19+ Sample Building Construction Proposal

What Is a Building Construction Proposal?

A building construction proposal is a written document from a bidder to the building owner to perform the work plan and to furnish all labor, materials, equipment, or services for the prices and terms quoted by the bidder. A proposal may be used as a standard written form made for all bidders for the purpose of obtaining the requested information and required signatures from the authorized bidding representatives. 

Using a bidding process can lessen the charges of discrimination or conflicts of interest in the awarding of public contracts. Some government projects are required to solicit bids so that contracts are awarded on a fair and competitive basis. The bid submitted must conform to the applicable requirements of form, content, and timeliness in order to be considered. 

What Is the Importance of Building Construction Proposal?

Building construction proposal is very important because of its detail-oriented process. Whether constructing a medical facility, car dealership, or manufacturing operation, there are definitive steps that must be taken to make sure the safety of construction workers, employees, and patrons of the future building. While specifications and permits can differ from one project to another, the general order of operations in any construction project stays the same. When working with an experienced construction firm, you can be sure that your project will adhere to this general blank timeline, and be completed in a timely manner. Here is an overview of the different stages of construction and what can be expected at each stage: 

Making a Concept and Building Design 

The first stage of construction is to create a concept, followed by a design and blueprints. Normally, this is done with the help of an architect to make sure everything is up-to-code and that the design will be structurally-sound and stable. A great team works with their clients to ensure that the building will suit their needs and serve the business for many years to come. 

Obtaining Building Permits 

As you need to obtain different permits at different times, this process will be ongoing throughout the construction project. Working with an experienced construction company aids this process immensely. 

Clearing and Excavating the Land 

Your construction project will commence by clearing and excavating the land upon which you want to build. This includes removing any trees, boulders, or other obstacles that are in the way of your building, and leveling or grading the ground. 

Pouring the Foundation 

The foundation can be poured when the space you are building is cleared and excavated. Preparing the subsurface may need to be done prior to the foundation being poured depending on the size of the building and the stability of the land. 

Completing the Framing 

Framing begins on your building once the foundation has been poured and cured. This may include installing wood frames or steel beams. This process does take a while and it is important that everything is done correctly. This essentially sets the groundwork upon which all the other aspects of your building will follow. 

Conducting Rough Electrical and Plumbing 

After the building has been completely framed out, specialty contractor will start to complete rough electrical and plumbing work. This includes installing the pipes and wires where they need to go. Their job will not be completed at this point, but it helps to get the rough work in place so drywall, insulation, and ceilings can go up. 

Installing the Roof 

Just the same time that the rough electrical and plumbing work is done, roofers come in to complete the roof on the building. This needs to be done before any further work inside of the building can take place, as rain and outdoor elements can damage the work that is taking place in the next few steps. In addition, contractors will also be called in to finish the exterior of the building, further protecting the interior work that is about to take place. 

Taking Care of Heating and Cooling Needs 

Once the building has exterior walls and a roof, heating and cooling needs are addressed. Vents, ductwork and the heating and cooling unit are all installed. 

Completing the Interior 

Upon the heating and cooling work being completed, the interior is also completed. This includes adding insulation, putting up drywall and adding ceilings. An electrician often comes during this stage and finishes up adding outlets and lighting fixtures. 

Installing Fixtures 

Once the interior walls are up, all of the fixtures inside of a space can be added. This involves things like toilets, cabinets, windows, doors, and elevators. 

Finishing Up 

The last stage of construction is the finishing touches on the building like installing flooring, painting the walls, putting countertops in or adding faucets in the bathrooms. 

What Are the Types of Building Construction? 

Buildings can be categorized into five different types of construction: fire-resistive, non-combustible, ordinary, heavy timber, and wood-framed. 

Fire-resistive Type I (IA and IB). In this type of construction, walls, columns, partitions, floors, and roofs are the most noncombustible when it comes to fire-resistant ratings. These structures are typically easy to spot based on their height since fire-resistive buildings are more than 75-feet tall and made of poured concrete and protective steel. They are also designed to withstand the effects of fire for a long time to prevent a fire from spreading. Ventilation in these types of buildings is not an option because the roof must also be composed of noncombustible materials.Non-combustible Type II (IIA and IIB). Non-combustible buildings are similar to the fire-resistive type where walls, partitions, columns, floors, and roofs are non-combustible. However, they give less fire resistance and do not withstand the effects or spreading of fire as well as Type I. Newer school buildings are common examples of this type of construction. These buildings normally have a metal floor and metal roof with masonry or tilt-slab walls. They are the least stable in terms of collapse when exposed to fire.Ordinary Type III. Also called brick-and-joist structures, this type of construction has brick or block walls with a wooden roof or floor assembly which is not protected against fire. Some parts of the interior structural elements are combustible/wood. Vertical ventilation in these types of buildings is possible. You will see ordinary construction in both old and new buildings.Heavy Timber Type IV. Type IV buildings have non-combustible exterior walls and interior elements. These buildings are made out of solid or laminated wood. All wooden members must meet dimensional requirements. Wood columns, beams, and girders must be at least 8 inches thick while, heavy planks for floors and roofs must be at least 6 inches thick. If these types of buildings catch fire, they require large volumes of water to extinguish, but they hold up well against fire and do not collapse easily due to their structural mass.Wood-Framed Type V. Wood-framed buildings are the most combustible of all. They are the only construction type that allow combustible exterior walls. Type V also allows a combustible interior made entirely or partly out of wood. This type is commonly found in modern homes. They often have exposed wood so there is no fire-resistance. It ignites but is reasonably resistant to collapse unless it is a lightweight construction, in which case it will fail within minutes.

