80 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
80 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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id: mike-holts-illustrated-guide-to-electrical-estimating
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title: "_Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating_"
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tags:
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- status/complete
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- topic/construction/electrical
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- topic/estimating
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- type/media-commentary
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---
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# _Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating_
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Commentary on [[holt_2023_estimating]].
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## Goodreads Review
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_Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating_,
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like all of Holt's printed content I'm familiar with,
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is a masterclass in construction education presentation
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featuring attractive design, and plenty of detailed illustrations.
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The bones of a great estimating textbook are present,
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it has a compelling topic organization and progression,
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however the content does not deliver on the promise.
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The text treats [[construction-estimating]] like a strict procedure:
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(1) get the documents
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(2) do the takeoff
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(3) do the closeout
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(4) send the bid;
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**if** there's ambiguity in the documents,
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**then** send an RFI.
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The reality of the industry is far messier than Holt would have you believe.
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What do you do when RFI's go unanswered?
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Drop the job?
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In fact, the text suggests that _all_ assumptions ==are bad==.
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I was compelled by my employer to purchase this book
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along with several others of Holt's
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as part of my apprenticeship curriculum.
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I can't shake the feeling that this entry
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was intended to pad out the course to four years.
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## Goodreads Review Scratch
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Holt's tone is undeservedly authoritative and principled.
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It refuses to acknowledge the questions of complexity
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that the content itself begs.
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"Never make assumptions"
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Many topics are grossly oversimplified,
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or omitted entirely (subcontractor RFQ process)
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This book is far too large in scope to lack the detail it does.
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If it was only supposed to be a primer that would be expected,
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but
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It feels designed for those unlikely to need or understand its topics,
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except it is far too long for a layman's introduction.
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If there will ever be a book to be what this one could not,
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I don't think Holt would be the one to write it.
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The group's content is very "teach to the book"
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which is exactly what you want for contractor exams,
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but not practical for estimating methodology.
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> [!quote] [[holt_2023_estimating#7.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Unit Pricing]]
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> #### Disadvantages
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>
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> Unit pricing is not suitable for jobs
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> where outlets are not located at standard intervals.
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> For example, if you have 200 identical fluorescent luminaries to install
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> in a building where the ceiling heights vary from 8 ft to 15 ft in different areas,
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> unit prices will need to be adjusted to an average luminaire height,
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> or different unit prices will need to be applied for the different ceiling heights.
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This is not a disadvantage
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it's just how you use the method. |