Page 16 - English for Construction 2

Estimates

Reading 1 What is he surface area of his book? Estimate it and hen measure to check.
t
t
t
How m u c h does it weigh?
t
2 Read he text about estimating. Do y o u agree with it?
stimating is at the heart of the construction industry.
EEstimating is about calculating time, materials, equipment
costs and so on. If we overestimate, someone else gets the
job. If we underestimate, we lose money. So it's very important
that we get it right.

Listening 3 Listen to a ontractor talking about estimating. Who is he speaking to?
c
c
4 Listen again. Complete the ontractor's summary of the estimating process.
look at arious documents
v
i
1 our nitial estimate
2 more accurate
3 the profit
4 an estimate
Vocabulary 5 Here are some of the ollocations from the listening. Match hem and hen
c
t
t
t
7
underline hem n udio script 6 on page 1.
i
a
utility a) fees
relevant b) estimate
initial c) information
subcontractor d) quotes
legal e) requirements
building f) construction
temporary g) permits
s
t
6 Find words in udio script 6 hat are imilar in meaning to:
a
equipment
initial
precise
indirect costs
papers
customer
offer
Language

Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional (if + present tense + present If we underestimate, we lose money, (or We lose
tense) to say what we think is certain to happen. We think it money if we underestimate.)
is a fact. If it snows, we can't work, (or We can't work if
it snows.)

14 2 Design