OUR EXPERIENCE

 

Centerline offers you a "Start to Finish" comprehensive knowledge of the Lath & Plaster Systems scope of work. Our experience of working in the field, through the ranks gives us the advantage to understand and estimate any Lath & Plaster project accurately. Owner and Chief Estimator, John Schureman started out in the field as a Union Lather/Carpenter in Los Angeles, CA performing framing and drywall work on some of the largest projects in CA. He was also endorsed by the Plastering Institute, for his Contractors License. John is also an considered an "Industry Expert" with the CA State Contractors License Board, and retained for Framing, Drywall, Lath & Plaster projects.

 

On-Site Experience on the following noteworthy projects:

 

• Multi-Family Housing Projects in San Francisco, CA
• School Projects in San Francisco, CA
• CalPERS Headquarters Project / Sacramento CA
• SFO International Terminal Expansion Project / San Francisco CA
• CA DGS OB (Office Buildings) 8 and 9, Sacramento CA
• West Sacramento Fire Stations #41 and #45, Sacramento CA
• UCD Medical Center, Sacramento CA
• CSUS, Sacramento CA
• SFO North & South Parking Garages / Concourse H, San Francisco, CA
• Capitol East End Project / Sacramento CA 
• UCSF Mission Bay Medical Research Tower BP-2, San Francisco CA
• Los Angeles Convention Center / Los Angeles CA&
• L. A. X. Thomas Bradley West Terminal / L.A., CA
• Bart Station / South San Francisco, CA
• USC Teaching Library / L.A., CA
• Olive View Medical Center / Sylmar, CA
• Huntington Memorial Hospital / Pasadena, CA
• Van Nuys Municipal Courthouse / Van Nuys, CA
• Antelope Valley Hospital / Lancaster CA
• Fruitvale Bart Village / Oakland CA:
• DWP General Offices / Sun Valley, CA
• Hilton Hotel / Woodland Hills, CA
• Sheraton Hotel / Universal City, CA
• Manhattan Beach Hotel / Manhattan Beach, CA
• Hyperion Power Plant / El Segundo, CA

 

COMPETITIVE BID ESTIMATING

"A confident Bid starts with the Estimate"

 

Our record stands for itself. The bidding process is something we have specialized in for many years with noteworthy success. Bidding your projects with confidence by knowing your scope of work is covered, is crucial to the award of a promising project.

 

The approach to providing a competitive bid starts with the interpretation of the Bid Documents. We realize what scope of work should and should not be included, and we qualify the inclusions and exclusions with great detail. We are "up to date" with all the latest Self Adhered Sheet products, Rainscreen, Fluid Applied Barriers, etc…

 

Our Quantity Surveys/Take-Offs are very detailed, complete, and accurate using On Center Takeoff Software for your easy viewing and comprehension. We capture all of the components that are required to provide the complete Lath & Plaster system. Our extensive experience gives us the knowledge and ability to basically build the job in the estimate.

 

We will provide a solid estimate for your bidding projects. The actual estimate will be performed using WinEstimator, or QuickBid Software. We can also build custom Excel Spreadsheets if you desire. We work with our clients and their own production rates so that the estimate can be adjusted to your exact productivity projections. The Mark Ups are based on your request.

 

If your estimate is not completely accurate, the tendency is to start arbitrarily adding money to cover yourself. This often results having a "high" number that simply gets discarded. Let Centerline help you be a contender for the next project.

 

QUANTITY SURVEYS / TAKE-OFFS

"The best estimate starts with an accurate Take-Off"

 

Our Quantity Surveys/Take-Offs are very detailed, complete, and accurate. We capture all of the components that are required to provide the Lath & Plaster system. Our extensive experience gives us the knowledge and ability to basically build the job in the estimate.

 

We provide the Quantity Survey using On Center Takeoff Software. This allows us to fully describe what we have included for your easy viewing and comprehension.

 

Some clients prefer that we provide only Quantity Surveys/Take-Offs, and they will implement the information into their own estimate. We are versatile and will work in with your estimating and bidding process in any way that is adds to your success.

 

CHANGE ORDER ANALYSIS

"With today's competitive bidding, your success on a project may very well be in how your changes are handled. Every construction project has changes to the scope of work. The goal in this process is to determine the real value of the change and keep payments current for the work in place"

 

Centerline has successfully assisted Sub-Contractors with contract interpretation, estimating, negotiations and document management for changes in work. We have a long-standing record as construction consultants in this specific field. Many Sub-Contractors have benefitted by Centerline's extensive change order experience. Over the years we have sat on different sides of the table representing Owners, CMs, and Contractors. We have a knowledgeable and fair approach to helping Contractors to collect on added and unforeseen work. We know when entitlement is due, and then what it is worth. We take pride in evaluating, estimating and negotiating "Change Orders". To date, we have directly handled more than 2000 change orders totaling over Thirty Million Dollars. This accounting record of experience is accumulated on many types of commercial projects involving Lath and Plaster work.

