50 CHAPTER SIX
Many contractors either rent barricades or contract for sup-
ply and maintenance. If so,
Temporary Utilities
Temporary toilets—Local codes, union rules, or accepted
company ratios usually govern the quantity and types of
toilets that must be supplied. Chemical, portable toilets
will usually suffice. In the case of a remodeling project,
the existing toilet facilities might be available for use;
however, permission is typically needed.
To Estimate Cost
Number of toilets Number of months required
Monthly rate Temporary water—On most projects, the general con-
tractor must provide water for all trades. This item can
become costly if working in remote or extremely hot cli-
mates. If temporary water comes from a municipality,
there may be some sewer requirements.
To Estimate Cost. Function of project location and
environment
Temporary light and power—This is determined by the
power requirements of the project. If high-power electri-
cal equipment is being used in the construction, the
power drop from the pole may be anywhere from 2,300
volts to 480 volts. If this power is used, a transformer will
be required to supply power for the office and power
tools. In addition, there is typically a demand charge for
utility installations that require more than 200 amps. If
the power requirements are above this threshold, the
kilowatt rate from the power company will have little
meaning. Therefore, the best information comes from
previous projects that had similar power requirements.
In addition, there is the need to include temporary lights
after the building is closed in and any associated power
cords and bulbs.
The estimator also needs to be aware of the antici-
pated start-up of the mechanical equipment. If this
equipment is started early to improve the work environ-
ment, a substantial utility cost will be associated with
keeping this equipment running during the remainder
of the construction process.
To Estimate Cost. Determine the power requirements
and get cost information from the utility supplier. If familiar
with working in the area, a historical monthly allowance
would be acceptable.
Temporary heat—If the project runs through the winter, it
may be necessary to rent heaters and provide needed fuel.Quantity item monthsMonthly rateTo Estimate Cost
Number of heaters Number of months required
Monthly rental rateRepairs and Protection
Repairs to streets and pavement—This covers the cost of
repairing all streets damaged during construction.
Damage to adjoining structures—There is always the
chance of damaging adjacent structures, such as win-
dows, foundations, and walls improperly shored. These
items should be considered when estimating the project.
Protecting new work from damage during construction—
During construction, it becomes necessary to protect
certain classes of work such as cut stone, marble, terra
cotta, granite, and all types of floors and wood
products.
Repairing new work damaged during construction—
Patching damaged plaster, replacing broken glass, and so
forth are the responsibility of the contractor. General
contractors should keep a close watch on these items, as
they can be back-charged to a subcontractor if they
broke or damaged an item.Relocating Utilities
Water lines
Electric linesTo Estimate Cost. Identify items and solicit prices or get
the cost from the agency that owns the lines.Cleaning
Removal of rubbish (typically weekly)
Cleaning for final acceptanceTo Estimate Cost Estimate the number of loads or
frequency of loads. Get a price quote on a per haul basis.
Cleaning for final acceptance. Get a per-square-foot cost
from a cleaning service.Permits
To Estimate Cost. Contact local government agency to
determine what is required and the cost. This should be
done when going to or coming from the pre-bid site visit.
In addition to building permits, permits may be required
for work done in the public right of ways, such as a road
cut. The contractor may have to submit other documents,
such as a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan
(SWPPP), to government agencies before construction can
begin. The cost of preparing these documents and obtain-
ing the necessary permits needs to be included in the pro-
ject overhead.