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A key part of the profitability of any project occurs not only through the purchasing of materials and efficiency of the labor force but also by the insight that you, as the contractor/salesman, have during the estimating process. After the initial sales call has been made and the contractor has found out from the potential client exactly what the specific needs, styles, and functions are for the proposed project, the proper thing to do now is thank the customer for their time, provide a reasonable estimate of when you will get back to them with a proposal and and notify them that you will be back within a week to collect site data. The return visit to collect site data is a crucial point in determining the fate of any job, even the simple, cut and dried projects. Items that must be considered and addressed while on this visit are elevations, job access, potential utility obstructions, material staging, and the overall job flow. The existing elevations of a job site can make or break a budget on any hardscape project. A typical job can have three or more fixed elevations, points that won't or can't be changed, and can offer tough challenges to a contractor by dictating how the project must be constructed. Each of these elevations needs to be shot preferably with a laser transit but at the least with a site level, or if in dire straits, a string line and line level that will provide rough elevations. Any contractor who has not done their homework and simply guessed at the elevation difference between the two points has set themselves up for failure. The next question a contractor must ask while collecting site data is, "How will the job be accessed?" Large patio projects may require the use of heavy equipment such as skid steers, back hoes, and mini excavators. A contractor must consider the best point of access for these pieces of equipment. Hardscaping projects require the transfer of large quantities of materials such as excavated soils, 2A stone, pavers and retaining wall block to complete a job. The point of attack must be one that requires the least amount of repair work when completed. Certain job sites may require you to take to take the time to disassemble a fence, temporarily relocate a tree shrub, or speak to a neighbor to obtain permission to access the job through their driveway or property in order to cause the least amount of damage. The worst case-scenario is a job site that allows no access with equipment and all labor must be performed by hand and wheelbarrow. A contractor must be able to recognize this situation and adjust the estimate accordingly. Very few hardscape projects are constructed without encountering some type of obstruction within the scope of the project. Down spouts, irrigation, sump pump outlets, and public utilities such as cable television, telephone lines, gas lines, electric lines, and water lines often come into play with hardscape projects. Contractors must accommodate for the cost to move these obstructions when they fall within the scope of a project. During your site data, take note of the location of some of these items and do a little investigating. A ten minute task of digging a hole and checking the depth of cable T.V. lines, drainage pipes, and telephone lines may save you money in the long run. Contractors should always write reminders to call the appropriate, "Call before you dig" number that is relevant to the region you are working in for utility mark outs. Contractors can reference their local phone book for these phone numbers. You must also remember that the utility companies require you to call for a utility mark out before a shovel is put in the ground and the response time can be up to five working days. In order to maintain a neat and clean job site, a contractor must consider where materials will be stored throughout the construction of a project. Certain sites won't accommodate all the materials needed for construction at one time and the material must be brought in at different phases of the job. A contractor should also acquire permission from a home owner if a portion of the driveway will serve as storage space for materials. A second alternative is to find an open area adjacent to the project, fence it in with construction fence for safety, and designate the area for all material storage. Contractors must again consider the amount of excavated soils being removed from the site and the quantities of materials needed for construction. The removal of excavated soils should be reviewed with the owner before construction. The removal of excavated soils should be reviewed with the owner before construction; often, the homeowner or General Manager of a site will have a use for the excavated soil and eliminate the need for removal. During the site visit, a contractor should play out the production of the job as they see it taking place. A contractor should start with the excavation phase and follow with base preparation, screeding the sand, installing the pavers, installing the edge restraint, sweeping the joint sand, and the final clean up of the entire job site. It is a good practice to run through the installation paying close attention to each detail of every construction phase. This practice can make sure the job flows nicely, all materials and tasks are considered, and the contractor is properly equipped with labor and machinery to complete the job efficiently. Walking through the steps of the job flow also allows time for a contractor to begin developing a starting point for labor hours to complete each phase. While understanding that we all don't live and work in a perfect world, the exercise of taking the time to do a good job collecting site data may make or break the profit margins on any job.
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