estimating service second to none.  

We understand the complexities of costing a full project based on specifications, quantity surveyors’ reports, drawing, and materials, through to the costs of time management as well as including all the fixed costs involved in managing a project, from inception to completion and we provide a comprehensive construction estimating service to our customers. 

Recognising there are many different building project scenarios our construction estimating service has covered every type of build and has a diverse range of experience and knowledge in all the sectors, the following are just some examples:-

Industrial

Construction Estimating Support provides an integral construction estimating service to a new build for an industrial estate which was situated on undeveloped land and was sized at 750m2 or 8168ft2 and this build encompassed the groundworks, strip footing, which was followed by a concrete base and concrete slabbing.  The frame was built in solid steel which were then bricked.  All the externals walls were sheet clad as was the roof.  As this build was an office block, the project also consisted of suspended ceilings to reduce heating costs, as well as beam and block flooring, and included partitions to section off the various work sectors.  A new cooling system was fitted as well as a new plumbing and santitaryware installation.  Our client takes its staffs’ health and safety issues seriously and therefore included in the fittings was new security internal and external doors as well as double glazed window units, finished in an aluminium frame.  External to the building, our construction estimating service included the laying of a hardstanding area to the front, a security perimeter fencing for security, as well as a fully tarmaced parking facility.   In addition, the project included a full drainage system and from start to finish the new build took only 20 weeks in total and fulfilled the design and project objectives exactly.

Residential 

A three floor new build apartment complex over 1300m2 or 14,157ft2 which initially involved the demolition of the existing building and the complete clearing of the debris before then preparing the groundworks, piling and inserting strip footings.  The part steel structure was then installed as well as the brick and the block construction.  This incorporated the glazed party walling, the under beams and block flooring and then the segmenting of the apartments by installing the wall partitions.  Once the flats had been divided into their individual units, as part of the construction estimating service, UK Estimating Support completely fitted out each apartment.  This comprised of plasterboard ceilings, walls and floor finishes, complete rewiring, plumbing and sanitary functions, as well as the installation of new kitchens complete and bathrooms, complete with whitegoods.  Furthermore, a state of the art alarm system and sprinkler system were put in ensuring it fulfilled regulatory requirements and just part and parcel of our construction estimating service.

In addition, a new drainage system was installed and connected to nearby manholes as well as constructing an underground parking facility which included CCTV and electronic security gates, guaranteeing first class protection.  The entire surrounding of the building was landscaped using a professional landscape architect to ensure sympathetic planting was used to improve the finish to the project.  The entire programme was completed in under 26 weeks and as well as adhering to all design works and specifications, all local service providers were communicated to keep them fully briefed of the build, making this a completely comprehensive construction estimating service to the customer.

Retail 

Construction Estimating Support has been involved in many construction estimating services throughout the years, and part of its remit has been to work closely with the retail sector. A recent refit was a two storey building in an existing retail unit whereby the original fittings had to be entirely removed and new metal stud partitions installed which were up to three metres in height whilst metal stud partitions to the height of five metres where installed in a giant sized partitioning to enable the customer to not only section off different areas, but allowing for curved flexiboard partitioning to be implemented to give a chic designer look to the new retail outlet.  

To complete the new look of the shop, and as part of our construction estimating service, Construction Estimating Support was able to redecorate the unit, supplying all the materials which included a walnut veneered half hour fire rated doors and frames.  This meant that the unit’s new doors didn’t only look good, but were extremely safe.  Construction news is constantly reminding the industry of the need to continually think about health and safety issues, as well as just the overall appearance when choosing materials, and this is part of our construction estimating service, when dealing with UK Estimating Support.

Hospitals 

When an existing hospital approach us for our construction estimating service, it was something which UK Estimating Support was delighted to become involved with, as hospitals are such an important part of local community and as such, play a vital role.

This particular hospital needed an up-to-date extension added to the already existing building and was two storeys high with a brick frontage to complement the older part of the hospital.  A full excavation of the ground was undertaken before piled foundations were laid, and a new concrete slab installed.  To carefully link the two buildings, a trussed rafter roof was fitted, and new beams and flooring was laid before other new rooms were added.  These rooms consisted of a new clinical waste room, laboratories, and new offices.  Each room was redecorated and new ceilings and doors were installed and existing lifts and other electricals were linked to the older existing ones, effectively making one building by syncronising the new to the old.

To finally finish the look, a new entrance was added and the foyer was redecorated to add to the overall smart-new-look to the hospital, and forming a part of our construction estimating service.  This took a total of 26 weeks to complete.

Public Houses 

Construction Estimating Support has undertaken many refits and so when we were approached to upgrade an existing hotel and convert part of the building in to a public house, this was something where we have a great deal of expertise.

The building needed to be emptied of all furnishing as well as electrics, plumbing and a whole host of other fitments in order to have a bare shell.  The construction estimating service started by carrying out a part demolition and then to rebuild part of the public house, as well as joining the two sections together to form one building.  As part of constructing a new bar and hotel, the project included the installation of new plumbing, electrics, sanitaryware, new walls with high spec flooring, as well as a complete redecoration of the entire public house.  This included fitting a new bar and pumps to get the overall designer look that suited the image for this new facility, and also included.