The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
l a , a ; 1 1 5 ~ 6 Labor and Material Requirements for Construction of Private Single-family Houses Bulletin 1755 g.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics 1972 Dayton & Montgomery Co, Public Library SEP 131972 DOCUMENT COLLECTION L a b o r a n d M a te r ia l R e q u ir e m e n ts fo r C o n s tr u c tio n o f P r iv a te S in g le - f a m ily H ou ses Bulletin 1755 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR J. D. Hodgson, S ecretary Bureau of Labor Statistics Geoffrey H. Moore, Commissioner 1972 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 40 cents P re fa c e The current program of construction labor requirements studies was started in 1959 in recognition of the need for information on the possible employment generating effects of various types of construction activities. Several labor requirements studies which were more limited in scope and content were completed in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Since 1959, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has conducted a series of studies presenting data on the total amount o f employment and man-hours, both onsite and offsite, per dollar of construction expenditure and per square foot of space. The studies provide not only detailed occupational, contractor, and man-hours data but also information on the amount and type of material required. Completed construction studies include civil and sewer works, college housing, public housing, federally aided highways, Federal office buildings, elementary and secondary schools, hospitals and nursing homes, and private single-family houses. The study of new private single-family housing construction was conducted in cooperation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to evaluate the labor and material requirements needed to meet the Nation’s housing goals. It is similar to, but not entirely comparable ' with, a study done in 1962. Selective data from the 1962 study are included, however, for illustrative purposes. The Bureau is indebted to the more than 4,200 general and special trade contractors who provided information for this survey, to the Bureau of the Census who provided the sample, and to HUD who provided guidance and financial assistance. The study was prepared in the Bureau’s Office of Productivity and Technology by Robert Ball, assisted by Larry Ludwig and Joseph T. Finn, under the general supervision of Martin Ziegler, Chief, Division of Productivity Research. iii C o n te n ts Page Chapters: I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. Scope of survey ................................................................................................................................. Comparison with Bureau of the Census data ................................................................................. Nature of the industry ..................................................................................................................... 1 1 1 2 II. Highlights of findings ................................................................................................................................. Total man-hour requirements ........................................................................................................ Change in onsite man-hour re q u ire m e n ts......................................................................................... Offsite man-hours ............................................................................................................................. Other highlights ................................................................................................................................. 3 3 3 5 5 III. Onsite man-hour requirements and characteristics of houses ................................................................. Occupational requirements ............................................................................................................. Contractor man-hours ..................................................................................................................... Characteristics of houses ................................................................................................................. 6 6 6 6 IV. Distribution of c o s t s ..................................................................................................................................... Relative cost shares ......................................................................................................................... Contractor c o s t s ................................................................................................................................. Wages by occupation ......................................................................................................................... Wage share ......................................................................................................................................... Material costs ..................................................................................................................................... 8 8 8 8 8 8 V. Estimated offsite (indirect) employment requirements ...............................................................................10 Builders’ offsite employment ............................................................................................................. 10 Manufacturing employment ................................................................................................................. 10 Employment in other industries ......................................................................................................... 