How RSMeans Books Can Help You Save Money and Time on Your Construction Costs
What is RSMeans and why do you need it?
If you are a construction professional, you know how important it is to estimate the costs of your projects accurately and efficiently. You need reliable and up-to-date data on labor, materials, equipment, and overhead costs to plan your budget, schedule, and scope. You also need to be able to compare your estimates with industry standards and benchmarks to ensure your competitiveness and profitability.
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That's where RSMeans comes in. RSMeans is the leading provider of construction cost data in North America. It offers a comprehensive range of books, online tools, and consulting services that help you estimate, manage, and control your construction costs. Whether you are a contractor, architect, engineer, owner, or developer, you can benefit from using RSMeans for your projects.
Some of the benefits of using RSMeans are:
It gives you access to over 85,000 unit prices and 25,000 building models covering all types of construction.
It covers all aspects of construction costs, including labor rates, productivity factors, material prices, equipment rental rates, crew compositions, location adjustments, historical trends, and more.
It is updated annually with the latest market data and reflects current industry practices and standards.
It is based on extensive research and analysis by a team of experts with decades of experience in the construction industry.
It is trusted by thousands of construction professionals across North America and around the world.
With RSMeans, you can estimate your construction costs with confidence and accuracy. You can also save time and money by streamlining your estimating process and avoiding costly errors and omissions. You can also improve your communication and collaboration with your clients, partners, and stakeholders by presenting clear and detailed estimates that support your proposals and decisions.
How to use RSMeans books for estimating construction costs
One of the most popular products offered by RSMeans is its series of books that cover various aspects of construction costs. These books are designed to help you estimate your projects quickly and easily by providing you with all the data you need in a convenient format. You can choose from different types of books depending on your specific needs and preferences.
Some of the types of RSMeans books are:
Building Construction Cost Data: This book provides unit prices and assemblies for over 23,000 building components covering all types of commercial, residential, industrial, institutional, and public works construction. It also includes square foot costs for over 100 building types and regional cost modifiers for over 900 locations.
Heavy Construction Cost Data: This book provides unit prices and assemblies for over 15,000 items covering all types of heavy construction such as highways, bridges, utilities, railroads, marine, and environmental projects. It also includes crew rates, productivity factors, equipment rental rates, and location adjustments.
Facilities Construction Cost Data: This book provides unit prices and assemblies for over 12,000 items covering all types of facilities construction such as schools, hospitals, libraries, offices, warehouses, and more. It also includes square foot costs for over 70 building types and regional cost modifiers for over 900 locations.
Facilities Maintenance & Repair Cost Data: This book provides unit prices and assemblies for over 13,000 items covering all types of facilities maintenance and repair such as painting, roofing, flooring, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and more. It also includes labor rates, productivity factors, material prices, and location adjustments.
Green Building Cost Data: This book provides unit prices and assemblies for over 6,000 items covering all types of green building practices such as energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, renewable energy, and more. It also includes cost comparisons, payback analysis, LEED credits, and case studies.
To use RSMeans books for estimating your construction costs, you need to follow these steps:
Select the type of book that best suits your project and scope.
Find the data that matches your project specifications and requirements.
Adjust the data to reflect your project location and conditions.
Apply the data to your project quantities and measurements.
Add any other costs that are specific to your project such as overheads, contingencies, markups, taxes, etc.
Summarize your estimate and check for accuracy and completeness.
Here are some tips and tricks for using RSMeans books effectively:
Use the index and table of contents to find the data you need quickly and easily.
Use the notes and explanations provided in the books to understand the assumptions and limitations of the data.
Use the references and sources provided in the books to verify and update the data as needed.
Use the examples and illustrations provided in the books to guide you through the estimating process.
Use the online tools and resources offered by RSMeans to access additional data and features such as calculators, converters, estimators, etc.
How to get RSMeans books for free or at a low cost
RSMeans books are valuable resources for estimating your construction costs. However, they can also be expensive to buy and maintain. Depending on the type of book you need, you may have to pay anywhere from $100 to $500 per book. You may also have to buy new editions every year to keep up with the changes in the market. If you are on a tight budget or want to save some money, you may be wondering how to get RSMeans books for free or at a low cost.
The good news is that there are some ways to get RSMeans books for free or at a low cost. Some of the advantages of getting RSMeans books for free or at a low cost are:
You can save money on buying and updating RSMeans books.
You can access RSMeans books anytime and anywhere without carrying them around.
