It may not be immediately apparent, but the electrical work inside your home and the buildings you see in the city is complicated. In a sense, you can think of all the wiring as the nervous system of the structure that gives it life. As an electrical contractor, it is your primary goal to get projects to build this electrical framework for profit so you can stay in business. But the world of electrical contracting is competitive, and you will have to compete with various other companies through bidding.
Before you can bid for a project, you need to undertake project to know about all the costs that will be involved. Once you know the costs, you can then bid accordingly, depending on how much profit you want to make. But what are the essentials that you need to consider for new construction? We will discuss exactly that in this article. Let’s dive in.
Review Specifications
Before you make a bid, it is crucial that you first review the specifications and drawings of the new structure. You must look thoroughly through both Division 1 general and Division 26 specifications. Taking note of any qualifications is also crucial as you want your work to adhere to these if you get the project.
Additionally, it would be best if you also took note of who will provide all the items that will be part of the costs and methodology of installing them. For example, you may look at who will provide the fire alarms, communications equipment, and an electrical contactor supplier. In essence, the purpose of reviewing specifications is to get an idea of the quality of the materials.
Review Drawings
Additionally, you must look over the drawings in great detail to get an idea of the scope of the project. You will be looking at electrical drawings but do not ignore architectural drawings. These drawings will give you an idea of heights and elevations that can affect labor costs, material lengths and specifications, and equipment requirements.
Once you have gotten an overall view of the project through these drawings, you should review the Division 26 drawings to note technical details. There is a chance that the drawings and specifications don’t match, so you will want to bring this to light. In essence, the purpose of reviewing drawings is to get an idea of the quantities involved in the project.
Perform Quantity Takeoff
This is where you really get into the thick of it by measuring and counting everything you need based on your reviews. You can do this through highlighters or a scale master, but we recommend using takeoff software. You will be counting and measuring any items you need that can vary from lights, panels, gears, etc.
We believe the best way to do this is by selecting a single item and then counting it sheet by sheet before moving to the next. After that, add up all the items from each sheet and put them on a spreadsheet file so that you can see everything you need.
Request Quotes and Estimate
Now that you have information about everything you need, it is time to request quotes from suppliers about all these items. You can ask multiple suppliers and go with the option that you find is best. Once you have received the quotes, it is time to estimate the total cost involved in the electrical construction work. To do this, you will need to look at the material and labor costs associated with a single task and then extend it based on the quantity of the item.
Material costs won’t be difficult as you can ask your supplier, but determining labor costs will depend on your experience. If you lack experience, checking out labor guides or talking to someone with more experience can help. After the estimation, all you need to do is add your profit on top of it and make a proposal, and you’re done.
Conclusion
As an electrical contractor, getting projects is essential to profit and run your business. However, before you can bid for a project, it is critical to undertake electrical estimating to get an idea of the costs involved. There are certain essentials you need to keep in mind when doing so. We have discussed them extensively in this article, all the way from the initial reviewing process to the final bidding. We hope this article proves helpful and aids you in getting a profitable project for your business.
