Are you a concrete contractor and want to increase your profitability? You’ve just arrived at the best concrete calculation and takeoff services in Town.
How to prepare a Concrete Estimate?
Takeoffs for concrete projects often include various different variables, including manpower, supplies, expenses, and profitability.
The time it takes to put up the forms and complete the final touches on the concrete is included in the labor total.
A little help on what things you should keep in mind while preparing a concrete calculation
- Make a rough outline of the area you plan to pour the concrete.
- Record the building’s dimensions (length, width, height) on paper.
- Calculate the surface area of the structure.
- Determine the depth of the building.
5 points to consider while preparing a concrete estimate
Many factors affect your estimation while doing a concrete takeoff:
1. Is the project suitable for your company?
If concrete is your specialty, pavement or pump and fill projects may be difficult. It may not match your knowledge, experience, and skills. It’s fine to employ these methods to enter new markets, but start small and avoid projects that won’t work. Use what you know to work productively and profitably.
2. Check the plans for anything strange
If you need specific labor, supplies, or other resources, see if you can finish your job profitably. If it slows down your staff, subcontract it. A modification order for something you missed during takeoff can look unprofessional.
Start with anchors, rebar, reinforcing mesh, etc. Some companies mark up paper plans using different colored markers, pencils, and pens and count them on a separate list. If you do this, mark up the plans the same way and double-check your work. We recommend using latest software for the markup like Plan Swift and Bluebeam
3. Check the concrete type and quantity
It’s important to check the concrete type if it is 3,000 or 5,000 PSI. What is the strength of the columns High-strength columns or normal? A major portion of cost depends on that.
Calculate the cubic yards by calculating each area and type of concrete, then contact your suppliers to find out the cost of materials.
4. Need uncommon materials?
Check the specifications for colored concrete, reinforcing fibers, and other unusual materials. Do they require special handling? Will you need more help to finish? Check these issues to avoid losing money.
What about strange project sections that demand more or specialized labor? Make sure to include a notation in your takeoff if you need to take extra precautions to accomplish a specific project, engage a subcontractor to handle a specialist concrete product, or pay overtime or a shift difference for a highway job that can only be poured at night.
5. Recheck your takeoff
After you’ve completed your takeoff, take a break and recheck your figures to ensure correctness. Are you sure you have reliable supplier costs? Are the costs of labor and materials reasonable? To make sure you didn’t miss anything, carefully go through the plans again.
How to calculate concrete slab?
- Determine how thick you want the concrete.
- Measure the length and width that you’d like to cover.
- Multiply the length by the width to determine the square footage.
- Convert the thickness from inches to feet.
- Multiply the thickness in feet by the square footage to determine cubic feet.
So, let’s take a 24×24 (ft) concrete slab as an example to elaborate more on the above steps
1. Determine the concrete thickness
There are plenty of sizes available in the market ranging from 4 inches to 14 inches in thickness. Normally, it is recommended to use 4 inches or 6 inches thick slab for a residential and commercial project.
For a 24 x 24, we are using 4 inches thickness.
2. Determine the square footage
Multiply the length with the width to determine the square footage
24 x 24 = 576ft
3. Convert thickness into feet
The thickness needs to be converted into feet to get a cubic feet value
4 inch = 0.33ft
4. Determine cubic feet
Now multiply the length, width, and thickness of the slab to determine the cubic feet value
24ft x 24ft x 0.33ft = 190.08 cu ft
How to bid on concrete jobs
- Discuss the client’s goals.
- Ask about the client’s budget.
- Talk about the client’s options.
- Calculate your material costs.
- Calculate your time expenses.
- Decide on your profit margin.
- Adjust your bid if needed.
How much does it cost to pour a 24×24 slab of concrete?
A typical 24×24 garage slab costs between $3,057 and $5,944 with prices ranging from $5.31 to $8.31 per square foot for a 4” reinforced slab of concrete, and $6.83 to $10.32 per square foot for a 6” slab of reinforced concrete.
How many 80lb bags of concrete make a yard?
One 80lbs bag of Quikrete Concrete Mix will yield approximately. 60 cu ft. So it will take 45 bags to equal one cubic yard of concrete. If you have a project over a 1/2 a cubic yard you should consider our Mix On-site Concrete especially if you are hand mixing.
How do you quote a concrete slab?
Take the length of the concrete slab x the width of the slab to get the total square footage. Multiply the total square footage by 6 (dollars) to get the total price. L x W x $6.00 in this example. Those are the basic materials and labor included in the cost of a concrete slab.
How Much Does a Concrete Patio Cost?
The average cost for a 12′ x 12′ concrete patio is about $1,700, or $12 per square foot. The typical range for a concrete patio depending on design, color, and texture is $6 to $16 per square foot or $864 for a plain slab to a vibrant custom design that costs $2,300.
How much would a 12×12 concrete slab cost?
The average cost for a standard 12′ x 12′ shed concrete slab costs roughly: $720 – $1,200. or $6 – $10.00 per square foot. However, costs can rise if you’d like to have something decorative as a stamped concrete patio, or if you’re looking to have curves and other decorative edging features installed.
How many sq ft does a yard of concrete cover?
Concrete volume is measured in cubic yards. When poured on a perfectly level surface, one cubic yard will cover 27 square feet at one foot thick.
