Plumbing estimators

[Anonymous]

Most plumbing estimators have no idea what they are calculating and are frightened to even start an estimating computer program.

[GuestParticipant]

At the present time, I am doing my plumbing estimating an excel. I would like to use a useer friendy estimating program if available. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks, Jerry

[bungieParticipant]

I use this.

http://www.toolboxsoftware.com.au/

give it a good look, its worth a try

[iopnswParticipant]

Jerry, Indeed I have devised a system using excel and the boss appears to be very happy with it. the only problem I have is to import data from a data base and insert this in one of the cells. I think I may have to write a special custom function for this. Regards John

[iopnswParticipant]

Bungie
I have the first disk of toolbox in the office and had a good look at it. In my game it does not measure up. Try and get 300 or 225 RCP prices with the excavation and backfill etc. That program has a lot of difficulty addressing it.Thanks for the suggestion Regards John

[bungieParticipant]

Im not sure what you mean, i dont have RCP pipe on my price disk from my suppler, only PVC that big. But i still manage to get the structures up to do my quotes. look at this address and tell me if we are talking about the same thing

http://homepages.tig.com.au/~bungie/toolbox.gif

[bungieParticipant]

Sorry, but it would appear my last answer put an end to this thread.

[cadplumberParticipant]

I use Quickpen. If anyone would like to know about that, I would be glad to answer questions…

[iopnswParticipant]

Question regarding estimating for plumbers. We are providing a service to the various builders and developers. They can do with our prices what they want.Now in this country a goods and services tax will be introduced in July 1 2000. Will our service be subject to a 10% tax as foreshadowed in the legislation? If the answer is yes, do we need to keep a record as to how long it took us to get a price together? Would that not indicate that we may have to charge the builder/developer for this service, which presently is performed for free in the hope of getting the job. Would be interested to hear other persons views. John

[GuestParticipant]

Can I have some feedback on the average plumbing and drainage costs.I am having a problem with an owner builder who claims that I have over charged him.
My hourly rate is
$45.00 per hour.
The house is 2 storey cavity brick with:
(a)one kitchen, one upper floor basin, WC pan, shower and seperate Floor waste.
(b)one laundry with one tub, one washing machine and floor waste gully.
(c)one lower floor bathroom with spa bath, one shower, one basin, one WC pan and floor waste gully.
(d)One hot water heater.
(e)two yard hose cocks
There are two stacks in PVC, vented through roof with flashing.
Hot and cold water in copper.
There is about 15 meters of drainage in PVC.
I have got the job to fit out stage. i.e. completed except for fitting of pans, cisterns, basins, sink and tub.
AlthoughI have installed and connected the spa bath to allow for wall andd floor tiling.
My work so far has been approved by Sydney water Inspector.
There is no road service for water or sewer as I have connected to existing points located within the property.
No stormwater drainage by me.
I have supplied all materials except PC items (pans,cisterns etc.)
I have set out for slab penetrations, chased brick walls, excavated for drainage and water and back-filled using blue metal (owner supplied)
Please feed back your estimated costs.
You can contact me on:
Email: [email protected]
Thanking you in anticipation.

[wpcParticipant]

In reply to Guardian. I would have charged more/hour. I assume you furnished tool, truck, insurance etc. I suggest you go to http://www.PMmag.com they have some very good articles about the cost of doing business.

[Brenden The PlumberParticipant]

suggest you join the master plumbers association they can assist you in how you determine your charge out rate according to how much it costs you to run your buisness and how much profit you want to make

quote:

