Is it possible... - D-Tools Forum

HickmottJ · 03-03-2008, 08:16 PM

..to accurately charge labour on wire and cable installation?

I am having to resort to having a labour product for "INSTALLATION - 10 mins" and estimating how long it will take to pull the cable on each run then adding the "INSTALLATION - 10 mins" for every 10mins per cable, this seems too clumsy..

I would be interested to know how you all charge labour per cable per yard/meter for each run?

I bet there many ways you each tackle this problem...

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 03-03-2008, 09:31 PM

The database is designed to add labor incrementally with each item added to the project.

Since integrators sell installed systems, not items and installation labor, this really is the best way.

So that being said, know that we believe in adding unit labor hours to every product in the database, and allowing the phase that the item is assigned to carry the cost and sell price for the unit labor hours.

D-Tools is designed to treat bulk wire installed into a project on a per foot or in your case a per meter basis.

Therefore, the wire in your database that is in the 'first fix' (rough-in for you US users)phase, should be priced per meter and the unit labor hours for each meter should be something like .002.

For our US clients we use per foot and .006 unit labor hours which equates to 36 minutes to install 100 feet of wire.

When you consider drilling holes, pulling the wire, securing the wire, labeling and trimming, this is a realistic estimate.

The key to making the estimae work is not to focus on what it takes to install each run of wire, but rather, what does it take to install all the items in a phase.

Once you complete your project in D-Tools text, run an 'hours by phase' report and consider if the total hours for the first fix phase is a good estimate based on your past experience.

If the number needs adjusting, up or down, go to D-Tools>Options and select the first fix phase, adjust the difficulty factor up or down as needed which will add or take away hours, therefore dollars in the project.

Do your best to put your focus for costs and sell price on the installed system, not the individual parts, knowing that its the total of all the installed parts that gets you the estimated cost and sell price.

Adopting this overall incremental methodolgy makes database management and project estimating simpler and more easily adjustable.

HickmottJ · 03-04-2008, 03:44 PM

Thanks Kevin

How do you factor in for two Installers pulling one cable?

Also, I would be interested to know how any UK Designers charge for the Chasing out walls in retro fit installs?

HickmottJ · 03-04-2008, 04:09 PM

"006 unit labor hours which equates to 1 hour to install 100 feet or wire."

Don't

me but does .006 equate to 1 hour to install 100 feet?

My calcs produce 36 minutes for 100 feet at .006 per foot... or am I

Plus, is it reasonable to follow the same principle for each Connector, say .085 (5mins) labour hours to terminate and label each termination?

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 03-04-2008, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by HickmottJ

"006 unit labor hours which equates to 1 hour to install 100 feet or wire."

Don't

me but does .006 equate to 1 hour to install 100 feet?

My calcs produce 36 minutes for 100 feet at .006 per foot... or am I

Plus, is it reasonable to follow the same principle for each Connector, say .085 (5mins) labour hours to terminate and label each termination?

Hey Mate, you're right, mistake on my part, I made the correction to the post above.

As for connectors, you're right on track!

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 03-04-2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by HickmottJ

Thanks Kevin

How do you factor in for two Installers pulling one cable?

Also, I would be interested to know how any UK Designers charge for the Chasing out walls in retro fit installs?

Man hours are man hours no matter how many men are on a job or task at a time.

If 2 men are pulling one cable, they get it done in (theoretically) half of the time, so in the end its still man hours cost and sell.

As for retrofits, that's where the difficulty factor adjustment in the phase comes in handy.

If most of the time you are doing new construction, your labor values should reflect that condition.

When you come across a retrofit and experience says it will take you 2 1/2 time longer than the typical new construction situation, change the difficulty factor in the phase from 100 to 250.