10 Tables: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Man-hour requirements for new private single-family houses, by industry, 1969 and 1962 . . . . Summary data for new private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 Onsite man-hour requirements for new private single-family houses, by occupation 1969 and 1962 . Distribution of onsite man-hours for new private single-family houses, by type of contractor, 1969 and 1962 Man-hour requirements for new private single-family house construction, by selected characteristics, 1969 and 1962 ........................................................................................................ Construction costs of new private single-family houses,by selected characteristics, 1969 and 1962 . Percent distribution of costs, by type of construction, 1959-1969 Distribution of construction costs for new private single-family houses, by type of contractor, 1969 • Average hourly earnings and average hourly union wage rates paid for new private single-family houses, by occupation 1969 v 11 11 12 12 13 . 14 15 15 15 . C o n te n ts -C o n tin u e d Page Tables—Continued: 10. Distribution of on-site wage share of costs for new private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 . . 16 11. Comparison of materials and equipment in new private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 . . . 16 12. Costs and type of materials and equipment in new private single-family houses, 1969 17 13. Surveyed contractors working under labor-management agreement, by type and class of worker covered, 1969 21 14. Construction workers employed by surveyed contractors in January and July 1969, by type of c o n tr a c to r .................................................................................................................................................... 21 15. General contractors’ most common obstacles to efficiency, 1969 21 16. Capital improvements included in land value of surveyed houses, 1969 21 17. Prefabricated items included in surveyedhouses, 1969 .............................................................................. 22 18. Distribution of surveyed contractors’ work, by type of construction, 1969 22 Charts: • • • 1. Man-hour requirements per 100 square feet of private single-family house construction, by sector, 1969 and 1962 .................................................................................................................................................. 4 2. Man-hour requirements per $1,000 of private single-family housing construction, by sector, 1969 and 1962 ... . 4 • 3. D istrib u tio n ^ construction costs for private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 .............................9 Appendixes: A. Survey techniques and methods .................................................................................................................... 23 B. Procedures used to develop offsite (indirect) man-hour estim a te s.............................................................25 C. Data collection procedures ............................................ .... ~ : .............................................................26 Training ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 Data collection by personal visit .................................................................................................................... 26 Bibliography of construction labor requirements studies ............................................................................................28 vi C h a p te r I. In tr o d u c tio n Single-family home building is a major component of the Nation’s output of goods and services and a major source of employment. Jobs are created not only at the site of construction but also in the many manufacturing, mining, trade, transportation, and service industries which furnish the materials and services for construc tion. This study is the result of a survey of labor and material requirements for constructing private single family houses in 1969 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Labor and material requirements to meet the Nation’s housing goals were evaluated and employment generating effects of new private, single-family housing were determined. The study shows (1) the amount of labor time used to complete single-family houses; (2) de tailed characteristics by types of houses, contractors, and occupations; (3) ratios per 100 square feet and per $1,000 of construction costs in current (1969) and constant (1962) dollars; (4) the change in direct labor requirements between this study and the 1962 study; (5) data on materials used; and (6) total labor require ments generated by the manufacture, sale, and delivery of these materials. constructed, private single-family units built for sale or custom built under contract, and costing $75,000 or less. Comparison w ith Bureau o f the Census data The basic sampling frame was developed from Bureau of the Census data on construction starts and permits issued for single-family homes during 1968. (See ap pendix A.) Since the sample largely reflected permits issued, construction took place mostly between June 1968 and July 1969; most of the homes were completed and sold in 1969. Single-family housing in the BLS sample and the 1969 Census study are compared: B L S S t u d y 1 C en su s S t u d y 2 $25,856 $22,700 Average cost per square foot . . . $15.94 $13.45 1622 1640 Average square foot per house . 1 N e w houses b u ilt f o r sale and cu sto m b u ilt u n d e r c o n tra c t ex c lu d in g land b u t in c lu d in g selling expenses and change orders. 