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Originally posted by guardian:
Can I have some feedback on the average plumbing and drainage costs.I am having a problem with an owner builder who claims that I have over charged him.
My hourly rate is
$45.00 per hour.
The house is 2 storey cavity brick with:
(a)one kitchen, one upper floor basin, WC pan, shower and seperate Floor waste.
(b)one laundry with one tub, one washing machine and floor waste gully.
(c)one lower floor bathroom with spa bath, one shower, one basin, one WC pan and floor waste gully.
(d)One hot water heater.
(e)two yard hose cocks
There are two stacks in PVC, vented through roof with flashing.
Hot and cold water in copper.
There is about 15 meters of drainage in PVC.
I have got the job to fit out stage. i.e. completed except for fitting of pans, cisterns, basins, sink and tub.
AlthoughI have installed and connected the spa bath to allow for wall andd floor tiling.
My work so far has been approved by Sydney water Inspector.
There is no road service for water or sewer as I have connected to existing points located within the property.
No stormwater drainage by me.
I have supplied all materials except PC items (pans,cisterns etc.)
I have set out for slab penetrations, chased brick walls, excavated for drainage and water and back-filled using blue metal (owner supplied)
Please feed back your estimated costs.
You can contact me on:
Email: [email protected]
Thanking you in anticipation.

---

[Brenden The PlumberParticipant]

I use a program called master quote have found it extremly useful but i still dont know of an easy way i still have to look up each item with the assistance of the program its time consuming but has still reduced the time it takes me to do the quote and it gives a me a proffesional looking quote and material lists

quote:

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Originally posted by John Ronk:
Most plumbing estimators have no idea what they are calculating and are frightened to even start an estimating computer program.

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[Robert Stephen MortonParticipant]

jerry, try Plum Easy a fully integrated Plumbers program where you can create jobs, create rates, import price discs, create quotes, then invoice the jobs from quotes or daily job cards. mate i’me still finding things in it. phone John Orr on 3349 0299 & get a months trial.

[pbm3600Participant]

Estimating for plumbing, visit http://www.visioninfosoft.com
Estimating, Billing, flat rate and pricing updates.
Masterplumbers.com member get discount!!

[SylvanLMPParticipant]

Can I have some feedback on the average plumbing and drainage costs.I am having a problem with an owner builder who claims that I have over charged him.
My hourly rate is
$45.00 per hour.

The house is 2 storey cavity brick with:
(a)one kitchen, = a sink = $1,125.00

one upper floor basin,= $1,125

WC pan=$1125, shower and seperate Floor waste = $2,250.

(b)one laundry with one tub, one washing machine and floor waste gully =$3375.

(c)one lower floor bathroom with spa bath $1,225,

one shower= $1125,

one basin $1,125,
one WC pan $1,125
floor waste gully $1,125.

(d)One hot water heater.Depending on size BUT NOT LESS then $1,125
(
e)two yard hose cocks = $2,250

There are two stacks in PVC, vented through roof with flashing.INCLUDED in the pricing

Hot and cold water in copper.
INCLUDED

There is about 15 meters of drainage in PVC.
I have got the job to fit out stage. i.e. completed except for fitting of pans, cisterns, basins, sink and tub.
AlthoughI have installed and connected the spa bath to allow for wall andd floor tiling.
My work so far has been approved by Sydney water Inspector.
There is no road service for water or sewer as I have connected to existing points located within the property.
No stormwater drainage by me.
I have supplied all materials except PC items (pans,cisterns etc.)
I have set out for slab penetrations, chased brick walls, excavated for drainage and water and back-filled using blue metal (owner supplied)
Please feed back your estimated costs.
You can contact me on:
Email: [email protected]
Thanking you in anticipation.

Ok I come up with $16,875 NOT including filing fees

The simple way to figure these jobs is by fixture and appliances ( hot water heater,stove CONNECTION only boiler CONNECTION onlyBBQ Conection only Drier COnnection only.

Count each one and times it by a know factor.
considering you blokes work cheaper I went my bottom line of pricing as I normally charge $1,500+ PER FIXTURE for basic white and standard sizes.

Every “tap” connection is a FIXTURE every floor drain is a fixture etc.

For my sprinkler work (fire supression) I figure $225 per head OVER 50 heads anything under is chasrged at $500 per head

Hey it works for me

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SylvanLMP

[SylvanLMPParticipant]

One more point THINK of all the over head YOU DO NOT have because of investing in a computer program that will be out dated very quickly.

Suppose this contractor decides after 2 years he either doesn’t need this
program OR he wants to change systems. What penalty does he have to pay
(early out)

Suppose this VICTIM had paid for this system out right HOW MUCH would they
have saved over fiance charges?

