Estimate Concrete Footings, Slabs, and Flatwork

A. Finished-Project Specification

Quantity: one completed concrete cost-code section containing separated footing, wall, pier, pad, slab, thickened-edge, step, and flatwork volume lines; a form-material takeoff; a reinforcement takeoff; a vapor-barrier and base takeoff; a joint and accessory takeoff; placement and finishing labor entries; testing entries; and a priced, reconciled, and documented worksheet total.

B. Concrete Element Schedule (Component Schedule)

Element	Quantity	Basis	Contents	Preparation / Purpose
Footings	Per plan	Section E, Step 4	Continuous, isolated, pier, and thickened-edge footings by width, depth, and length	Establishes bearing-element volume separate from walls and slabs
Foundation walls	Per plan	Section E, Step 4	Wall length, height, thickness, openings, and reinforcement	Establishes vertical-element volume and form area
Piers, pads, columns	Per schedule	Section E, Step 4	Isolated pier and pad dimensions from the structural schedule	Captures point-load bearing elements not part of continuous footings
Slabs on grade	Per plan	Section E, Step 4	Slab area, thickness, thickened edges, and control-joint layout	Establishes the largest single-volume element and its base, vapor barrier, and joint requirements
Steps, porches	Per plan	Section E, Step 4	Step rise, run, width, and porch slab area	Captures irregular volumes requiring separate formwork
Walks, patios, flatwork	Per plan	Section E, Step 4	Walk and patio area, thickness, joint layout, and finish	Captures exterior flatwork distinct from structural elements
Forms	1 set per element	Section F, Steps 1–3	Reusable forms, stay-in-place forms, lumber, plywood, stakes, ties, braces, release agent, stripping	Prices formwork separately from concrete material
Reinforcement	1 set per element	Section F, Steps 4–5	Reinforcing bar, welded wire, fibers, chairs, tie wire, anchor bolts, embeds, sleeves, waterstops	Prices reinforcement separately from concrete and forms
Vapor barrier and base	1 set per slab	Section F, Step 6	Vapor barrier area, laps, turn-ups, aggregate base, insulation, termite treatment	Prices underslab preparation as a distinct scope
Joints and accessories	1 set per element	Section F, Step 7	Expansion, isolation, control-joint, saw-cut, sealant	Prices joint materials and labor separately from placement

C. Volume, Waste, and Order-Quantity Basis

• Approved volume methods: calculate each element's net volume using length × width × depth for rectangular elements, or the approved plan, section, or schedule dimensions for irregular elements; do not estimate a volume without a documented method.
• Independent reconciliation: recalculate every element's volume using a second approved method (a different dimension source, a unit-quantity check such as square-foot-per-cubic-yard coverage at the specified thickness, or an independent takeoff) before entering the volume into the workbook.
• Placement waste: apply the company-approved waste percentage for each element type based on element size, access, pump priming, geometry, and placement history; do not apply one waste percentage to every element.
• Order-volume conversion: convert net volume plus waste into the supplier's cubic-yard order unit, and identify any order below the supplier's full-load threshold as a short load.

D. Column and Formula Schedule

Column	Type	Formula Basis
Element, location, source	Input	Entered directly; source field required for every row per the Chapter 1 workbook convention
Length, width, depth (or area, thickness)	Input	From approved plan, section, schedule, or detail dimensions
Net volume	Formula	Length × width × depth, or area × thickness, converted to cubic yards
Reconciled volume	Input	Independent second-method calculation entered for comparison against net volume
Waste percentage	Input	Company-approved percentage for the element type and condition
Order volume	Formula	Net volume × (1 + waste), rounded to the supplier's order unit
Unit cost	Input	Dated ready-mix quotation price for the specified strength and mix
Material cost	Formula	Order volume × unit cost, plus short-load charge where applicable
Form, reinforcement, vapor barrier cost	Formula	Takeoff quantity × dated unit cost for each accessory category
Labor cost	Formula	Hours from the Section G labor basis × burdened labor rate
Element total	Formula	Material cost + form cost + reinforcement cost + vapor-barrier cost + labor cost + equipment