2 N e w houses sold e x c lu d in g v a lu e o f im p ro v e d lo t. The differences between these data can be explained by several factors: 1. The conceptual basis for the two samples is different. The Bureau of the Census sample consists of new houses sold. The BLS sample consists of new houses built for sale and custom built under contract by a general contractor. (See Construction Reports, C25-69-13, Characteristics of New One-Family Homes, 1969, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, July 1970. 2. Census uses the sales price at the time the contract is signed or the deposit is made. Thus, subsequent price changes resulting from charge orders are not reflected. Furthermore, the Census sales price does not include cash options, extras, or charges otherwise not included in the original sales price. On the other hand, BLS figures include all charge orders before occupancy or the date of the survey, whichever comes first, and any cash options or extras in the structure so long as the construction was done by a contractor and not by an unpaid worker, such as the owner or member of his Scope o f survey The survey is based on a sample of 250 single-family houses constructed during 1968 and 1969 in the continental United States. Most of these houses, how ever, were completed and sold in 1969. The sample was stratified by geographic location, estimated cost of houses, and degree of urbanization where they were built. Data were collected by fteld agents of the Bureau of Labor Statistics through personal visits to over 4,200 general and special trade contractors. On the average, 17 contractors were visited for each house; however, the number of visits (including callbacks) was considerably larger. (See appendix C.) Although some data for the 1962 study are included with this report for illustrative purposes, the two studies are not comparable. For example, the previous study covered only FHA and VA approved houses, whereas the c u rre n t stu d y covers all new, conventionally- Average cost per h o u s e .............. 1 indicated by the 1967 Census of Construction (the latest data available.) According to the Bureau of the Census, the construction industry is made up of almost 800,000 establishments, employs more than 4 million workers (including proprietors and working partners), and con ducts an annual business of more than $101 billion. Over three-fourths of these establishments gross less than $250,000 annually, and half make less than $25,000. On the other hand, less than 1 percent of the establishments reported receipts of $2.5 million or more and accounted for more than 38 percent of all receipts. Homebuilding construction is highly varied, relatively unmechanized, and requires a labor force which has a high proportion of manual craftsmen and laborers. Unskilled and semiskilled workers, for example, con stituted 28 percent of the work force for single-family houses in 1969, and these workers may be on the increase. Another characteristic of the industry is seasonality which causes high unemployment rates for construction workers and a low number of annual hours for most crafts. Among surveyed contractors construction workers averaged 82 percent as much time in January as in July 1969. (See table 14.) The industry also is characterized by a multiplicity of diverse building codes and zoning regulations, widely varying customs and practices, lack of extensive research and development, union jurisdictional problems, lo calized markets, customized products, and a volatile money supply sensitive to changes in interest rates. A full review of these characteristics properly belongs elsewhere, but these factors do restrict homebuilding, drive up costs, and bring delays and inefficiencies. family. These inclusions tend to raise the BLS total unit cost and man-hours higher than the cost of the census homes. 3. Census does not include any work on the grounds around the house. This survey, however, includes all items in the original contract, such as landscaping, paving, termite control, and grading. Excluded are out buildings, fences, swimming pools, and operations for general land development, i.e., drainage, streets, clearing of trees, etc. 4. The definition of square footage in the two surveys was not comparable. For example, the Census study included square footage for all completely finished areas, including basements and attics. The BLS survey had a more restricted definition which included only livable floor space. (See footnote 4.) 5. The BLS survey excluded modular and sectionalized houses as well as houses which cost over $75,000 (including land), but final averages probably were not affected. Nature o f the industry To maintain perspective, the unique nature of the homebuilding industry must be kept in mind throughout this discussion of man-hour and material requirements. For example, the typical contractor operates a small firm which has little capital providing only a few housing units per year, or he works for himself as a special trade contractor. (General contractors and builders in the current survey built a median of about 30 houses in 1969.) That this multiplicity of diverse firms of small average size permeates the construction industry is 2 C h a p te r I I . H ig h lig h ts O f F in d in g s Total man-hour requirements. An average new private Each $1,000 of cost exclusive of land3 generates about 137 man-hours of labor in all sectors of the economy. Of these man-hours, 62 are expended in construction—52 onsite and the rest offsite, as indicated by table 1. Thus, for every hour of onsite construction work, an additional 0.2 hour is spent in contractors’ offices and warehouses and 1.4 hours in other industries. In addition to the direct employment generated in the construction industry, 75 man-hours of employment per $1,000 of