Landscape Business Concepts

Bid vs. estimate Bids are prices you'd charge to build something or do some work that has been clearly defined by a potential customer. Can often be referred to as a quote An estimate is a price you approximate you'd charge to do less-clearly defined work, based on whatever limited information is available. “With some assumptions and unspecified things, this is approximately the price.”

Bids What are some things to consider in preparing a bid or estimate to a client? What did you think about when preparing your business? Cost of material Operating expense Worker’s comp and insurance Distance traveled Number of employees Quality of workers Timing

Contract vs. proposal In a proposal, you interpret a potential customer's loosely expressed wishes You also specify in detail how you'd meet their needs and how much you'd charge to do it the way you're proposing. A contract is a binding agreement between you and a customer, complete with caveats and contingency plans explaining who must do what to hold up their end of the bargain.

Specifications Projects need more than drawings to explain what is required. Specifications are a listing of materials, quality standards, and time schedules required for a project. Copies of the specifications are given to each contractor that want to submit a bid. These have to be clearly written for client and contractor. Example: 8 sugar maples When clearly defined, the client avoids disappointment and deception. Specifications require a lot of time and can be very tedious.

Preparing Cost estimates Usually prepared as spreadsheets and assembled in columns. A typical cost estimate includes: Cost of site clearing Cost of plant materials Fee for designing Allowance Name of estimator and date of estimate The design fee can be handled different ways but is typically charged at 8 to 15% of the total cost. Estimate is usually shown at the time the design is shown.

Homework You are to do the sample estimate problem found on page 249 in your landscaping book. Check a book out and bring to class, next time, a complete estimate. On page 248 is an example of what it needs to look like. Worth 20 points 5 points for participation 5 points for designing it correctly 10 points for getting the correct answer

Landscape calculations

Take-off The calculations of quantities from plans and specifications is known as “take-off”. Take-offs are done at different stages of development. Can be completed by contractors, management firms, designers, etc. The individual assigned to do the take-off is the estimator. Typical calculations made include: Unit counts (how much of each plant, brick, etc) Surface area (lawn size for sod) Volume (amount of concrete needed) Time (# hrs. required to clear)

Take-off Typical Sequence 1. quantity calculations (#’s) Plants Surface area Hardscape material Volumes 2. Time calculations Prep time Instillation Clean up 3. Maintenance Watering Weeding

Surface area 12 inches………. 1 linear foot (LF) 3 LF……………….. 1 linear yard (LY) 1,760 yards……………. 1 mile………..5,280 feet 4,840 sq. yards……….. 1 sq. acre ………… 43,560 sq. feet 640 sq. acres………..1 sq. mile

Surface Area Calculations #1 A patio that is 15’ x 15’ is placed onto a lawn that is 35’ x 45’. What is the surface area of the patio? What is the surface area of the lawn?

Surface Area Calculations #2 What is the surface area of the patio? 5 feet 3 feet 12 feet 15 feet

Surface Area Calculations #3 What is the surface area of the pool? What is the surface area of the flower bed? 6 feet pool 6 feet 10 feet 5 feet

Sample Calculation #4 A (circle) B (elipse) What are the areas of the flower beds A and B? How many feet of edging is required to encircle the flower beds? A (circle) B (elipse) 3 feet 8 feet 4 feet

Volume Calculations Volume = l x w x h Volume = surface area x depth 1,728 cubic inches…………………. 1 cubic foot (CF) 46,656 cubic inches…………………1 cubic yard (CY) 27 cubic feet…………………………… 1 cubic yard (CY) 1,000 cubic yards……………………… 1 MCY M is an abbreviation for 1000

Volume Calculations #1 Convert 4 CY to CF. Convert 4050 CF to CY.

Volume Calculations A patio is 20’ x 18 ‘ (Linear Feet). It is to be paved with concrete 4 inches thick. What is the volume of the concrete required? A: 118.8 CF

Volume Calculations #3 A swimming pool is 30’ x 20’ x 5’. It rests on gravel that is 4’ deep and extends the outside of the area by 3’. How many cubic yards (CY) will be required? A: 138.67 CY

Time The unit of measurement for time is hours. Labor costs are calculated based on how many units can be accomplished per hour. Question 1 If a crew can install 400 SY (square yards) of sod in 8 hours, how many hours will be required to install 280 SY? A: 5.6 hours

Time Calculations #2 If a crew can clear 620 SY of brush in 8 hours, how many hours would it take to clear 1 square acre? A: 62.45 hours

Time Calculations #3 Flower plantings of 6 MSF can be installed at the rate of 75 plants/hr. when spaced 1 foot apart. The contract requires the flower plantings to be rotated 3 times per season; how many hours will be spent installing flowers? A: 240 hours