Replies

1. 
   Stuart | Apr 01, 2009 08:19pm | #1

   2,080 hours is the typical number used.  It's equal to 40 hours/week x 52 weeks so it includes vacation and holiday hours.

2. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 01, 2009 08:48pm | #2

   i always use 2000 hours paid

   usually 1600 production

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
1. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 01, 2009 09:13pm | #3

   For you or field staff?

   Why the 400 hr difference? 

1. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 01, 2009 10:20pm | #4

   if  you  track  time,  you  will find  that  you  can  never  get  40  hours  of  production  for  40  hours  paid

    

   safety  meetings...  cleaning  the  trailer.....  coffee  breaks....  anything  you  can't  bill for  becomes   part of  the  labor  burdenMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 02, 2009 12:31am | #5

   anything  you  can't  bill for  becomes   part of  the  labor  burden

   Interesting Mike. I've never had that presented to me...........is this an industry standard or the Mike way?

   Makes perfect sense BTW.

   So when you are figuring labor costs for your jobs you add 25% before you even get to ss/comp/++++?

   That 25% is part of your total labor burden?

    

   Edited 4/1/2009 5:36 pm ET by EricPaulson

1. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 02, 2009 02:10am | #6

   no....i take the 400 hours  and add them to the labor burden computation

   ( along with all benefits , direct insurance, company vehicles, taxes )

   my burden amounts to  62 % last time i figured it

    

    

    

   so a $20 /hr guy would cost me $32Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 02, 2009 02:15am | #7

   same thing

   Is this an industry standard Mike? Not sure I'm aware of using this formula. 

3. 
   brownbagg | Apr 02, 2009 02:18am | #8

   I,m doing a job know that the boss did not bid my time correctly. He out of money so he wants me to walk off the job. He also been hinting that if I am not busy all day long, to deduct the time that I am not busy. Now my contract claims that I have to be on the job the same hours as the contractor, so if we have a rain day, or not being totallu produtive at that time to deduct.

4. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 02, 2009 02:51am | #9

   bb,

   Do you believe that you could be of any help to your boss at estimating?

   I offered to help my FORMER employer a hundred times and was never taken up on it.

   Sometimes being out of the field too long has bad effects. That and being stoopid. 

5. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 02, 2009 03:54am | #10

   work like an optimist.....

   bid like a pessimistMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

6. 
   andybuildz | Apr 02, 2009 06:48am | #13

   Mike...so when you figure your estimates..you add in 1.62 to your costs if I recall correctly?

   I always thought that seemed so high but with the question erik put forth and your answer I can understand it better....

    

    

    

   http://www.cliffordrenovations.com

   http://www.ramdass.org

    

7. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 02, 2009 01:16pm | #14

   As sphere would say; I'm putting on the popcorn.................... 

8. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 02, 2009 01:29pm | #15

   yes, he would, but i usually don't understand what he meansMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

9. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 02, 2009 01:31pm | #16

   I think Helen is waiting on her coffee. 

10. 
    BarryE | Apr 02, 2009 09:17pm | #17

    easier to do it the other way around.

    Barry E-Remodeler

     

11. 
    MikeSmith | Apr 02, 2009 09:34pm | #18

    the   results  aren't  as  rewarding  thoughMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

12. 
    BarryE | Apr 02, 2009 09:44pm | #19

    ain't that the truth

    Barry E-Remodeler

     

13. 
    brownbagg | Apr 02, 2009 04:11am | #11

    i feel that estimating is an art, not a science.

3. 
   VMackey | Apr 02, 2009 06:33am | #12

   2,000.

   40hrs a week times 50 weeks worked. I bid my time based on working 1,500 hours, 1,200 would probably be closer to the truth of actual production. Vic