Frequently Asked Questions
How much do the services cost?
Every project is different and the ultimate cost will depend upon the specific type of service our clients ask us to perform. Simple Earthwork calculations obviously will take less time and cost less than more complex summaries of construction quantities and construction material costing research. Our technicians and Project Managers keep a careful record of the time spent and activities performed and invoices are itemized by actual activity durations. Hourly rates vary with the type of service.
Can the project cost be estimated in advance?
Once Site Tech has received all the available materials (plans, digital files, bid documents, etc.); we can arrive at a likely preparation time estimate along with a amount to exceed the target which would be defined in our Work Authorization form prior to starting the Project. There is no cost incurred by the client for us to evaluate a Project's expected cost.
Answer: Data preparation times depend upon the size and complexity of the assignment along with the available plan format that you supply us. Earthwork calculations alone may be available as quickly as one business day if we have access to well organized digital (CAD) files, slightly longer for manual takeoffs from conventional paper plans or scanned image files. Bid research assignments and activities may be dependant upon responses from others. We are sensitive to the timely nature of your work and always try to work within your deadline requirements. Please try not to wait till the last minute to transmit the plans to us and clearly let us know on the Work Authorization what the requested completion date is.
What do I need to send to Site Tech?
Try to send a complete Civil Engineering package in whatever format is available. For project assignments to include Earthwork quantities and calculations, the plan set must include existing ground topographical data as well as proposed design elevations and contours. Soil reports and subsurface boring data is often very important. Construction quantity reports are often impacted by information about construction phasing and published construction specifications. The more information we have, the better job we can do for you.
How important are Auto-Cad and other types of digital files?
Access to the current digital Auto-Cad (.dwg or .dxf) files greatly enhance the speed and accuracy of most of our plan takeoff work. Faster and more efficient takeoff procedures benefit you by lower costs. Intricate civil construction quantities will be slightly more concise with Cad conversions. Earthwork quantity accuracy is not greatly affected with the use of Cad files but can reduce the data entry time as much as 50% and sometimes more.
What if I don't have Cad files to include in the package?
Unless you ask us not to; our normal procedure is to request a current version of the digital files directly from the design engineer. We reference your name as our client in the Cad request and "CC" a copy of the request to your e-mail address. We also provide a disclaimer to the engineer clearly stating the purpose of the request and the limited use of the files we intend. In most cases we are successful in obtaining the files we need, but not always. It is not uncommon for the engineer to need clearance from the owner of the project before release, and often the process takes several days. We keep you advised of the process and in some cases need to start the takeoff manually if we expect delays that will impact your deadline. Nevertheless, it is worth the effort if we have time.
How should we send the project materials?
Fedex, UPS, U.S. Mail, or just drop them off if you happen to be a local client. We welcome the opportunity to meet our clients personally and discuss your individual needs. Simply call us at 772-225-0909 Ext#11 to arrange for us to set up the project. In some cases we can get started on the Auto-Cad request in advance of receiving the paper plans in our office.
Will we get the plan set back?
We perform a digital scan on every document or plan set received in our office. Upon request, we would be happy to return the original documents to you that same day by any means you prefer. We also provide general plan copy and distribution services and can distribute full sets or select plan sheets to your subcontractors. By arrangement, your scanned plan sets and documents will be available for you to access and download from a secure folder in our "FTP Plan Room". Call for details.
Please just call. We look forward to hearing from our clients and prospective clients. Every client has different needs and concerns; and we are dedicated to providing you the best service possible.
