Hard Hat Industry Solutions

Electrical estimating software

866-444-7411 x1

  • Home
  • Red Rhino
    • Overview
    • Estimating
    • Other modules
    • Free Trial
    • Pricing
  • Demonstration Videos
  • About us
    • Listen: Why Red Rhino
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • PlanSwift
  • Red Rhino Login

Increase Profits by Identifying Hidden Costs when Estimating Electrical Projects Part 2

November 23, 2018 By John Kelsey

Share This:

Part 2. When estimating electrical projects it is vitally important that you recognize and account for hidden costs on projects.

It is part of the “Crossing your “T’s” and dotting your “I’s”.

This writing helps identify hidden costs in electrical projects and explains ideas how to cover those costs.

In Part 1 We covered: Examples of hidden costs to be aware of

  • Mobilization expense
  • Expendable tools expense
  • Truck & tool expense

  In Part 2 We cover:  Examples of hidden costs to be aware of

  • Delivery charges for rental equipment
  • Fuel cost
  • Labor and fuel cost for testing generators.
  • Drinking water
  • Storage expense
  • Contingency expense (Expenses that cannot be predicted with certainty)

 

 

 Part 2: Examples of hidden costs to be aware of

Rental equipment delivery charges

Equipment rental companies charge delivery fees to deliver equipment like man lifts, forklifts, trenchers, etc. Make sure to include the cost of delivery in your estimate. Fees could be $75.00 each way, or more.

Fuel cost for equipment

Remember to add dollars for fuel expense for equipment like tractors or trenchers, or for job site vehicles. Calculate your total cost and input your dollar cost for fuel in your estimate.

Labor and fuel cost for testing generators.

When estimating generators read the specifications closely about generator testing to find out what is required.

Generator testing is usually required.

Some requirements to consider.

  • 3rd party testing
  • Fuel cost
  • Labor for electrician to be present during generator testing

When 3rd party testing is required, contact an approved testing company, get a price from them and add that cost to your estimate. Note: They will require the testing specifications to know what to include

Generators may be required to run for several hours for testing purposes. Fuel can cost a lot of money.

When you are required to provide fuel for generator testing. Find out how many hours of testing are required, calculate your fuel cost and add dollars to your estimate.

You may be required to provide an electrician to be present while generators are being tested. If so, calculate the number of hours required and add those hours to your estimate.

Note: You may elect to exclude generator testing. If you are excluding generator testing show on your proposal Generator Testing Excluded.

Drinking water

When you are required to provide drinking water for your employees, calculate the expense and add dollars for that in your estimate expenses.

Storage expense

On some projects you may be required to rent storage bins or shipping containers for storage for items like panels, switch gear and light fixtures.

Storage expense may incurs labor cost for handling and moving of items.

To include those expenses in your estimate:

Add description “Storage expense” Input dollars needed.

Add description “Labor for storage” number of hours needed.

 

Contingency expense Contingency expense (Expenses that cannot be predicted with certainty)

 

Contingency is defined as, “A provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance.”

Construction projects have unforeseen or events and should be covered by adding dollars.

Contingency is often calculated using a percentage (%) of the estimate.

The amount varies. I have seen estimates that add 1½ % to

3% or more. Determine the amount on a case by case, job-by-job basis.

Note: Some contractors include expendable tools in their contingency expense.

Determine what amount or what percent (%) you want add to your estimate and add it accordingly.

END OF PART 2

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Click here for a Red Rhino free trial               Click here for PlanSwift 14-day free trial

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial           

Just click this link to sign up for Red Rhino.
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Click this link to sign up for PlanSwift.
The first 14 days of using the Red Rhino / PlanSwift Connector is FREE so you can test drive it. After the first 14 days the cost is just $20 / month.

Call us if you have questions.

866-444-7411 X 1

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Electrical Estimating Software

Increase Profits by Identifying Hidden Costs when Estimating Electrical Projects Part 1

November 23, 2018 By John Kelsey

Share This:

When estimating electrical projects it is vitally important that you recognize and account for hidden costs on projects.It is part of the “Crossing your “T’s” and dotting your “I’s”.

This writing helps identify hidden costs in electrical projects and explains ideas how to cover those costs.

