House Extension Estimates

Email: andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk
House Extension Estimator

As a construction estimator we have many clients that require house extension estimates.

Generally our clients are builders who are too busy building to undertake house extension estimates. Likewise architects who need us to estimate on their behalf for a client.

We quote for small lean to’s, single story side or rear extension. Double story side or rear extensions. Stand alone rear extensions and house refurbishments.

The service we provide is very professional with a quick turn around time. Most of our clients require our estimates to be returned within a few days to a week. Of course the construction estimator / freelance quantity surveyor does everything we can to accommodate our clients wishes.

All of our estimates are broken down to an item by item detailed quotation. This is measured into LM, m2 or m3 and priced accordingly. Also our estimates are very detailed. They can be easily read by our customers. However most importantly by your client.

Our estimates include for everything below DPC such as foundations. Concrete, drainage etc, brickwork, blockwork, carpentry (1st and 2nd fix). Drylining, plastering, painting, windows, doors, roof, tiles, guttering, downpipes, lead, timber etc. This list is not inclusive but it offers an idea regarding the detail we provide for every quotation.

Every client will be impressed by the professional construction estimate that we produce. First impressions count. Your client will be confident that you will provide a professional building service. If the construction estimate is professional to begin with. This could set you apart from the competitors if the estimates are close in price.

We also provide estimates for all other specialist trades such as drylining, groundworks, carpentry and painting etc.

Do you have any questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer your questions by return.

The UK Construction Market After Lockdown

Email: andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk

The UK Construction Market is set for a post lockdown boost due to pent up demand for bigger houses. People want more space. This is because of the new work from home culture.

The UK construction market has seen it’s sharpest recovery since 2014.

The driving force behind this is the demand for new bigger housing. Many people are getting used to the new work from home culture and need an extra room for an office. Perhaps abigger garden incase of future lockdowns, to be closer to nature and away from large city populations.

There has been a housing shortage in the UK for the best part of three decades. The driving force for this has been migration to the UK, now we have a new driving force. The need for bigger properties.

It’s very difficult to say if the need for bigger living space will be the new norm. Certainly this will be the theme for the next couple of years until the Covid infection just becomes another yearly jab to take alongside the flu jab.

UK Construction Builders

Small builders are also seeing a big demand for house extensions and loft conversions (housing estimation template). Not everybody can move to a new house in the country and the renovation sector will also see a large demand over the next few years. Many house extensions can be built without the need for planning permission (please check with your local council). However building regs inspectors will need to be appointed.

House builders, Quantity Surveyor’s, Architects and the building yards that supply them are set for a bumper 2021 and 2022.

The need for change has stimulated the UK construction market just at the right time. Businesses have been suffering during the lockdown period and now hopefully they can start to recover and maybe even prosper in the post lockdown world.

UK Construction

Drylining Estimator

andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk

I am an experienced drylining estimator who has many clients that are specialist dryliners, plasterers within the UK construction industry. The drylining estimates that are prepare are measured accurately and have detailed rate breakdowns.

My drylining experience is extensive. For Instance I have worked for two large drylining firms in the South West for a combined total of five years. Both companies won large drylining contracts generally in the £1m+ range. This was during my employed career.

My task’s were as today as a Quantity Surveyor / Drylining Estimator. Therefore I have worked with Lafarge, British Gypsum and Knauf drylining products. Nowadays the modern drylining business also offers Metsec, Screed, Plastering and Render.

Drylining Estimator

Life within drylining is never boring. First fix is generally without drama, however second fix after the M&E companies have finished their works can be a challenge.

Then of course there is the constant battle with damage / repairs due to MEWPS and other items.

One of the biggest expenses in drylining is waste. The amount of plasterboard waste is extensive. Waste can be a constant battle for drylining companies and if this problem can be solved or minimized a big cost saving can be achieved. Generally we allow for 10% waste within our rates. In addition to allowing an approximate estimate of £0.50 per m2 for the labour to clear the waste to skips. I have actually seen one company that had plasterboard delivered in special sizes. This was to avoid the second plasterboard cutting to the soffit. Waste should be recycled and re-used for sustainability.

We produce rate breakdown summary’s for every item priced. Therefore our drylining clients can give our rate breakdowns to their site team. For Instance to the Quantity Surveyor who can then manage the project budget successfully.

We try to be as detailed as possible with our estimates, as we believe this is exactly what our clients expect.

Drylining Estimator

Groundworks Estimator

Email: andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk

Being a Groundworks Estimator is challenging but rewarding. It is one of the most interesting parts of my job. There is always so much detail to interpret from the drawings and documentation when undertaking groundwork projects.

Groundwork take off’s generally include for drainage (surface water and waste), manholes, excavation, piles, concrete slabs and foundations. However this list is not exclusive and there can be many more elements such as roads and paving.

75% of the time, clients email me a prepared Bill of Quantities from their potential Main Contractor. This is much less time consuming as I don’t need to take off the quantity’s. In this instance I peruse the drawings and documentation for detail and add the rates to the Bill of Quantities accordingly.

Similarly the rest of my clients ask me to measure and price their potential project. We have already created groundworks estimator templates. In other words this saves some time. When measuring quotations we use the bluebeam software. Bluebeam is an excellent measuring tool that is replacing the old fashion scale rule. No more printing out reams of construction drawings either.

We send to our clients all of our completed groundwork estimates in microsoft excel. This allows them to amend the estimate should they so wish in the future.