E. Preparation — Documents, Elements, and Strength Basis

1. Review foundation plans, structural notes, sections, schedules, details, site elevations, specifications, and geotechnical information. Confirm the controlling revision using the Chapter 2 document register.
2. Separate footings, walls, piers, pads, slabs, thickened edges, steps, porches, walks, patios, and other elements. Give each its own row group in the concrete cost-code section.
3. Record concrete strength, exposure, air, admixture, color, fiber, and finish requirements. Enter these on the Concrete Element and Strength Record in the Concrete Estimating Conventions section above, using the exact values stated in the structural notes or specifications.
4. Calculate continuous, isolated, pier, wall, slab, step, curb, and irregular volumes separately. Use the approved volume method for each element type from Section C.
5. Reconcile volume using an independent method. Enter the reconciled volume in the workbook and confirm it matches the net volume within the company-approved tolerance before proceeding.
6. Apply approved placement waste based on element size, access, pump priming, geometry, and history. Record the waste percentage and its basis for each element.

F. Takeoff Procedure — Volume, Forms, Reinforcement, Vapor Barrier, Joints

1. Convert volume into supplier order units and identify short-load charges. Compare each element's order volume against the supplier's full-load threshold.
2. Identify separate placements, joints, mobilizations, and sequencing. Record each distinct pour as its own placement entry, even when elements share a cost-code row group.
3. Measure footing, wall, slab-edge, curb, step, and blockout forms. Record form area or length by element.
4. Differentiate reusable forms, stay-in-place forms, lumber, plywood, stakes, ties, braces, release agent, and stripping. Price each category separately using the dated quotation.
5. Calculate reinforcing bar by size, spacing, length, laps, hooks, dowels, waste, and stock length. Use only the sizes, spacings, and lap lengths stated in the structural reinforcing schedule.
6. Count welded wire, fibers, chairs, supports, tie wire, anchor bolts, embeds, sleeves, blockouts, and waterstops. Record each as a separate accessory line.
7. Calculate vapor barrier by area, laps, turn-ups, penetrations, roll size, and waste. Apply only where the specifications call for a vapor barrier; do not add an unspecified vapor barrier.
8. Calculate aggregate base, insulation, termite treatment, and underslab preparation where assigned. Confirm assignment against the Chapter 2 scope boundaries before including these lines.
9. Measure expansion, isolation, control-joint, saw-cut, and sealant requirements. Record joint layout, spacing, and material per the specifications or approved detail.
10. Identify pumping, conveyor, buggy, chute, crane, or direct-discharge needs for each placement. Record the placement method and any related equipment cost.
11. Include access, washout, curing, blankets, weather protection, heat, and temporary enclosure. Record these as separate priced lines tied to the relevant placement.

G. Labor, Testing, and Pricing Procedure

1. Estimate subgrade preparation, fine grading, and compaction where part of scope. Confirm this scope boundary against the Chapter 3 sitework takeoff before duplicating any quantity.
2. Estimate form, reinforcing, placement, finishing, setup, cleanup, and stripping labor. Assign each task a quantity, crew, and production-rate source per the Chapter 17 labor-estimating conventions where available; otherwise leave the rate field blank pending Chapter 17.
3. Adjust productivity for congestion, access, elevation, finish class, weather, and number of pours. Record the adjustment and its basis for each affected task.
4. Include testing, cylinders, survey, inspection, and special inspection. Record these only where required by the specifications or adopted requirements.
5. Price ready-mix, reinforcement, forms, vapor barrier, base, insulation, accessories, delivery, fuel, and short-load costs. Use only dated supplier quotations confirming product, strength, and delivery terms.
6. Identify waiting time, cancellation, minimum-order, and price-validity terms. Record each term from the supplier quotation on the pricing log.
7. Include curing, joint cutting, sealing, patching, rubbing, and cleanup. Price these as separate labor or material lines tied to the relevant placement.
8. Include demolition and disposal for replacement work. Apply only where the scope includes removal of existing concrete.

H. Worksheet Assembly and Independent Review

1. Prepare the worksheet by element, placement, quantity, unit cost, labor, equipment, and total. Confirm every column matches the Section D formula basis.
2. Compare cubic-yard and square-foot metrics as secondary checks. Confirm slab and flatwork volumes are consistent with area × thickness at the specified depth.
3. Document assumptions, exclusions, alternates, and unresolved site or structural conditions. Link each entry to the affected element row in the assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications register from Chapter 1.
4. Complete independent review of volumes, reinforcement, forms, placements, and scope. Have a second reviewer, or an independent recalculation by the same estimator, confirm each high-value or high-risk element before the worksheet is marked complete.