ExAC Podcast | Examitect

Who should price a project, and where do the numbers come from? We introduce cost consultants and quantity surveyors, then look at published sources such as RSMeans, Yardsticks for Costing, and construction price indexes. The practical focus is on selecting the right reference, understanding its tables, and matching the data to the project's date and location.

Elemental estimating builds a cost from the major parts of a building. We introduce the UniFormat approach, contrast it with organising costs by MasterFormat divisions, and show how the estimate becomes more detailed as design progresses. We also discuss the judgment needed to recognise when an experienced cost specialist should take responsibility for the work.

A cost per square metre is useful for many buildings, but some projects need a different measure. We explore estimating by area, volume, unit of use, and unit of construction, with examples of where each fits. The key is choosing a basis that matches the project and checking that there is reliable data behind the comparison.

How do you build an estimate when the design is still taking shape? We compare top-down and bottom-up approaches and explain why the available information determines which method makes sense. We also look at the historical data behind construction prices and the adjustments needed when the reference project, date, or conditions differ from your own.

Some budget risks start with decisions made before construction. We compare cost-plus and fixed-price approaches, then look at delays, scope changes, unexpected conditions, and slow approvals. We also discuss contingencies and why a realistic budget needs room for the things the team cannot fully predict, even when the project has been planned carefully.

A building's price is shaped by more than the drawings. We explore the economy, labour, weather, location, building complexity, and the owner's decisions as forces that can move construction costs. The discussion also returns to programming, where unclear requirements can set up changes that become more expensive as the project moves forward.

Cost can be an uncomfortable conversation, but it sits at the centre of a client's trust. We introduce cost management and the contract's role in deciding who does the estimating. We also explain why an estimate needs to be understood as an informed prediction and how breaking down the work helps keep a budget under control.

Ducts, beams, pipes, conduits, and equipment rooms all compete for the same building. We bring the four engineering disciplines back together and examine the conflicts that appear when coordination starts too late. BIM and clash detection can help, but the episode also returns to CHOP checklists and the architect's responsibility to make the systems work together.

Heavy rain can expose the limits of a site's drainage system very quickly. We look at stormwater collection, retention, storage, and controlled release, and why the owner needs to manage what falls on the property. The episode brings resilience back to a practical design problem: giving water somewhere to go without overwhelming the systems downstream.

As building systems become more connected, a small change can affect more than one service. We explore smart controls, documentation, and the challenge of removing obsolete equipment during renovations. We also look at electrical space needs near the incoming supply and the transformer vault, where equipment planning and fire safety become especially important.