The groundwork estimator rates contain labour, plant, material and profit.

Conclusion

Groundworkers often get the rough end of the deal especially in winter. The trade can be very tough when the ground is wet as it generally is in the UK. So to get a professional to estimate for you defiantly takes away a little bit of the stress involved with being a subcontractor.

If you have any questions regarding our groundworks estimator service. Please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or telephone. We will be happy to help.

Construction Take Off’s

Email: andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk
Bluebeam Measurement Software

The Freelance Quantity Surveyor use’s the Bluebeam Estimating Software tool for our estimating and construction take off’s. The program is a god send.

Bluebeam is an outstanding measuring tool allowing us to forward our take off’s and workings directly to our clients in PDF format.

The presentation and clarity of Bluebeam Estimating software allows us and our clients to show professional take off’s, which portray a professional image. A professional image is vital at all times in business.

Bluebeam allows our clients to quickly see exactly what we have taken off and in great detail. As a result, they can then take the PDF forward and use it themselves throughout their project.

We have been using Bluebeam for about 5 years now. Consequently, it has really changed the way we work regarding our construction take off’s. We do not use Bluebeam all of the time as some clients do not require such an in depth take off. If we are pricing a Bill of Quantities for example, we probably do not need to generally double check the Quantities.

Construction Take-off’s – Example Project

Construction Take Off's
A Snapshot of a Beam and Block Take Off Using Bluebeam Estimating

Above you can see a floor plan take off for beam and block. The building is not symmetrical, hence we are using Bluebeam to get an exact measurement. Rather than using a scale rule and making an approximate measure of the area.

A Take Off For Render

Finally, above you can see a render take off using Bluebeam Estimating. This elevation would almost certainly of been a nightmare taking off the area with a scale rule.

We use bluebeam for all types of estimating. This could be Drylining, Groundworks or Carpentry for example. The examples on this page are from a luxury house development. The house in question was almost £1m. We do house extensions with Bluebeam also for the opposite end of the market.

Refurbishment Estimator

Email: andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk

As a refurbishment estimator I regularly estimate luxury refurbishment projects in London and throughout the UK.

A recent project that required a refurbishment estimator was this property in Mayfair, London.

Subsequently the property requires demolition, window renovation, new doors, skirting’s, re-decoration, new kitchen, new flooring and some M & E alterations.

We estimate a lot of luxury refurbishment projects for our clients. Also we price standard refurbishment projects. Both residential and commercial.

To compile a refurbishment estimate involves a deep understanding of construction. Generally refurbishment projects are much more complicated than new build projects. Identifying what needs to be priced and the cost effect of that item can be challenging. The refurbishment estimator needs to be experienced. Fortunately for our clients. We are highly experienced in construction.

Our construction rates take into account the extra time it takes to re-build refurbishment projects.

Refurbishment Estimator
Refurbishment Project, London

Refurbishment Estimator – Demolition Costs

Sometimes it can be difficult to estimate the time it will take for the demolition works. Fortunately we can lean on our past experience of similar projects to estimate the demolition time and subsequent cost.

We must also take into account the amount of skips that are required. Nowadays most waste needs to be separated into metals, plastics, dangerous waste and plasterboard etc. This by itself can be a time consuming and costly process. Actually calculating the waste cost can really make or break a job. However the contractor does not want to be chasing his profit so early in the project. Therefore we take extra time to go over the waste and skip cost’s. Experience tells us that this part of the project is one of the most crucial.

If you have a refurbishment project that needs estimating, please do email andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk with the documentation / drawings and we will respond asap.

We also estimate drylining and groundworks for our clients.

Quantity Surveyor

Email: andy@freelancequantitysurveyor.co.uk

To be a good Quantity Surveyor you need to be good at time management, excellent with numbers, understand drawing details and specifications. You should also be good in Microsoft excel.

I have been a QS since I was 18 years old, over 24 years now. I can say that no two days are the same and everyday you should be looking to learn a new skill. Because things change very quickly in construction. It could be a law change, maybe the construction act has some revisions. Or perhaps a new JCT contract revision. Likewise it could be a new building method or product onto the market. Construction waits for no man and a good Quantity Surveyor should be ahead of the curve.

It is also useful to know how much an item costs per m2 for approximate estimating. Double checking quotations from contractors quickly can be a real assets for the busy professional.

Quantity Surveyor
A Quantity Surveyor Will Do A Lot of Take Off’s

Being a Quantity Surveyor is a challenging role but enjoyable and rewarding.

There are many associations that you can join, however the main trade association is the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Due to the fact they support their members with trade literature, up to date construction market news and pricing / rate software.

I now specialise in construction estimation as a Freelance Quantity Surveyor. Everybody must find their own path within the profession. Some will work for a subcontractor, some a main contractor, some a practice and some as freelance. No route or decision is better than the other. But I believe that to expose yourself to the most amount of knowledge is important. Therefore I would choose to work for a main contractor to begin with.

My advice to anybody who wants to become a Quantity Surveyor is to gain a construction related degree, work hard and be open to learning everyday.

How has the UK construction market progressed after lockdown?

Construction Template Pack

Over 40+ Downloadable Construction Templates.

CVR Sheets, Daywork Sheet, CVI Sheet, Valuation Template, Final Account, Pay Less Notice, Vesting Certificate, Site Management File etc etc

Only £39.99

Download Now