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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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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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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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What Is A Project Safety Plan - Free Site Specific Safety Plan Template Download!
Construction Documents & Templates

What Is A Project Safety Plan? Free Construction Safety Plan Template!

Make no mistake about it – construction sites are dangerous. Hazards exist everywhere, even while taking precautions. Things like sharp tools, airborne debris and tripping hazards, all the way up to falls, collapses and struck-by accidents are just a few of the many safety hazards you can find on most construction sites. While accidents certainly aren’t planned, the prevention of accidents is ALWAYS planned. Not only do workers in the industry need to be educated on safe work practices, but they need to know the specific hazards that each job site presents. While basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required on all sites, we need something more for our projects to make sure we’re creating as safe of a work environment as possible. We need a Project Safety Plan. So what is a Project Safety Plan, exactly? In this article, we’ll answer this question via a free project-specific site safety plan template!

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Cost To Complete Template - FREE Excel Download
Construction Management

Cost To Complete Template: FREE Excel Download (ETC, EAC, BAC)

While a project is underway, it can be difficult to know exactly how the project is going financially. Workers and staff members are paid. Purchases are made. Revenue comes in, payments flow out. How is the project REALLY doing, though? The depletion of a project’s budget can be like quicksand – no one really notices until they’re already in a bit of trouble. Projects that are in full-swing require so much attention that the budget takes the backseat. In some ways this is logical – time spent monitoring the project is time not spent pushing it forward. Unfortunately though, project monitoring and control is an essential ingredient of a successful project. This article will be focused on performing a Cost-To-Complete (CTC) forecast. In this article, we’ll include a FREE Excel download of our cost to complete template!

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Construction RFI: What Is It And What To Know
Construction Documents & Templates

RFI In Construction: Basics, Purpose & Tips [Free Excel Template]

If you’ve ever worked on a construction project, you’ve certainly experienced this: whether you’re attempting to understand a drawing, trying to coordinate parts of the work or see an issue in the design, you run into something you don’t fully understand – you need to ask a question! But how? It’s not always enough to just call up an Architect or Engineer and ask them – in fact, it’s not a good idea to do this. It’s probably not even allowed. These questions must be formalized in writing, as do the answers to these questions. The way this is done is by sending a Request For Information, otherwise known as an RFI. Let’s go through the details of what an RFI is, what should be included in an RFI and some best practices. Also, be sure and download our free construction RFI Excel template.

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Construction Submittal Log Best Practices
Construction Documents & Templates

The Construction Submittal Log: 5 Best Practices [FREE Excel Template]

Not only are thousands and thousands of documents involved in a large construction project, but they’re always changing hands. Project staff members review these documents, then make comments, ask questions and request additional information. This back-and-forth can include several revisions for even one single document before it’s approved to proceed. This is why every successful project must have a submittal log. This is a ledger that tracks every document on the project: who put it together, when they sent it, who reviewed/responded to it, when they responded, and so on. Ideally, everything down to the nut and bolt is recorded in this process.

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