Hey, is there a book for useful construction formulas?

[crimeSTAR]

I noticed that the main problem with all of my construction books, is that they have the formulas too spread out, with a bunch of filler pages. So, i was wondering, is there a construction book that just lists useful/common formulas used in home construction? Thank you.

[grumpydasmurf]

RS Means?

[crimeSTAR]

RS Means?

I just looked it up on google, and all that I'm getting are estimating and cost books. Thanks anyway.

[jproffer]

formulas for what? pricing? estimating area (# of squares, etc)? what?

[crimeSTAR]

estimating material needs, and calculating r values, B-tus etc. I have ooks for these, but they are filled with a bunch of filler pages, making it difficult to find specific formulas. (yeah, i know, index, but it would be nice to have a smaller book)

[jproffer]

RS Means Cliff Notes :D ....

Best I can figure is spend a few evenings looking through the books you have...type up what you want handy...print...laminate (or folder...or both..whatever)....there ya go...now YOU have the book....and maybe we'll all buy copies from ya :wink:

[crimeSTAR]

Thank you! I also found Means Illustrated Construction Dictionary.

[Sweep]

There are a lot of pocket sized books for construction. Try these:

http://www.bookmarki.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2081

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/sim-explorer/explore-items/-/188979600X/0/101/1/none/purchase/ref=pd_sexpl/102-4480750-2475359

[jbmollohan]

I have spent the last ten years in the business and have yet to find any good sources for estimating formulas whether it be in book form or software.

I recently built a timberline estimating database for BuilderMT that has 80,000 items around 3500 formulas in it. I'm thinking about producing a book with the formulas set up by CSI code. My formulas are written so that they are very easy to understand.

[Cole]

I am interested in it, if you care to share more about it.

[jbmollohan]

The book I'm thinking about putting together would contain formulas for many quantity takeoff items with the emphasis being on "Detailed" takeoffs rather than "Lump Sums". For example, if you are a commercial building with block walls, the formulas will calculate the number of regular block, 3/4, 1/2 block, inspection block, rebar, masonry filler, lintels etc. for your block walls. All you or an estimator has to do is perform a takeoff of total lineal footage of wall. I currently have formulas covering everything from overheads to electrical.

Are you a Timberline User?

[Richard A Hetzel]

Look for a little book called "Don Graf's Data Sheets". I think it's out of print, but it's timeless, and has lots of formulas and methods explained in simple terms.

Aha, I see it's still available under a new name...go here:
http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=e8ODFIlEiWoY0GQMtUI41OiPjbw_5572780691_1:13:263&bq=author%3Ddon%2520graf%26title%3Dbasic%2520build ing%2520data%252010%252C000%2520timeless%2520const ruction%2520facts%2520%253D%2520formerly%2520don%2 520graf%27s%2520sheets

[goldbird]

dear
I want to know how to calculate steel during construction

[Don_P]

In this country the standard reference is the AISC manual.

[noahweb]

anyone know of any free online resources with forumlas for estimating?

[ads]

theres a book at my uni called estimating and building tendering, forget the author but perhaps check it out
:)

[RTF]

Another book that is packed with useful info is the International Building Code manual.

[Don_P]

Good point. This is a link to some free online codebooks;
http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/FreeCodes.aspx