Glossary

AACE – The Association for the Advancement of Cost Estimation. A professional certification organization for the construction estimating industry.

ASPE – American Society of Professional Estimators. A professional membership group that holds its members to stringent guidelines of professional methods and conduct

Autodesk – A computer program used for designing in 2D and 3D.

Bid Bond – A written guaranty by a third party secured by the bidder assuring that the work will be performed according to contract. Replaced by a performance bond by the winning bidder.

Bill of Materials – A list of all the materials required to construct a project or part of a project

Building Information Model (BIM) – A computer model of a building in 3, 4 or 5 dimensions that can be measured by the point and click of a mouse and modified according to changes in plans. This model may be shared with all interested parties as changes are made.

Budget Estimate – An estimate to determine the approximate costs of a project; generally for securing funding.

CAD (Auto CAD) – Computer Assisted Drawing

Conceptual Estimate – An estimate based on the early planning stages of a project to determine the feasibility or degree of complexity of the plan.

Cost Validation – Professional affirmation that the cost of the materials and/or labor is consistent with the estimate.

Counts – The item totals that are taken off of a plan.

Design Build – A project that is designed and built by the same company.

Detail – An amplified drawing of a smaller area of a project to show the exact details.

Equal – A suggested alternative to a specified product on a plan that has the equivalent or better attributes

Framing – The part of construction that consists of the skeletal structure that supports the walls floors and roof.

Performance Bond – A guaranty secured from a third party by the winning bidder that the work will be completed according to the plans and specs. Replaces the bid bond after the job is awarded.

Planswift – A construction estimating software program.

Quest – Construction software that includes estimating.

RS Means Costworks – An online estimating and cost data tool used in construction.

Riser Diagram – A depiction of a system such as electrical or plumbing that travels up from one floor to another.

Schedule – The list of required materials for each page of a design or plan.

Specification (spec) – The inclusion of a particular product into a construction plan by an architect, engineer or designer.

Takeoff – The counting, measuring and all other means used to determine the complete bill of materials required for a project or portion of a project.

Value Engineering – A suggested alternative to save money on a construction project.

Xactimate - Software used for property claims estimating