Now as we all know computers are obsolete as soon as they are manufactured,
the same with programs.

Does it honestly pay to “invest” in something you
know is no longer state of the art as soon as it is installed in your computer?

Once your HOOKED like a fish you must keep upgrading software fom ONE Company,

Not very cost effective in my thinking as I love competition

My Jetmax Jetter 3010 and My MicroEngineering camera should both give me
great service and like my Electric EEL don’t have be upgraded every few
years.

I buy all my equipment COD (except vans) I take a 2-3 year note as the
interest is so much less than I get from the CD’s IM invested in and WE all know a Van or truck does not lose its value as fast as state of the art high tech computers or programs.

Why not wait and then find someone who has this program and who wants out.

I am also sure computer software companies will be thrilled to sell software
that is on the shelf over 6 months for about 1/3 of the original asking price.

When I wanted computers I went to comp USA asked for the store manager and
asked “how much for an IBM Aptiva”?. He quoted me a number and I said great

HOW MUCH for 3 of them (20% off). Done deal. In 2 or 3 years ILL do the same
thing and don’t have to worry about a financial monkey on my back.

I am not in debt to anyone. I can sell, junk or give away my computers ANY
TIME I feel like it without having to get someone’s permission or concern
myself about penalties for deciding I want to change programs or computers.

I didn’t go into business to be told what I can or cannot do.

I never by the first model year a car I wait to the bugs are out or
after the 1st recall.

I also have no desire to be the 1st kid on the block with a new computer program. If I had to use computers for Cad or some other
high tech work then I would also want to have the newest programs out there.

Being a plumber I can wait a few weeks, months or even years to buy programs.

In this case TIME is on my side.

By the way I have used “MEANS books” for over 20 years and they cover EVERYTHING possible in pricing, from trenching to rock blasting and wages from every corner of the country.

The older books are still great even being old as they allow a percentage factor to be added in.
I am currently working on a 75% mark up on materials and this all gravey as my labor rate covers my profit and over head.

All without computer programs that can crash or make major mistake.

Hey it only my opinion

Have a great one
SylvanLMP

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SylvanLMP

[fourth yearParticipant]

Guardian:
Your hourly is too low, and why would you start something like this without a contract spelling out the cost of the entire job, or at least how you were going to charge. I.e., your hourly rate, how you would charge for the materials supplied, who would furnish which parts, etc.. Without that, he may have assumed you were going to sell him the items at the same price he could have purchased them at someplace like Home Depot, (in the states). In many cases, a “gentlemen’s agreement” is only good up to a thousand dollars or so. After that the courts will often require a written contract before they will enforce payment. And our evaluation of a fair price could have little to do with your situation, since we do not know the layout or size of the building. How much work was involved in installing the piping in the residence, or any of the many other things that could have made it a more difficult, (or easier), job than normal.

[DamoParticipant]

I must say, I agree with Bungee on Toolbox Software. I currently use toolbox Release 3.5 and have been for 2 years.

I tender all types of commercial works up to $2 million.

I have just picked up a one million dollar project. The beauty of this package now is that I can set up the budget and cost codes to monitor the project from start to finish. The cost control system in Toolbox is great.

As for FRC pipework, I have structures set up for Class 1 to Class 4 FRC pipework in building and inground with sizing starting at 225 through to 750mm @ 4500mm deep. Toolbox can now handle structures within structures to enable very complex rates to be established.

This software is used throughout Australia and is always getting upgraded and improved. For the price, around $200.00, it cannot be beaten. I have used most estimating systems on offer and find this package user friendly, easy to update and it has great phone support. Tony from Rockampton Qld will always help you out.

Toolbox still has a couple of glitches which are getting ironed out on each upgrade, but overall, I recommend you download a trial version and give it a go.

Also, devote many hours to learning the package and establishing your structures (rates). My structures took me around 300 hours to establish. I am always upgrading and modifying these rates to reflect to current working environment. (eg. labour costs, material price rises, plant costs etc) It is an ongoing cycle and not an exact science.

Hope this helps others out.

Regards

Damo [email protected]

[Author]

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