construction were created in industries which mine, manufacture, distribute, and sell the ma terials used in single-family house construction. On a square footage basis, each 100 square feet of livable floor space (calculated area)4 provided 98 man hours of construction work—82 of which were onsite. In other industries, 119 man-hours were created per 100 square feet. (See charts 1 and 2.) Man-hour requirements for all industries except con struction were developed by translating the materials purchased into man-hours required to mine, process, transport and distribute the materials used in construc tion. These man-hour estimates were derived by first classifying and aggregating material values by type, deflating by appropriate price indexes, and applying the data to input-output tables. Productivity factors were then used to develop estimates of employment and man-hours by industry group. (See appendix B.) single-family house in 1969 required 1,337 onsite man-hours of labor, 254 offsite man-hours in con tractors’ offices and warehouses, and 1,925 indirect man-hours in industries providing materials and serv ices.1 This time is equivalent to about three-fourths of a man-year for on-site construction workers and slightly more than a man-year for all other workers—including offsite construction employees. Expanding these findings to reflect total employment in 1969, private single-family house construction pro vided full-time jobs for an estimated 450,000 construc tion workers and additional jobs for 74,000 offsite construction personnel, such as administrators, ap praisers, engineers, architects, secretaries, and clerks. These figures account for over 12 percent of the more than 4 million workers in construction that year. In addition, about 561,000 jobs were generated in in dustries which provide materials and services.2 1N o t covered b y th e survey w ere con stru ction in sp ection b y governm ent em p lo y ees, installation s b y pu blic u tility em p loyees, and labor required for sw im m ing p o o ls, fen ces, and outbuildings. E xclu d ed from oth er industry m an-hour requirem ents was labor generated b y m o n ey sp en t b y builders or contractors for taxes (including payroll taxes) and other overhead item s, such as real estate com m issions, rent, bon ds, insurance, financing, u tilities and bu siness services, and legal and professional services. T hese paym ents probably generate little' direct em p loym en t. E m ploy m en t created b y the respending o f w ages and p rofits o f the workers and their em ployers—th e m ultiplier e ffe c t—w as also ou tsid e th e scop e o f the study. Change in onsite man-hour requirements. A comparison of current data with 1962 results reveals a decline in onsite man-hour requirements. This change reflects a host of economic factors including new processes and materials, geographic shifts in demand, shifts in types of 2T hese estim ates, although representing o n ly jo b s created b y n ew h ou ses b u ilt fo r sale and custom -b uilt under contract, actually a ccou n ted for th e vast m ajority o f jo b s in private single-fam ily hou sing con stru ction , because th e other major grouping, ow ner-built hou ses, probably provides few on site and o ffsite con stru ction jo b s. I f the e ffe c ts o f ow ner-built hou ses were in clu d ed in these calculations, single-fam ily hom ebuilding w ou ld a cco u n t for an estim ated 15 percen t o f all construction jo b s in 1 9 6 9 . In industries providing m aterials or services, how ever, perhaps o n e-fifth m ore jo b s w ou ld be created w h en ow ner-built h o u ses are included. A lth ou gh ow ner-built h ou ses m ake up a b ou t Qne-fourth o f all single-fam ily hom es, th ey tend to b e smaller and less expensive; th u s, th e value o f m aterials w ou ld be proportionately less. E stim ates were derived b y using 1 ,8 0 0 hours a year for on site con stru ction w orkers and 2 0 8 0 hours for o th er w orkers. C o n s tr u c tio n co st refers to th e cost o f th e h ou se exclusive o f th e price o f im proved lo t and any closin g costs, and includes on site and indirect labor, m aterials, overhead and profit, and selling expenses. A lso included are the cost o f change orders execu ted after th e initial contract and b efore occu p an cy or tim e o f survey, w hichever cam e first. 4 Livable Space (calculated area) as used through out this report is d efin ed as all living spaces in th e h ou se above basem ent or fou n d ation from ou tsid e surfaces o f exterior walls. E xclu ded are all space in garage and finish ed attic covering less than 5 0 percent o f ground floor area, and any area w h ich has a ceiling o f less than 5 feet. 3 C h a rt 1 M an-H our R eq u irem e n ts P er 100 S q u a re F e e t o f P riv a te S ingle-F am ily H ousing C o n stru ctio n , by S e c to r, 1 9 6 9 and 1962 M a n -H o u rs 50 C o n s tru c tio n On-site Off-site ------------------— ----- -— -------------- ----------- ----------M a n u fa c tu rin g W holesale tra d e , trans p o rta tio n an d services 1 9 6 9 M in in g and o th e r 1 9 6 2 C h a rt 2 M an-H our R e q u ire m e n ts P er $1,000 of P riv a te S ingle-F am ily H ousing C o n stru ctio n , by S e c to r, 1 9 6 9 an d 1 9 6 2 M an -H o u rs 50 100 C o n s tru c tio n M a n u fa c tu rin g W holesale tra d e , trans p o rta tio n and services 1 9 6 9 M in in g and o th e r 1 9 6 2 4 housing, and productivity growth. Isolating the effects of productivity change on labor requirements from these other factors is extremely difficult. In addition, the sample in 1962 was considerably smaller, had only about a third as many respondents, and was limited to FHA and VA-approved houses compared with the current study which covers