PERT Chart specific to Home Construction
Don’t want to interrupt your threads, but I searched the discussion board and came up empty.
Anyone know of a good off-the-shelf house construction PERT chart or similar computer program? I did a Yahoo and Google search and all I got was loads of generic PERT chart hits.
I would like to purchase a program that has all the contractor trades listed and will keep a neophyte like me from making stupid errors (like having the electricians come in before the plumber, but less obvious).
Thanks, in advance, for your expert advice. Geo
Replies
I think I've seen them in books on project ot construction managment.
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
[email protected]
Yeah, me too, but I didn't want to have to use a paper driven PERT chart as I am too lazy to write anything anymore. Apparently, (from UnclDunc)these things are available so that I can view it, edit it and print them out for the trades, etc.
Who knows? Maybe the contractors will show up when they say they will if they see on paper that the path is going to be disrupted if they don't show. Worst case, it does nothing to motivate them, but gives me clues to when and where I can parallel path other work at various steps along the way to obtaining our CO.
Thanks for your response! GeoLooks good from my house....
>> ... all I got was loads of generic PERT chart hits.
I think that's probably what you want, generic project management software and a separate, homebuilding specific template or data file to go with that software. For instance, if you selected Microsoft Project as your program, you could then purchase a homebuilding template in .MPP or .MPX format from a variety of sources.
Here is a Google search string I used:
"microsoft project" (mpp OR mpx) ("home building" OR homebuilding)
And here are two of the results the search returned, offering homebuilding templates that can be used with MSProject
http://www.b4ubuild.com/resources/schedule/project_template.shtml
http://www.infoforbuilding.com/scheduling_N.html
Thanks very much - I didn't know how these two fit together (generic and home building specific). I thought a generic PERT program wouldn't have the necessary info and that it would be left to me to specify all the trades, etc. If I knew that, well, then I guess I wouldn't need the program. Thanks to you, I will get my efforts going in the right direction now! GeoLooks good from my house....
Glad I could help. I should probably add that I'm not recommending MSProject, it's just the only one I happen to know the name of.Another bit of advice; learning a new program can soak up a tremendous amount of time, especially if you like the program and get excited about getting good at it. For one house, a paper chart might be a net time saver, even considering all the redrawing you'd have to do. This is not just speculation. I've lived this reality more than a few times.
Hey, so no royalties going to you, eh? No problem. I just appreciated you focusing me on where to start looking.
And your advice on learning new softward programs is right on the money! It's the learning curve time-pit that really counts. However, since I am sitting here in Tokyo waiting for late June to move back to the good ol' USofA and hopefully start construction before school starts, I've probably got enough time to invest in learning a new program. What ticks me off is that sometimes I learn a new program and then later, learn that there's a better program and have to go through all that ramp up LC stuff again. Your advice has at the very least shortened my initial search and at best eliminated the extra frustration of starting off with the wrong program. Thanks again. GeoLooks good from my house....
If you use Microsoft Project, there is a free commmercial construction project schedule you can download from Microsoft's website. This is fairly easy to adopt to residential construction.
Regards,
Dennis
Thanks for that - I was looking over some of the 'pay for construction scheduler' programs and wondered if it was worth the cost. Since MS has a free one, then at least I'll have something to compare the pay site's claims to.... Thanks again! GeoLooks good from my house....
Geo,
You still have to buy MS project unless you already have it. The new version is $600 bucks retail. You can get older versions on the web or ebay for under a hundred bucks. You can also download the project 2003 demo for free off Microsofts site. Here is the link to the commercial construction plan template:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010184451033.aspx?CategoryID=CT062640421033
Regards,
Dennis
Hey Riskbusiness,
I purchased a program from UDA Construction for $400 + $100 schedule. I have not used the program to its fullest but it does have some pretty neat functions. Basically it is a suped-up excel spreadsheet. the program contains the following features
http://www.constructioncontracts.com
Construction Contracts
Specifications
Estimating
Scheduling
I have only used the estimating and scheduling part of the program. The neat thing is you create an estimate then you can take the estimate and have it automatically create a schedule( I think they call the schedule a Gantt Chart but I'm not sure). Anyway you have to input milestones, durations, predessors etc. The schedule creates a critical path schedule. One of the options you can get with the program is to have the estimate automatically download into Quickbooks(Accounting program) then you can very accurately track your receivables and expenses.
It takes time to learn the program and all the features.
Good luck,
Clark