You can share RSMeans books with others without worrying about losing or damaging them.
Some of the disadvantages of getting RSMeans books for free or at a low cost are:
You may not get the latest or complete data from RSMeans books.
You may not get the full functionality or features of RSMeans books.
You may not get the support or service from RSMeans if you have any questions or issues with RSMeans books.
Some of the best sources for getting RSMeans books for free or at a low cost are:
The Internet Archive: This is a non-profit digital library that offers free access to millions of books, movies, music, software, and more. You can find some RSMeans books on this website that you can download or read online for free. For example, you can find Means Estimating Handbook, RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2014, RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2015, etc. on this website.
How to get the most out of RSMeans books
RSMeans books are great tools for estimating your construction costs. However, they are not enough by themselves. You need to know how to use them properly and effectively to get the most out of them. You also need to complement them with other tools and software that can enhance your estimating capabilities and performance.
Here are some ways to get the most out of RSMeans books:
Update and customize the data in RSMeans books: RSMeans books are updated annually with the latest market data and trends. However, you may need to update and customize the data in RSMeans books to reflect your specific project location and conditions. You can do this by using the location factors, productivity factors, escalation factors, and other adjustments provided in RSMeans books. You can also use your own data and experience to modify the data in RSMeans books as needed.
Integrate RSMeans books with other tools and software: RSMeans books are compatible with many other tools and software that can help you estimate your construction costs more efficiently and accurately. For example, you can use RSMeans Online, which is a web-based platform that gives you access to all RSMeans data and features online. You can also use RSMeans Data API, which is a service that allows you to integrate RSMeans data with your own applications and software. You can also use other tools and software such as Excel, AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, etc. that can work with RSMeans data.
Use RSMeans books for bidding and negotiating projects: RSMeans books are not only useful for estimating your construction costs, but also for bidding and negotiating your projects with your clients, partners, and stakeholders. You can use RSMeans books to support your proposals and decisions by showing how you arrived at your estimates and how they compare with industry standards and benchmarks. You can also use RSMeans books to negotiate better terms and conditions for your projects by showing how different factors and scenarios affect your costs and profits.
Conclusion
RSMeans books are essential resources for estimating your construction costs. They provide you with reliable and up-to-date data on labor, materials, equipment, and overhead costs for all types of construction projects. They also cover all aspects of construction costs, including labor rates, productivity factors, material prices, equipment rental rates, crew compositions, location adjustments, historical trends, and more.
However, you need to know how to use RSMeans books properly and effectively to get the most out of them. You also need to complement them with other tools and software that can enhance your estimating capabilities and performance. You also need to update and customize the data in RSMeans books to reflect your specific project location and conditions. You also need to use RSMeans books for bidding and negotiating your projects with your clients, partners, and stakeholders.
If you want to learn more about RSMeans books and how they can help you estimate your construction costs better, you can visit their website at https://www.rsmeans.com/. You can also order their books online or find them at your local library or bookstore.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about RSMeans books and their answers:
What is the difference between RSMeans books and RSMeans Online?
RSMeans books are printed publications that provide you with construction cost data in a convenient format. RSMeans Online is a web-based platform that gives you access to all RSMeans data and features online. With RSMeans Online, you can search, filter, sort, export, print, save, share, update, customize, and integrate RSMeans data with ease. You can also access additional features such as calculators, converters, estimators, etc.
How often are RSMeans books updated?
RSMeans books are updated annually with the latest market data and trends. However, you may need to update the data in RSMeans books more frequently depending on your project location and conditions. You can do this by using the online tools and resources offered by RSMeans or by using your own data and experience.
How accurate are RSMeans books?
RSMeans books are based on extensive research and analysis by a team of experts with decades of experience in the construction industry. They are trusted by thousands of construction professionals across North America and around the world. However, RSMeans books are not infallible and may not reflect the exact costs of your project. You need to use your own judgment and discretion when using RSMeans books and verify and adjust the data as needed.
How can I get a free trial of RSMeans Online?
You can get a free trial of RSMeans Online by visiting their website at https://www.rsmeans.com/ and clicking on the "Free Trial" button. You can choose from different plans and options depending on your needs and preferences. You can also cancel your free trial anytime without any obligation or charge.
How can I contact RSMeans for support or service?
You can contact RSMeans for support or service by visiting their website at https://www.rsmeans.com/ and clicking on the "Contact Us" link. You can also call them at 1-800-334-3509 or email them at customerservice@rsmeans.com. They are available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
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