Estimating guides & standards references
Practical guides on Philippine construction estimating — PNS/DPWH standards, BOQ structure, and the formulas behind ConstructPro's calculators, written for estimators and contractors.
How BOQ Estimating Works Under PNS/DPWH Standards
What a Bill of Quantities actually is, how CSI MasterFormat divisions map to DPWH pay items, and why the two numbering systems often don't line up 1:1.
4 min read · Standards & References ConcretingConcrete Class A vs B vs C: Choosing the Right Mix
Cement bag ratios per class, when each applies, and how mix class changes your material take-off numbers.
4 min read · Concreting MasonryCHB vs ICF: Choosing a Wall System
Cost, speed, and insulation trade-offs between traditional concrete hollow block and insulated concrete forms.
4 min read · Masonry ReinforcementWhy Rebar Splicing Adds More Steel Than You'd Expect
Lap splice length and why a 6-meter bar run often needs more than just 6 meters of rebar once splices are accounted for.
4 min read · Reinforcement FormworkContact Area vs Formwork Area: A Common Estimating Mix-Up
Why formwork is priced by contact area — the surface actually touching concrete — not the footprint of the element itself.
4 min read · Formwork ContractsWhat CIAP Document 102 Actually Covers
A plain-language walkthrough of the standard Philippine construction contract framework, and which parts estimators should understand even if they're not drafting the contract.
4 min read · Contracts Deep FoundationsDeep Foundations: Driven Pile Splices and Bored Pile Overbreak
Two easy-to-miss line items on deep foundation take-offs: why driven piles need splices, and why bored pile volume always runs over the theoretical number.
4 min read · Deep Foundations Passive Fire ProtectionWhat "Girth" Means in Fireproofing Take-Offs (It's Not a Typo)
Girth is the actual construction term for the perimeter being sprayed or wrapped — here's why it matters and how it's used.
4 min read · Passive Fire Protection RoofingGI Roofing: Gutter Run vs Slope Length
Two different lengths on a pitched roof, and why sheet count follows the longer one, not the one you'd measure with a tape from the ground.
4 min read · Roofing