 

If you are interested in utilizing our Change Order Analysis services, please read on;

 

The following is an overview of our approach on dealing with changes and more specific services we can provide for your project. This is written in the context of Centerline supporting the Sub-Contractor:

 

A successful cost-estimating program for changes to the contract work begins with a comprehensive understanding and interpretation of the contract requirements. This understanding of the contract allowances is a fundamental first step.

 

The next order of business is to understand and utilize the correct labor rates to use for your trades used to perform the added work. Make sure these labor rates are consistent with the general conditions, with all allowable Mark-Ups and Burden costs.

 

Next, determine what the general conditions of the contract allow with regard to the allowable mark ups on labor, material and equipment. Check the added cost factors in the submitted estimate for items such as: supervision, incidental labor, material procurement, implementation of the work, estimating. This is a very important step to determine if these added cost are justifiable, or if they should be considered part of the overhead allowance.

 

Set up a well-organized filing system at the on-site offices for change estimates. A systematic arrangement of documents will display a professional appearance and allow efficient access to information needed. We use Adobe to Develop history sets of plans and specifications. Have all documents separately filed for each and every change in your electronic filing program.

 

Centerline has developed extensive electronic database systems with search capabilities to look up all information. We use excel, making it universal to network with all parties privy to the information. As the progress of a large project continues, the abundance of changes normally becomes substantial. The ability to track change issues at all stages of the process is invaluable.

 

Upon receipt of the first changes to the scope of work issued by the architect or owner, it is absolutely imperative to research the change in depth. We establish if the change adds and/or deducts work with regard to the original scope of work. We study the change, visit the jobsite, discuss the change it with the architect and the owner. This complete understanding is one of our best assets in the process. It allows us to first and foremost produce a quality and accurate estimate along with having the ability to talk "nuts and bolts" at the negotiation table.

 

Centerline has the ability and resources to execute an estimate on behalf of the owner immediately after we have studied the changes and understand the new scope of work. This is preferably accomplished prior to receiving the General Contractors change estimate for the same work.

 

When the change estimate is submitted to the General Contractor, initiate immediate negotiations with the General Contractor. This step has proven to be very beneficial allowing actual Change Orders to be written into the contract simultaneous with the extra work being performed therefore giving the General Contractor and involved Subcontractors a mechanism to receive payment for this extra work in the monthly progress payments. Do not let these changes sit, and miss billing cycles. As the project progresses, you lose leverage.

 

Negotiations can be one of the most challenging aspects with regard to changes on a project. We enter the negotiation process with experience and fully prepared. Again, researching and understanding the change to the necessary detail level is a key point. A complete understanding of the contract documents is required prior to negotiations. Analyze the changed conditions and compare these changes with the original scope of work. This includes, an evaluation of plans and specifications, code interpretations, and knowledge of industry standards. Job walks, actual production analysis, and obtaining material prices from local vendors are very useful in negotiations. These measures reduce the reliance of independent judgments that can subjective and disputed by the contractor. The ability to have a complete and accurate estimate will promote successful negotiations establishing fair and reasonable costs associated with the change, for all parties involved. This phase of the process can be carried out with an amicable approach when all of the above mention preparations have been accomplished.

 

We pride ourselves by having experts who have many years of hands on experience in the construction industry. The most influential and effective negotiation tool is first-hand knowledge of the scope of work in discussion at the negotiation table. This element combined with a first-rate estimate will prevail.

 

Centerline prepares and provides a record of negotiations with the agreed amounts and details of all pertinent information on adjustments made during the negotiations. We advise our clients to prepare a record of negotiations indicating the reason for the change, i.e.: Owner requested, design error, field conditions etc…this summary of all circumstances involved with the development of the change and the possible impacts to the project schedule. This "could" come into play in the event the project goes to a claim or liquidated damages are being considered.

 

With Centerline managing the changes on your project, we will make available to you our resources and experience to insure you the best service possible. Rest assured of the following three items:

 

• The value for added work will be a fair and accurate amount.
• An effort to create and maintain a good working relationship at the negotiation table will be a priority.

 

CLAIMS

 

Centerline has successfully represented Sub-Contractors in several Construction Claims. The process requires a complete understanding of the project, conditions, and monetary impacts. This is an extensive subject with many variables. If you are looking for advice about Construction Claims, help preparing for a Construction Claim, or representation in court for a Construction Claim, we would like to discuss this with you. Please contact us directly.