Estimating Books, Software, Construction Costs, New Home Prices RS Means Residential Cost Data 2016 Square Foot Costs, Assemblies Costs and Unit Costs with Location Factors to adjust material and labor costs to U.S. zip codes and selected locations in Canada 2015 Contractor's Pricing Guide: Repair & Remodeling Costs RS Means Square Foot Costs 2013 2010 National Home Improvement Estimator Book and CD-ROM containing current labor and material prices for home improvement projects. 2010 Contractor's Pricing Guide: Residential Detailed Costs 2011 National Building Cost Manual Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide Estimating Excavation RS Means Site Work and Landscape Cost Data 2011   Landscape Cost Data 2010 Related Info House Plans Garage Plans Square Foot Costs Homebuilding Schedule Homebuilding Process Home Design Software Home & Garden Magazines House Plan Links Mortgage Information More Books House Plans Home Design Decorating Landscaping Building Process Construction One of the questions most often asked by our visitors is: "How much does it cost to build a ____ square foot _____ style house in _____?" Well, the short answer is "probably somewhere between 80 and 200 dollars per square foot, with the average between $95 and $150". However, it is simply not realistic to expect anyone to be able to provide a narrowly defined dollar estimate to build or remodel any house without first knowing much more about the project in question. Square foot costs are nothing more than the total cost of everything purchased to build a house divided by the total number of square feet in, on, and/or around that house. Expensive "stuff" used to build a small house could easily make that house cost more per square foot than modest "stuff" used to build a large house. Houses with basements typically cost more per square foot than those built on a concrete slab. Two story homes generally cost less per square foot than ranchers (because the roof assembly, which usually costs more than a second floor assembly, can cover twice as many square feet). When the square footage of a large, relatively empty, garage is factored into the cost of a home the average square foot costs will be reduced. While a grand foyer, a two story open space, or ceilings that are taller than normal increase the volume of a house but not necessarily the square footage, which increases the overall price per square foot of that home. Hardwood floors, luxury marble baths, gourmet kitchens with built-in refrigerators and granite countertops all cost more per square foot than unfinished basements or garages, wall-to-wall carpeting, fiberglass tub surrounds, vinyl flooring, and post-formed laminate kitchen counters. Brick veneer costs more than vinyl siding and contractors generally receive more compensation to perform their work when there is a large demand for their services. Location is another very large factor in determining the cost of building a new house. A home built in Hawaii or Alaska -- where almost everything has to be shipped long distances -- will cost considerably more, on average, than a comparible home built in Kansas or Iowa. A New York loft could cost more than twice as much per square foot as a space the same size in Clarksdale, Mississippi. And a small lot in a trendy new subdivision on one side of a city could easily cost 3 or 4 times as much as a larger building site only a few miles away. Then, there is the issue of how square footage is actually measured. Are all interested parties using the same criteria? Is the basement or garage included in the numbers? What about closets, pantry areas, staircases, decks or covered porches? Are square foot measurements determined using exterior dimensions, interior dimensions, heated floor space, and/or actual living space? There could be a large difference in square foot costs based solely on the method used to calculate square footage. To complicate matters more, are the land costs factored into the construction costs? What about clearing, grading, driveways, walkways, well or water service, septic or sewer service, phone, electric, gas, final grading, seeding, landscaping...... Simply put, in order to develop an accurate construction estimate for your particular project, you must first decide exactly where and what you are building, develop a complete list of materials, and bid all of the major phases of construction with local contractors. Of course, this could be the ultimate "Catch 22" because before you can decide what and where you can afford to build, you need to know how much it will cost. Such is the nature of the beast, but here are a few books that might help and this page offers a little more information. Basic Estimating for Construction (Second Edition) - by James A. S. Fatzinger Means Estimating Handbook (Second Edition) - by John Chiang (Editor), John Ferguson (Editor), Joe Macaluso (Editor), Mel Mossman (Editor), William D. Mahoney, RS Means Engineering Estimating in Building Construction - by Frank R. Dagostino, Leslie Feigenbaum Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide - by Michael C. Stone RS Means Residential Cost Data 2014: Square Foot Costs, Systems Cost, Unit Costs - by Howard M. Chandler (Editor) - Includes location factors to adjust material and labor costs to more than 930 U.S. zip codes and selected locations in Canada 2009 National Building Cost Manual (33nd Ed) - by Dave Ogershok (Editor), Craftsman Book Company 2009 National Construction Estimator - by Dave Ogershok & Richard Pray, Craftsman Book Company (56th Edition - Book & CD-ROM) 2009 National Repair and Remodeling Estimator - by Albert S. Paxton, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD-ROM) 2009 National Electrical Estimator - by Mark C. Tyler, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD ROM) 2009 National Painting Cost Estimator - by Dennis D. Gleason, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD ROM) 2009 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator - by James A. Thomson (Book & CD ROM) 2008 National Renovation & Insurance, Repair Estimator - by Jonathan Russell, Craftsman Book Company (Book & CD ROM) Square Foot Costs 2010 (31st Edition) - by R. S. Means, Barbara Balboni (Editor) Building Construction Cost Data, 2010 (68th Edition) - by R. S. Means Mechanical Cost Data 2010 (33rd Edition) - by R. S. Means, Melville J. Mossman (Editor) Electrical Cost Data 2009 (33rd Edition) - by R. S. Means, by John H. Chiang (Editor) Plumbing Cost Data 2008 (31st Edition) - by R. S. Means, by Melville J. Mossman (Editor) Exterior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors (9th Edition) - by R. S. Means Company Interior Home Improvement Costs: The Practical Pricing Guide for Homeowners & Contractors (9th Edition) - by R. S. Means Company Historic Preservation: Project Planning & Estimating - by R. S. Means Company Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book, 26th Edition - by Frank R. Walker Co. F.R. Walker's Remodeling Reference Book: A Guide for Accurate Remodeling Cost Estimates for Construction Professionals and Homeowners - by Frank R. Walker Co. Carpentry Estimating - by W. P. Jackson Estimating Tables for Home Building - by Paul I. Thomas Estimating With Microsoft Excel: Unlocking the Power for Home Builders - by Jay Christofferson Excel 2003 Formulas - by John Walkenbach (Book & CD ROM) Estimating Excavation - by Deryl Burch RS Means Site Work and Landscape Cost Data 2008 - by Eugene R. Spencer RS Means Heavy Construction Cost Data 2008 - by Barbara Balboni More estimating books...   Search for any book by author, title, or subject. Click inside the search box Type an author's name, book title, or subject Click the Search button or press the Enter key [ back to book index ]

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