The Washington herald., 1921-10-02
ESTIMATING COST
ONCONSTRUCTION
TOLD BY EXPERT
Foster Hoggson, of N. Y,
Compares Camping Trip
To Estimate Problems.

= Methods used by contractors in
estimating the final cost of a build
ing are explained in q statement
coming to the attention of local
builders and vouchsafed for by Mo-
BILE Foster Hoggson Of New York,
who was in Washington some time
ago at the contractors convention.
Anyone who has tried To tjg.re
out just what he should allow for
a three weeks camping trip and
then has taken the trip Is In a fair
position to get some conception Of
the problems of the estimating de-
partment of building concern"
Mr.. Hoggson explai 81. ct Il not q
job for anyone except the most ex-
perienced. For, remember that un-
like the camper who can easily
enough make up for the things
omitted In his final estimate, there
is nos such alternative ~ the
building concern, especiaI Il be
one which IL. operating under q
contract which guarantees q pre-
determined cost. Such an estimate
must be accurate and complete and
made by men who know not only
what things ought to cost. but what
they will actually cost In the end.
Must Visualize building.
THE men who estimate for a big
building which, as yet. is in the
preliminary plan stage, must be able
to conceive of IL as finished struc-
ture-to give to the rough plan and
| its elevation the necessary third d.
mension-an idea of the mass OF the
building as standing .on the plan.
There are various methods of
getting at the quantities for an es-
innate which are in common usage.
But the most accurate results are
obtained when the estimate is made
up by itemizing all the materials
entering the construction This Is
called taking of the quantities
For example. to determine the cost
of the construction Of 100 square
feet of floor. II is possible to arrive
at an approximation by using a
figure representing the cost OF a
unit OF that type of construction.
But a more reliable estimate is
made by determining the quantities
of material which go into the COM
pcnent parts of the floor-forms for
concrete, the cement finish, the fur
ring. the plaster and the linoleum
or other covering surface. These
quantities multiplied by the prevail
ing unit cost of the material and
added together give a reliable es-
innate and this method is typical
of all estimators work"
All Factors Important.
It would be difficult to single out
any one factor in a building opera
ton of more Importance and graver
responsibility than that Of personal
supervision during actual construc-
ton, according to Hoggson. With
oct the constant and careful watch
fulness OF a trained and experienced
SUPERINTENDENT. the ideas of the
architects and draughtsmen-thei in
finite care and judgment Of the
! specification writer and the close
calculations of the purchasing g
agent-all may go for naught, he
claims.
"A building that, is not erected
by skilled superintendent-de.
spite all the patient preliminary
work-can be and often is an archi-
tectural disappointment. full OF evil
dences of inferior craftsmanship.
and a poor return for the value
expended" he goes on.
THE men chosen to superintend
construction should be selected with
the utmost care. They should be-
practical men and should then be
given a special training in the par
tioular work which the building
concern is engaged in. For the
field superintendent must be a man
of parts who will be equally at
home in directing a force of labor
crs, in handling the unexpected
problems of engineering and con-
struction which arise in the days
work. and in relieving the building
owner of the thousand and one de-
tails connected with a building op-
Grafton.
when the superintendent starts
for the field he is supplied with
copies of all the correspondence
which has passed between the own