February 2018 was another big month for the Xactware Pricing Department!

First off, who is doing the independent analysis of granite/quartz countertops? Itel appears to be attempting to service this aspect of the claim as they have a research division that is equipped to identify and subsequently value granite/quartz countertops on a one-off basis. We spoke to Itel about this, and they recommended contacting them first in an effort to facilitate the analysis. There does not appear to be a straightforward institutional process just yet. We have asked Itel’s PR department for more details and once we receive that feedback we may update this commentary. If you know of a vendor that is executing this analysis credibly, please add them to the comments section below our Granite Countertop Insight Sheet.

We will update the Granite Countertop Insight Sheet with these two situationally re levant line items.

CABNCPCTGM  Countertop – Granite or Marble – per ind. material source

CABNCPCTQ     Countertop – quartz/eng. stone – per ind. material source

We have received several requests for more detailed line items within the Cabinetry Category. Many of you will be happy to see that there are 3 new CAB line items:

CABSPR           Add for pull out spice rack

CABTIPOUT      Add for tip out sink front tray

CABTRASHBN  Add for pull out trash bin

As expected, the Pricing Department continues to incorporate a myriad of new electronics cleaning line items, and there are a few new cleaning line items for mini-fridges and drum sets.

Those of you that write flooring claims will be happy to see that there are now several new stair tread/riser line items.

STRRISERT    Stair riser – treated softwood – up to 4′

STRRISERT>  Stair riser – treated softwood – greater than 4′ up to 8′

STRTRDT       Stair tread – treated softwood – up to 4′

STRTRDT>     Stair tread – treated softwood – greater than 4′ up to 8′

Other than that, there are 41 modifications to existing line items, but nothing revolutionary – just little tweaks required to continue to clarify and optimize the price list.

One change we found kind of humorous is that they deleted the floppy disk cleaning line item. It is reasonable to speculate that the line item below has not been intentionally incorporated into an estimate in quite some time.

“CELCMPS+ Clean computer software – disk – int. & ext.” has been deleted

Price List Update Summary

New Items added for the February 2018 price lists
1.      CABNCPCTGM  Countertop – Granite or Marble – per ind. material source
2.      CABNCPCTQ     Countertop – quartz/eng. stone – per ind. material source
3.      CABSPR           Add for pull out spice rack
4.      CABTIPOUT      Add for tip out sink front tray
5.      CABTRASHBN  Add for pull out trash bin
6.      CAPRFMI         Clean compact / mini refrigerator – interior and exterior
7.      CAPRFMIX       Clean compact / mini refrigerator – exterior
8.      CELACC          Clean electronics / accessories – exterior wipe down
9.      CELACC<         Clean electronics / accessories - small - ext. wipe down 10.     CELCMPSP    Clean computer speakers - exterior wipe down 11.     CELCMPSP+  Clean computer speakers - interior & exterior 12.     CELPROJ       Clean projector - exterior wipe down 13.     CELPROJ+     Clean projector - interior & exterior 14.     CGNMUST      Clean music stand (drum / cymbal / guitar / mic / speaker) 15.     CGNTP           Clean power tool - exterior wipe down 16.     CGNTP<         Clean power tool - small - exterior wipe down 17.     CGNTP>         Clean power tool – large – exterior wipe down
18.     CLNRFMI        Clean compact / mini refrigerator – interior and exterior
19.     CLNRFMIX      Clean compact / mini refrigerator – exterior
20.     STRRISERT    Stair riser – treated softwood – up to 4′
21.     STRRISERT>  Stair riser – treated softwood – greater than 4′ up to 8′
22.     STRTRDT       Stair tread – treated softwood – up to 4′
23.     STRTRDT>     Stair tread – treated softwood – greater than 4′ up to 8′

