Estimating the Cost of Buildings; A Systematic Treatise (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt: ...may be used. In any case, you must refer to the elevations for the widths. Piazza Floors and Steps These are simple matters of areas and should be taken from the floor plans. I usually take both under one heading, measuring the steps double, as the treads are usually of 1 or 1 in. stock, and the cost of labor per "square" or square foot is greater than for the piazza flooring. Of course, the result can be worked out more minutely if you make two separate items; but the step area is usually such a small part of the total area of piazzas and steps that the costs carried out will be but slightly affected if you consider them jointly. Columns and Pilasters If there are piazza columns and pilasters make a note on the estimate sheet of the number, size and description of each kind. If you are unable to figure out costs for these parts delivered at the building, you can confer with a mill man and obtain prices from him. To the price delivered should be added the cost of the labor handling and setting, thus carrying out the cost for them set complete in the building. In determining the labor cost per column or pilaster for handling and setting, apply the rule I have given for figuring labor on cornices. This rule is readily applicable to any item of outside or inside finish, and in the absence of statistics of costs obtained from actual erection of similar parts in structures you have built, I know of no other way of arriving at the probable cost. Many men take other men's word for the cost of labor per given unit, but so few men make any attempt to prove their opinions in such things that you will do better to rely upon your own judgment. Balustrades. Balustrades can be best figured by the linear foot erected. The quantity is most readily obtained from t...