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Tracking Construction Productivity - A Few Examples - Free Excel Template
Construction Documents & Templates

Tracking Construction Productivity: A Few Examples [Free Excel Template]

Determining the profitability of a construction project is straightforward: it’s simply the difference between what a contractor gets paid to complete a project, less what it costs them to do so. When contractors create budgets for their projects, they have to estimate the cost and profit margin for every item of work they must perform. This includes materials, equipment, supplies, overhead expenses and of course – the cost of labor. Given that the vast majority of projects depend heavily on those who physically perform the work, it only makes sense that labor costs on most projects is substantial. It’s not uncommon for labor costs to make up the majority of a project’s total budget. The more efficient and productive the crews onsite work, the more profitable a project is. But how is this productivity calculated? How can construction managers and supervisors know whether or not the workers are meeting the budget? What if some items are going better than estimated, while others are doing worse? This is why tracking construction productivity on a regular basis is so important. Let’s go through a few examples of how to track construction productivity using an Excel template, which you can download for free below!

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Best Automated Construction Estimating Excel Software
Construction Documents & Templates

Best Automated Construction Estimating Excel Software [Free Download]

We’ve used all sorts of construction estimating softwares and templates over the years. In this process, we’ve realized exactly what a great estimating program should be like – and what it shouldn’t include as well! That’s why we’ve created, in our humble opinion, the best automated construction estimating Excel software on the internet! Does it allow you to customize units of measurement, labor rates and profit margins? YES. Does it provide a clean, easy-to-use interface for estimating individual work items? YES. Does it break each work item into sections like labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors and more? YES. Does it look good doing it? YES! Click here to preview the features of our estimating template and download yours for free.

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What Should Be Included In A Schedule Of Values - 7 Tips For Contractors
Construction Documents & Templates

What Should Be Included In A Schedule Of Values? Free Template + 7 Tips For Contractors

When it comes time to pay our cable bill or buy groceries, the process is fairly straightforward. We look at the bill or cash register, get out our wallets and cough up the money. Then we’re on our way. In the construction industry, the billing process is a bit more complicated. Projects that are in full swing have workers onsite from several different trades, materials getting delivered, equipment in use and other costs like that. The Owners of these projects release progress payments as the project continues (often monthly). The amount paid is supposed to represent the amount of work done since the last time they paid a bill. What determines how much any particular task of work is worth in comparison to the entire project? That’s where the Schedule of Values (SOV) comes in! So what should be included in a schedule of values? Here are 7 tips for contractors!

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10 Things To Exclude From A Construction Bid, Proposal Or Contract
Construction Documents & Templates

10 Things To Exclude From Construction Bids, Proposals & Contracts

All construction projects begin on paper. Tied with drawings, the most important pieces of paper on a construction project are those included in the legal documents. Legal terms are found most defined in the final contract executed between a client and contractor, but even the terms and conditions submitted as part of a construction bid or proposal are critical and carry legal implications, too. This is why it’s essential that contractors understand what to exclude from a construction bid, proposal or contract. In this article, we’ll cover 10 must-know things to exclude in your next construction project.

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What Do RFP & RFQ Mean In Construction? Free RFP & RFQ Templates
Construction Documents & Templates

What Do RFP & RFQ Mean In Construction? Free RFP & RFQ Templates

The execution of a construction project heavily relies on making purchases. While it’s no mystery that budgeting and cost control are vital aspects of construction management, the actual act of making purchases is important in and of itself. Whether we’re purchasing material and equipment or contracting out a portion of our work, there’s an art and a science behind the procurement process of a project. Within this process are some common acronyms, specifically RFP and RFQ. What do RFP and RFQ mean in construction? That’s what we’re exploring in this article. We’re also giving away a FREE RFP Word template – scroll to download section!

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Understanding Building Permits, Plus A Building Permit Process Flowchart
Construction Documents & Templates

Understanding Building Permits, Plus A Building Permit Process Flowchart

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just pull up to a vacant lot and begin construction on a new building? If there weren’t any restrictions on what we can do to buildings, if there weren’t any permissions required to perform work? While it’s tempting to say “yes, that’d be PERFECT”, we should hit pause. Building permits are a vital part of maintaining our country’s infrastructure – they ensure that work will be performed in accordance with building codes, that it will be done correctly and that all parties involved are on the same page before any work begins. They’re also necessary for properly documenting project documents like drawings, inspections, etc. This article is all about understanding building permits, plus a building permit process flowchart/infographic!

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3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template
Construction Documents & Templates

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!

Every construction project has a schedule to keep. Even in the early stages of a construction project, Clients and Contractors alike must create a master schedule to determine a feasible, realistic completion date along with the steps it will take to get there. While master completion schedules are important, they don’t really provide enough data to determine the fine details of what’s happening today vs. tomorrow. Ironically, Contractors must get the short-term, “this week”-type of tasks nailed down solidly in order to ever actually keep up with the master schedule! In order to plan out the near future, Contractors rely on a specific technique. Today, we’re talking about the 3-week look ahead schedule in construction. We’re also giving away a FREE 3-week look ahead Excel template, too!

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The Difference Between Shop Drawings And Construction Drawings
Construction Documents & Templates

Shop Drawings vs Construction Drawings: 5 Key Differences

One of the first things a person thinks of when “construction” is discussed is a large, full-sized set of construction drawings. People outside the industry see construction drawings as an infallible guide for building the project from beginning to end. While they’re technically correct, this assumption does not account for the sheer volume of drawings that a construction project actually requires. Not only that, but there are in fact MANY types of drawings for any given construction project! There is such a thing as ‘construction drawings’, but there are also drawings that are developed as the project is underway, known as shop drawings. In this article, we’re discussing the difference between construction drawings and shop drawings!

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How Do You Organize Project Documentation? A Few Must-Know Methods
Construction Documents & Templates

How Do You Organize Project Documentation? A Few Must-Know Methods

Take a look at every job listing for companies seeking a Project Manager. Two of the requirements that every company wants to see in a candidate are excellent organization skills and attention to details. This is for good reason – successful projects MUST be well-organized. Details get lost, efficiency drops and mistakes are made when project documents aren’t organized. Not to mention that files serve as legal documents that must be retained for some time after the project is done. How do you organize project documentation, then? In this article, we’ll discuss 10 must-know methods for organizing project documents the right way.

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Construction Documents & Templates

Change Order Best Practices: What Contractors & Clients Need To Know

Let’s start this off with a picture of two boats: one is a large, expensive boat and the other an inflatable dingy the owner uses to ferry out to the big boat from land. The small dingy is named “original contract” while the large, luxurious boat is named “change order”. I first saw this picture in college and laughed, but didn’t quite understand. After working for many years on a variety of commercial projects, it makes a lot more sense. While this picture is funny but obviously way off scale, the point is clear. Regardless of what the original contract consists of, projects can be made or broken by change orders – that goes for clients AND contractors! In this article, we’ll be discussing a variety of change order best practices that will benefit both owners and contractors alike.

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