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Quantity Survey
What is a Quantity Survey?
A quantity survey, also known as a bill of quantities (BOQ), in the construction industry is a detailed analysis and estimation of all parts, materials, and costs associated with a construction project. This process is carried out by a professional known as a quantity surveyor. The surveyor evaluates the quantities of materials needed, required labor, groundwork needed, and the overall time frame of the project. They also consider other variables to provide an accurate cost analysis, like the complexity of the project, the potential risks, and the market conditions.
The main purpose of a quantity survey is to:
- Accurately estimate the cost of a construction project: By quantifying all the required materials and resources, the quantity survey helps contractors and clients estimate the total cost of the project accurately. For subcontractors specifically, quantity surveys are used to price out the cost of their portion of the work, ensuring they quote competitively while accounting for all the necessary materials and labor.
- Facilitate bidding and tendering: The quantity survey provides a standardized format for subcontractors to prepare their bids based on the same information, ensuring fair competition during the tendering process.
- Control project costs: During the construction phase, the quantity survey serves as a reference point for monitoring and controlling costs, as actual quantities used can (and should) be compared against estimated quantities.
- Manage changes: If the original scope of work changes or varies, the quantity survey serves as a baseline for evaluating and negotiating the cost implications of those changes.
A quantity survey is essential for subcontractors to accurately estimate costs, plan resources, and manage project scope. While not directly integrated, solutions like Siteline allow subcontractors to leverage quantity survey data to streamline their billing processes.
- Subcontractors can generate payment applications in Siteline that reflect completed work items and quantities from the survey, minimizing disputes.
- Some clients use Siteline's billing and A/R reports to help quantity surveyors and estimators account for contractors with longer payment cycles. They can either increase bids for those contractors to offset delays or revise terms to penalize late payments.
- Siteline also seamlessly tracks change orders, enabling subcontractors to easily update payment applications and lien waivers when project scope changes, keeping everything documented and billed accurately.
By bridging the gap between contracted scope and actual billing, Siteline enables subcontractors to focus on execution while ensuring prompt, accurate payments. Experience the power of efficient payment management tailored for subcontractors. Schedule a demo of Siteline today.
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Other construction terms
What are Long-term Assets (Noncurrent Assets)?
Long-term assets, also known as noncurrent assets, are significant for the construction industry because they represent valuable resources that companies expect to benefit from over a future period exceeding one year. In the context of the construction sector, long-term assets can be physical properties like buildings, land, heavy machinery, and equipment used for construction work. They also involve intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, or contracts that provide long-term value. These assets play a vital role in the industry as they are not intended for immediate sale but are used over time to generate income. Depreciation or amortization is applied to such assets reflecting their usage and wear and tear over time. The accurate recording and appreciation of these assets can significantly impact the financial analysis and planning within the construction industry.
What is a Chart of Accounts?
A Chart of Accounts (COA) in the construction industry is essentially a financial organizational tool that provides a complete listing of every account in an accounting system. These accounts are typically used to categorize financial transactions that a business has to deal with to conduct its everyday operations. In construction, the COA may include accounts such as materials, labor costs, subcontractor fees, overhead expenses, equipment costs, and liabilities. Different project types will often require different charts of accounts. Furthermore, the COA assists in organizing the company's finances and ensuring accurate financial reporting, it's also important for identifying the total costs of a construction job, tracking profit margins, and analyzing expenses. It's a critical tool in managing a construction company's finances.
What is Self-perform?
Self-perform, in the context of the construction industry, refers to the ability of a construction company to use its own workforce to accomplish certain specific tasks or projects, rather than outsourcing or subcontracting to external teams or entities. By opting to self-perform, the company can have direct control over the quality of work, project timeline, cost management, and overall productivity. For example, a construction firm may choose to self-perform tasks like concrete placement, plumbing, electrical work, and roofing operations, maintaining stringent quality standards all along. However, it is essential for companies undertaking self-perform tasks to have skilled and trained personnel who can efficiently execute the work. To sum up, self-perform allows construction firms to maintain better control over the project while potentially saving costs and enhancing efficiency.
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