Examples of hidden costs to be aware of

  • Mobilization expense
  • Expendable tools expense
  • Truck & tool expense
  • Delivery charges for rental equipment
  • Fuel cost
  • Labor and fuel cost for testing generators
  • Drinking water
  • Storage expense
  • Contingency expense (Expenses that cannot be predicted with certainty)

                                                                        
                              Mobilization expense

Mobilization (to mobilize) in construction means to move equipment on (mobilize) and off (de-mobilize) a job. Mobilization may require labor hours for someone moving job boxes, ladders, man lifts, and equipment to the job site.

Small jobs may not need mobilization expenses added, however it is a good idea to include truck & tool expense on small jobs to cover that expense.

When you add truck & tool expense (dollars) to all estimates of small jobs, it can add up to thousands of dollars a year and helps cover expenses.

See Truck & tool expense below

On larger projects mobilization may be ongoing as a a project progresses.

Example: when working in a multi-story building, job boxes must be moved from floor to floor as the job progresses. Labor is required for that task.

As an electrical estimator, mobilization expense would be included in your estimate by adding dollars, labor hours or both to cover the expense.

Expendable tools expense

Expendable tools are tools that wear out like hole-saws, drill bits, saw blades, etc. It is important to add dollars for this expense.

Note: Some estimators add expense for expendable tools to the contingency cost instead of adding a line item for them. See contingency expense below.

If you decide to input expendable tool dollars as a separate line item expense calculate the expense and add it to your estimate.

Truck & tool expense

When personnel drive company trucks to a project, it costs money. Often times tools are also used from the truck.

Adding dollars to your estimate for truck & tool expense helps recoup your costs.

Determine a dollar amount to charge per-day-per-truck.

It varies greatly how much people charge for truck & tool. I have seen daily charges from $35.00 to $75.00 a day or more.

Calculate how many days each truck is to be on the project. Add total dollars to add to your estimate.

TO BE CONTINUED

Click here for a Red Rhino free trial               Click here for PlanSwift 14-day free trial

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial           

Just click this link to sign up for Red Rhino.
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Click this link to sign up for PlanSwift.
The first 14 days of using the Red Rhino / PlanSwift Connector is FREE so you can test drive it. After the first 14 days the cost is just $20 / month.

Call us if you have questions.

866-444-7411 X 1

 

Filed Under: Electrical Estimating Software

A Faster, Easier Way to Count & Measure On-Screen: PlanSwift & Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software

September 28, 2018 By John Kelsey

Estimating electrical projects requires speed and accuracy.

Using on-screen take-off software speeds up the process of estimating.

It is time consuming to get the plans printed, spread them out on the plan table, manually make a material list, highlighting each item so you don’t count materials twice, then input the take-off into estimating software.

Using Red Rhino with PlanSwift on-screen take-off software is a much faster way.

 

Overview How to use Red Rhino & PlanSwift:

Step 1:
Download blueprints

Step 2:
Use your mouse to count and measure on-screen

Step 3:
Export take-off to Red Rhino. Red Rhino displays labor and materials in estimate.

Based on my experience and feedback from electrical contractors who use it, you can double your estimating speed or better.

PlanSwift works best using 2 computer monitors.

A big monitor for plans and a second monitor for your estimating program.

I measure and count on-screen using a 32-inch monitor and have Red Rhino open on my laptop.

A 42 or 48-inch monitor would be even better so you can enlarge the plans to see important details.

Using PlanSwift you don’t have to print blueprints for estimating.

Paper blueprints are expensive to print and take up too much storage space. Using Planswift is more convenient and faster than paper.

Like any software, there is a learning curve, but when you become proficient, you’ll bang out your estimates a lot faster than using paper plans.

Red Rhino has hundreds of pre-built assemblies and thousands of products that speed up estimating.

Watch video how fast and easy you can estimate using Red Rhino with PlanSwift.

Benefits in using Red Rhino with PlanSwift:

→ Measure conduit and wirequickly and accurately

→ Count plug, switches and light fixtures with ease

→ Export take-off to Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software

→ Red Rhino calculates labor and material cost

→Save time. Save $$ – money. Save space.

 


Click here for a Red Rhino free trial               Click here for PlanSwift 14-day free trial
Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

 

 

 

 

Just click this link to sign up for Red Rhino.
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Click this link to sign up for PlanSwift.
The first 14 days of using the Red Rhino / PlanSwift Connector is FREE so you can test drive it. After the first 14 days the cost is just $20 / month.