Items modified for the February 2018 price lists
1.     CABFH-            Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
2.     CABFH             Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
3.     CABFH+            Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
4.     CABFH++          Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
5.     CABLOW-          Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
6.     CABLOW           Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
7.     CABLOW+         Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness and to clarify cabinets may include high grade features.
8.     CABLOW++       Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness and to clarify cabinets will include high grade features.
9.     CABLOW+++     Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to clarify cabinets will include high grade features.
10.     CABUP-            Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
11.     CABUP             Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness.
12.     CABUP+           Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness and to clarify cabinets may include high grade features.
13.     CABUP++         Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to include typical size of box construction thickness and to clarify cabinets will include high grade features.
14.     CABUP+++       Added text to Quality field of (+) definition to clarify cabinets will include high grade features.
15.     CELCMP+         Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
16.     CELCMPBX+     Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
17.     CELCMPLT+      Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
18.     CELCMPMC+     Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
19.     CELCMPMOD    Added text to description and (+) definition to clarify item would include different types of computer drives.
20.     CELCMPMOD+  Added text to description and (+) definition to clarify item would include different types of computer drives and modified labor component yield.
21.     CELCMPMS*      Removed reference to “ext. hard drive" from description.
22.     CELCMPS          Added text to description and Note field of (+) definition to include memory cards.
23.     CELCMPSCN+    Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
24.     CELCMPT           Added text to description and Note field of (+) definition to include digital picture frames.
25.     CELCMPT+        Added text to description and Note field of (+) definition to include digital picture frames.
26.     CELMP+            Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
27.     CELTV+             Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
28.     CELTVLS+         Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
29.     CELTVLS>+       Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
30.     CELTVVCR>+    Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
31.     CELVCR            Added text to Note field of (+) definition to include satellite/cable receivers.
32.     CELVCR+          Added text to Note field of (+) definition to include satellite/cable receivers.
33.     CELVCRC+        Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly.
34.     CLNSMOKE       Added text to description to include carbon monoxide detectors.
35.     DMOHRBDR      Added text to Note field of (-) definition to clarify price may also be reflective of gutting a room to the framing with rough electrical/heating/plumbing work intact, but estimators should ulitmately review their own costs.
36.     DMOHRBDR>    Added text to Note field of (-) definition to clarify price may also be reflective of gutting a room to the framing with rough electrical/heating/plumbing work intact, but estimators should ulitmately review their own costs.
37.     DMOHRBR         Added text to Note field of (-) definition to clarify price may also be reflective of gutting a room to the framing with rough electrical/heating/plumbing work intact, but estimators should ulitmately review their own costs.
38.     DMOHRBR>       Added text to Note field of (-) definition to clarify price may also be reflective of gutting a room to the framing with rough electrical/heating/plumbing work intact, but estimators should ulitmately review their own costs.
39.     DMOHRK           Added text to Note field of (-) definition to clarify price may also be reflective of gutting a room to the framing with rough electrical/heating/plumbing work intact, but estimators should ulitmately review their own costs.
40.     ELSSOLARRS    Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly and added text to Note field of (+) definiton to clarify detaching/resetting of boot/flashing is not included.
41.     ELSSOLMHRS    Modified labor component yield in (+) assembly and added text to Note field of (+) definiton to clarify detaching/resetting of boot/flashing is included.

Items deleted from the February 2018 price lists
1.     CELCMPS+     Clean computer software – disk – int. & ext.

Material components added for the February 2018 price lists
1.     CABNCPCTGM  Granite/Marble countertop – per specs from ind. mat. source
2.     CABNCPCTQ     Quartz/Eng. stone countertop per specs from ind. mat. source
3.     CABSPR           Spice rack – pull out
4.     CABTIPOUT      Tip out sink front tray(s) with hinges
5.     CABTRASHBN  Pull out trash bin with hardware
6.     FRM1X8T        1" x 8" #2 or better pine – treated
7.     STRTRDST     Stair tread – pre-manufactured – treated softwood

Green items added for the February 2018 price lists
1.     CAPRFMI     Clean compact / mini refrigerator – interior and exterior
2.     CAPRFMIX     Clean compact / mini refrigerator – exterior
3.     CLNRFMI     Clean compact / mini refrigerator – interior and exterior
4.     CLNRFMIX     Clean compact / mini refrigerator – exterior

Miscellaneous changes to the February 2018 price lists

We updated the Fringe Benefits portion of the Labor Burden in all retail labor rates, as warranted, in the U.S. and Canada.

Future changes and additions to look for in upcoming price list publications
1.     Item(s) for additional roof accessories for single ply membrane roofing (TPO, PVC, etc.).
2.     Item(s) for vinyl tile with grout.

* Signifies changes to multiple items with similar selectors.