The Basic Steps in a Building Construction: 

The building construction process involves two major stages: Pre-Construction Phase and Construction Phase. 

Pre-Construction Phase:

Acquire a Land. Since this is the most important step in building construction, there is the need to consider its location. Based on your exact needs, assess the location of the lot and its proximity to facilities such as public transport, highways, schools, parks, supermarket, etc. If you already have land, half of your problem ends here. 

Prepare Your Budget. The building estimator estimates the amount of material, the number of different items of work, and produces a sheet with the total cost of the building project budget proposal. 

Interview Contractors. Choosing a good contractor is essential to the successful construction of the building project within the time frame and to maintain the quality of construction at the same time. 

Get Your Permits Ready. Once the project is ready for execution, you will need to get permission from the local municipal body before starting construction. 

Construction Phase:

Site Clearance. Site preparation is the first activity of the construction phase of the building project. This task involves removing unwanted obstructions from the site such as woods, tree roots, debris, old buildings if present, and leveling the ground area. 

Site Surveying and Layout. The next phase is the site survey and layout after the completion of site clearance activities. Site layout survey is the process of interpreting construction plans and marking the location of proposed structures with the help of surveying equipment such as level, theodolite, total station, etc. 

Excavation. After establishing the layout of the structure, the excavation process starts using the right machines based on the type of soil and the size of the excavation work. 

Foundation. The foundation is the lowest part of the building responsible for transferring the load from the structure to the ground. This requires great care and precision during construction. 

Finishing Works. Finishing operations such as ceiling plastering, external and internal plastering of walls start after the construction of the structure. They are then provided with whitewash, distemper or paint, or tiles. 

Building services. Water supply, sanitation and drainage work, power supply work, and the construction of cupboards and showcases form the major building services. 

What Are the 6 Steps of a Building Construction Process? 

Here are the detailed steps of a building construction process that would easily make work lighter. 

Step 1: Come Up with a Concept 

Strategic Planning and development is the beginning of the construction process. This is when a client dreams up the building or facility they want. Conception is the stage where ideas are at their most fluid and it also creates the foundation of the construction process. Everything must be done with care to secure a successful build later. Parts of this step include finding a property for the build, initial concept pre-designs, and choosing an architect and a general contractor. 

Step 2: Get the Design Done Professionally 

The design process is where the impossible dreams of your client meet what is actually doable. Once you have managed to be realistic without shattering your client’s hopes and dreams, plans or a design get drawn up. 

Step 3: Pre-Construction Process 

This is where the main building process takes place. This project team should include a contract administrator who ensures the project manager and superintendent have the right information about the construction contract; a project manager who supervises the construction project management team; a superintendent who coordinates all construction activities on-site as well as the time schedules for work and deliveries of materials or equipment and; a field engineer who manages and coordinates site inspection, environmental site issues, and historical and archaeological site issues. The field engineer ensures safety and regulations are followed as the project progresses. 

Step 4: Procurement 

This is the most straightforward step in the construction process. Procurement is simply the buying or renting of all the things needed for the construction project. This means finding the labor, equipment, and building materials. This is where schedules can get pretty hectic. You have a lot of varied delivery schedules and a lot of vendors you need to juggle so that the right materials get into the right people’s hands at the right time. 

Step 5: Construction 

The project finally moves from paper to the physical world. This step has the most working parts and deadlines to coordinate. Each contractor and subcontractor involved must be on time and must follow the plans for things to work. Organization and communication are essential here. It is in the construction stage that we really push our clients to use digital process management tools. 

Creating project workflows for each team and stage of the process is essential, but it is even more necessary to keep everything working smoothly. 

Step 6: Post-Construction 

Although everything is already built, you have to inspect the entire building. The final checklist has to be signed off on before the client moves in. That final walkthrough inspection checks that everything was finally finished correctly. Then, the architect issues a certificate of substantial completion. Only once that final government inspection is complete are you really done. Time to shut it all down and just finally send everyone home.

FAQs

How do you calculate construction profit?

In order to calculate your profit percentage for a project, divide the profit figure by the total sum of overhead, material, and labor costs, and multiply this by 100. This is the percentage of profit you have applied to the project cost.

How long does it usually take to design and construct a building?

The average single-family home takes just under 10 months to build. Custom homes typically take longer. And when it comes to commercial construction, time from permit to project completion depends widely depending on project scope and size.

Be realistic when you answer this question from a client, knowing that delays due to weather, materials availability, and other factors are likely. Build a buffer into your timetable. If you know it usually takes 12 months to complete a project like the one on which you are bidding, add another month or two to the timeline. 

How do I start building construction?

Before starting a building construction firm, the individual is required to get a permit or a license for the business as it acts as a certification to run a construction company and purchase the required equipment or tools. The entrepreneur may acquire a permit or license from the council office.

Building construction proposals are key to the success in the building industry especially, when your goal is to get your firm on a potential client’s list. Making sure you are well-equipped, knowledgeable, and proactive will get you more clients in the long run.

Presentation is vital in both marketing and bidding materials. Visually reinforce the impression you make with a clean portfolio or proposal layout and add graphics, for instance, flowcharts, infographics, or photos that demonstrate your expertise and experience. Needless to say, both marketing and bid proposals are supposed to be clear and concise, as well as direct and accurate.