Demo Estimating — Module 7
Creating the Final Demolition Estimate
Assemble a clear, defensible number. Map your costs to the bid form, level quotes, run QA/QC, and package a professional submission that wins work and protects scope.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Build a complete cost summary (labor, equipment, disposal, temp facilities, safety, OH, contingency, margin).
- Level supplier/subcontractor quotes and document basis of selection.
- Map totals to the client’s bid form, including alternates, unit prices, and addenda.
- Run a QA/QC math audit, benchmark review, and risk check before submission.
- Prepare a clean submission package with clarifications, inclusions/exclusions, and signatures.
🧱 Itemize All Cost Buckets
- Labor: crew mix, hours, rates, shift premiums, OT assumptions.
- Equipment: excavators/skids, saws, lifts, fuel, delivery/pickup, operator rates.
- Disposal: dumpsters/hauls, tipping (ton/yard), recycling credits, manifests.
- Materials/Protection: fencing, barriers, poly, negative air, temp lighting.
- Temp Facilities & Safety: restrooms, handwash, site lighting, guards, PPE, monitoring.
- Permits/Fees: demo permit, street use, lane closure, utility disconnects.
- Overhead: recovered per your policy (rate or %).
- Contingency: sized by risk register (see Mod 6).
- Profit (margin): target based on risk/market; compute from price, not cost.
🧾 Pro Tip: Keep alternates, allowances, and unit prices outside your base number for clarity.
📋 Sample Cost Summary (Excerpt)
| Category | Cost ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Labor | 84,600 | 3-person crew, 6 weeks, no OT |
| Equipment | 41,900 | 2 swaps, operator included |
| Disposal | 52,300 | tipping at $120/ton, 8 hauls |
| Temp Facilities/Safety | 9,750 | fence, restrooms, NA units |
| Permits/Fees | 6,200 | demo permit + traffic control |
| Overhead | 21,500 | policy 12% on DC+Cont |
| Contingency | 18,400 | EMV x 1.2 buffer |
| Cost+OH+Cont | 234,650 | before profit |
| Selling Price (18% margin) | 286,158 | price = Cost ÷ (1−margin) |
*Replace with your actual numbers. Example shows flow, not required rates.
🔍 Vendor/Subcontractor Quote Leveling
Normalize scope, terms, and lead times before selecting the preferred vendor.
| Scope Package | Vendor A | Vendor B | Vendor C | Notes/Gaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dumpsters & Hauls | $18,600 | $17,900 | $19,250 | B excludes ton overage |
| Negative Air/Containment | $7,200 | $7,650 | $6,950 | A includes filters/NA readings |
| Traffic Control | $5,800 | $5,200 | $5,400 | B excludes police details |
✅ Document selection basis (price, scope completeness, schedule, performance history).
🗂 Map to Client Bid Form
Use the owner’s divisions/sections and reconcile to your internal summary.
| Bid Form Line | Our Category | Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01: Selective Demo | Labor + Small Tools | 84,600 | see takeoff tab |
| 02: Equipment | Excavators/Lifts | 41,900 | incl. delivery |
| 03: Hauling/Disposal | Dumpsters/Tipping | 52,300 | MRF + landfill |
| 04: Temp/Safety | Facilities/Safety | 9,750 | fence, NA units |
| Total (must = base price) | 286,158 | reconciled |
✍️ Clarifications, Inclusions & Exclusions (Copy/Paste)
- Includes legal disposal at licensed facilities; diversion receipts and weight tickets provided at closeout.
- Traffic control, lane closures, and police details priced per allowance; overages billed at actuals.
- Abatement (lead/asbestos) excluded unless specifically noted; work requires negative air/containment by others or as alternate.
- Work during normal hours; off-hours premiums by alternate.
- Owner to provide access, power, water, and staging unless specified.
🧪 Final QA/QC Checklist
- ✅ Math audit (sum of lines = category totals = bid form total).
- ✅ Vendor quotes leveled; backup attached with quote numbers & dates.
- ✅ Addenda acknowledged; RFIs incorporated.
- ✅ Benchmarks checked (e.g., $/SF demo, $/CY concrete, $/ton disposal) vs history.
- ✅ Risk register reviewed; contingency aligns with EMV; alternates and allowances separated.
- ✅ Submission package complete (cover letter, bid form, clarifications, schedule notes).
📦 Submission Package Contents
- Signed bid form with base price, alternates, unit prices, addenda acknowledgments.
- One-page cover letter summarizing scope, schedule, and assumptions.
- Clarifications, inclusions/exclusions, allowances list.
- Required attachments (W-9, COI, bonds if specified, safety plan excerpt, recycling plan).
🧰 Final Estimate Mini Tools
🏗️ Final Price Builder
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🗂 Bid Form Reconciler
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📏 Unit Price Builder
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➕➖ Alternate Calculator
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