Call us if you have questions.

866-444-7411 X 1

 

Filed Under: Electrical Estimating Software

Estimate Feeder Conduit Fast & Accurate

September 20, 2018 By John Kelsey

When estimating Feeder conduit and wire for electrical projects, it is very important to be accurate.

Feeder conduit and wire is extremely expensive therefore, mistakes like coming up short with measurements can be very expensive.

 

For estimating, feeder conduit is conduit sizes 1¼” and larger.

Feeder wire sizes are #4 and larger.

When estimating, it does not matter if feeders are service entrance conduit, panels, large AC units or machines, the estimating process is the same.

A fastest way to estimate conduit is with Red Rhino conduit Wizard.

After measuring conduit runs, a process called take-off, you input conduit into the Conduit Wizard.

Watch video below to see how to take-off conduit including feeders.

Video highlights time saving method of feeder take-off:

  • How to use a Scalex to quickly measure conduit on blueprints.
  • How to keep organized by using Red Rhino Feeder Schedule forms.

Methods to measure conduit & wire so you don’t come up short:

  • Take-off conduit at right angles so you do not come up short.
  • How to “over-roll” to allow for conduit risers (Conduit going up or down).
  • Add for wire make-up length.

After measuring conduit feeders, you input feeders to Red Rhino using Conduit Wizard in 20 seconds or less!

 

EMT conduit feeders

Click Video below to see quick video how to estimate EMT conduit feeders using Red Rhino Conduit Wizard

 

Multiple PVC conduit feeders

Click Video below how to estimate PVC conduit feeders using Red Rhino Conduit Wizard

Red Rhino Conduit Wizard includes most types of conduit including:

  • PVC – SCHEDULE 40 & 80
  • PVC – EB (ENCASED BURIAL) Thin wall PVC
  • PVC – DB (DIRECT BURIAL) Thin wall PVC
  • EMT
  • RIGID METAL CONDUIT (GRC)
  • PVC COATED RIGID (ROB ROY)
  • MC CABLE & HOSPITAL GRADE MC CABLE
  • STEEL FLEX / ALUMINUM FLEX
  • SEAL-TITE
  • IMC (Intermediate Conduit)
  • Type C (Telephone Conduit)

 

Remember to include miscellaneous items like locknuts, bushings, Myers Hubs and other fittings needed for feeder conduit.

Red Rhino product catalog has conduit fittings listed below.

  • Locknuts
  • Plastic bushings
  • Ground bushings
  • Myers Hubs
  • Erickson Fittings
  • Reducing washers
  • Reducing bushings
  • Plastic terminal adapters

Condit Wizard is just one of several tools Red Rhino includes to speed up  estimating so you can bid jobs faster and more accurately.

 


Try Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software free for 30 days.
Many customers report they double their estimating speed or better.

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software offers a 30 day free trial.

Just click this link to sign up.
You will immediately get access to our online software.

Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

 

Call us if you have questions.

866-444-7411 X 1

Filed Under: Electrical Estimating Software

How to Rapidly Estimate Electrical Panels Using Red Rhino Electrical Estimation Software

June 21, 2018 By John Kelsey

Red Rhino electrical estimation software makes its simple and easy to estimate electrical panels.

 

Red Rhino has labor for installing panels.

Note: You must get pricing from your supplier for the cost of electrical panels.

You get pricing by sending your supplier a copy of the plans. Ask them to quote all electrical panels and circuit breakers. They will send you a “lot price” (The total cost of all electrical panels and all circuit breakers).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Electrical Estimating Software

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Sign up for Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software Blog

Double your estimating speed. Bid more jobs. Make more money.

You are now subscribed! Please check your inbox.

News from the Blog

How to Estimate Pulling Wire in Existing Conduit

Tips on Estimating Lighting

Material Take off Tips

ms-logos250x200

Contact Us

Hard Hat Industry Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 16309
Irvine, CA 92623
Phone number:
866-444-7411 X1
Office Hours:
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT (Monday - Friday)

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Red Rhino
  • Demonstration Videos
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • PlanSwift
  • Red Rhino Login

Copyright © 2019 Hard Hat industry Solutions and Red Rhino are registered trademarks. | Website by The Burrell Group