Page 17 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 13

Adjust for Unusual Labor Productivity. Costs in the labor column are for normal conditions:
experienced craftsmen working on reasonably well-planned and managed home improvement projects
with fair to good productivity. Labor estimates assume that materials are standard grade, appropriate
tools are on hand, work done by other crafts is adequate, layout and installation are relatively
uncomplicated, and working conditions don't slow progress.

Working conditions at the job site have a major effect on labor cost. Estimating experience and careful
analysis can help you predict the effect of most changes in working conditions. Obviously, no single
adjustment will apply on all jobs. But the adjustments that follow should help you produce more
accurate labor estimates. More than one condition may apply on a job.

• Add 10% to 15% when working temperatures are below 40 degrees or above 95 degrees.
• Add 30% to 35% when temperatures are below 20 degrees. Materials and tools are hard to handle.
Bulky clothing restricts freedom of movement.
• Add 15% to 25% for work on a ladder or a scaffold, in a 36" crawl space, in a congested area, or
remote from the material storage point.
• Add 50% for work in an 18" to 36" crawl space. Allow extra time for cleaning out the area before work
begins.
• Add 200% if portions of the crawl space are less than 18". Allow extra time for passing tools and
materials. Few contractors bid on work like this.
• Deduct 10% when the work is in an open area with excellent access and good light.
• Add 1% for each 10 feet that materials must be lifted above ground level.
• Add 5% to 50% for tradesmen with below-average skills. Deduct 5% to 25% for highly-motivated,
highly-skilled tradesmen.
• Deduct 10% to 20% when an identical task is repeated many times for several days at the same site.
• Add 20% to 50% on small jobs where fitting and matching of materials is required, adjacent surfaces
have to be protected and the job site is occupied during construction.
• Add 25% to 50% for work done following a major flood, fire, earthquake, hurricane or tornado while
skilled tradesmen are not readily available. Material costs may also be higher after a major disaster.
• Add 10% to 35% for demanding specs, rigid inspections, unreliable suppliers, a difficult owner or an
inexperienced architect.

Use an Area Modification Factor from pages 18 through 26 if your material, hourly labor or equipment
costs are unknown and can't be estimated. Here's how: Use the labor and material costs in this manual
without modification. Then add or deduct the percentages shown for labor, material and equipment.

Equipment Costs for small tools and expendable supplies (such as saws and tape) are usually
considered overhead expense and are covered by your markup. Equipment costs for larger equipment
(such as a compressor or backhoe) should be based on the rental rate for the period needed.
Equipment rental costs are included in sections where heavy equipment may be needed.