In the first example, we will examine how using Labor Factoring can help us to better calculate equipment rental costs.

Step 1: Assign the proper Labor Factor in the breakdown portion of the Takeoff screen.

Step 2: Now we will need to "group" the Extension screen. Right click within the Extension screen and select the Group option.

Step 3: Double left click "Labor Factor" in the Group Options to send it to the Group Order column. Now click the OK button.

Step 4: The Extension screen has now been grouped by Labor Factor. Looking at line 6, we see "Branch Exposed @ 25’ " with 219 hours (the exact amount of labor budgeted at that elevation). This, in turn, has given us a more accurate look at the amount of time we would need to budget for a lift on this project. This same approach could be taken with many other questions in mind.

If we look at lines 4-7, we see trench labor conditions. Let’s say we have just received a quote from a subcontractor for excavation. By looking at the time we have budgeted versus their quote, we can more accurately assess the quote.

In this next example, we will use the Labor Factoring tool to answer some of those key project management and scheduling questions. We will use Labor Factoring to help us determine our rough-in time on the first floor in a metal stud environment.

Step 1: Again, we will start off by grouping the Extension screen.

Step 2: This time, we will need to group the Extension screen first by Phase (or Floor on this project), then by SortKey 7 (our out-of-the-box Labor sort code), and lastly by Labor Factor.

Step 3: Double left click on "1st FLOOR" phase which will drill us down to the next layer.

Step 4: On the second layer of the Group (SortKey 7), we see line 1 "100 Conduit – Fittings – Boxes – Coring". This is our out-of-the-box Rough-in code. Double left click on line 1, drilling into our third layer.

Step 5: Lastly, on the third layer of the Group (Labor Factor), we see line 2 which has our Metal Stud Labor of 84 hours. Now we have an exact number of hours that the estimator has budgeted for the first floor rough-in in the metal stud environment. With this information, we can better determine manpower and catch a mistake in the estimate before it is too late.

Step 6: Going one step further, if we double left click one more time, we can see how much 3/4" EMT has been allotted to complete the rough-in on the first floor. This will help us to both better budget material and gauge the overall success of the job.

This same information could also be exported directly to scheduling software such as MS Project.

The above examples could not have been achieved without first properly breaking down our estimate in the Takeoff Screen.

In this article, we have seen how Labor Factoring can do more than simply adjust labor based on an installation condition. It will truly help us to develop both a more detailed and accurate estimate and answer some of those key project management questions, thereby saving us time, effort, and money.