It is not the intention of this manual to hold anything new for the top flight general construction estimator whose ability, know-how and knowledge in the Industry is the product of many years of schooling, actual competitive bidding, hard knocks and time-consuming analyses of both good and bad estimates. This type of estimator knows that to prepare an accurate labor estimate in dollar value one must first have a basis or reason for the use of monetary units.
Simply to say that a unit or block of work is worth so many dollars because it cost your company that on a previous project is absurd, ridiculous and tends to show the weakness of the inexperienced estimator, The purpose of this manual is to offer assistance or a basis, in direct labor manhours, for this type estimator.