all new, conventionally-constructed, private, single-family houses built for sale or custom-built under contract and costing 1 $75,000 or less. With these limitations, two measures of change in onsite man-hour requirements were developed: one based on square footage; the other on constant dollars. A Bureau of the Census single-family housing price index was used to deflate the current dollar value.5 On a square footage basis, man-hours per unit of output declined slightly more than one-half of 1 percent a year. On a constant (1962) dollar basis—the effects of price increases having been removed—the decline was almost 2 percent a year, as shown. faster in annual 82 64 1962 85 72 change -0 .6 -1 .9 Since homes built in 1969 have more bathrooms, air conditioning, and other improvements than those built in 1962, real value increased substantially faster than output based on square footage alone. These improve ments also required a greater number of man-hours to install, but the increase in labor time was not propor tionate to the rise in real value. O ffsite man-hours. Although man-hour requirements in the construction industry declined from the earlier study, the decline in all other industries was much sharper and reflected the effects of higher productivity in the manufacture and distribution of materials as well as changes in the composition of material inputs. (See table 1.) Prefabricated materials were used to a greater extent in the construction of single-family housing, and as a result jobs were shifted from construction into manufacturing. Increasing use of ready-made concrete and gypsum products, for example, creates some new jobs in the concrete and gypsum industries, but reduces onsite,labor requirements in construction. Despite this trend, man-hour requirements are declining considerably 5S ee John C. Musgrave, ‘T h e M easurem ent o f Price Changes in C on stru ction ,” Journal o f the American Statistical Associa tion, Septem ber 1 9 6 9 , pp. 7 7 1 -7 8 6 . C o m p o u n d e d 6V2 years to m id -1969 w h en th e m ajority o f h ou ses surveyed w ere com p leted . R ates o f change calculated on unrounded data. o th e r industries than in survey ranged from about $8,000 to $52,000; a weighted average was $25,856. (See table 2.) Onsite labor was just over 20 percent of tfiis average; supple mental benefits for onsite workers accounted for about 3 percent. — square feet of livable space averaged 1622 and ranged from 800 to 3800. Cost per square foot was $15.94. — average hourly earnings were $3.94, considerably less than the union wage scale for comparable occupa tions in the building trades because homebuilding is basically a nonunion activity. About 65 percent of contractors surveyed, for example, were nonunion. — builders surveyed constructed a medium of about 30 houses during the fiscal year covered by the study (i.e., July 1968 through June 1969). — ninety-six percent of builders surveyed provided no on-the-job training or registered apprenticeship pro grams. — ninety-one percent of business, in dollar value, of builders surveyed were in single-family house construc tion. (See table 18.) — most frequently quoted obstacles to efficiency were: building codes, lack of skilled workers, and adverse work practices. (See table 15.) — inclement weather was the most persistent prob lem and a major deterrent to house construction. — most frequently-mentioned prefabricated items were kitchen cabinets, vanities, preassembled windows, and prehung doors. (See table 17.) — average time to build survey houses was about 21 weeks. Several builders encountered delays due to inclement weather although a few experienced other drawbacks such as work stoppages. — overtime was of little consequence and amounted to less than 1 percent in pay for each worker. Overtime was used only when absolutely necessary, and then usually in subcontracts, such as stucco and concrete, which could not be halted abruptly at the end of a day. — about 1300 contractors, over 30 percent of the more than 4,200 general and special trade contractors in the survey, had labor-management agreements. Of this number, all workers were covered in about 90 percent of the agreements. (See table 13.) Nearly all skilled workers were covered where an agreement was in force. — the average land value per lot was just under $5,000 and included utilities, street paving, and sewer hookup for the majority of houses surveyed. (See table 16.) Community recreation facilities were included for 15 percent of houses. p e rc e n t 1969 and Other highlights,. Construction costs of houses in this A v e ra g e 6 Man-hours per 100 square fe e t ............ . Man-hours per 1000 constant dollars . . m a n u fa c tu rin g c o n s tru c tio n . 5 C h a p t e r I I I . O n s ite M a n - H o u r R e q u ir e m e n t s a n d C h a r a c te r is tic s o f H o u s e s study, carpentry man-hours have increased considerably, while hours worked by general contractors have de clined; general contractors are concentrating more of their efforts on coordinating, financing, and purchasing while subcontracting more onsite work to carpentry contractors. The share of labor input of masonry, concrete, wallboard, and electrical contractors has increased sub stantially since the 1962 study. Increasingly, homeowners’ demand for patios, fireplaces, basements, ga rages, more electrical appliances and outlets, and the substitution of wallboard for plaster have brought about these shifts in labor. Occupational requirements. According to the study, 69 percent of the onsite man-hours were worked by skilled tradesmen, 28 percent by semiskilled and unskilled workers, and 3 percent by nonproduction employees (supervisors, engineers, clerks). (See table 3.) Four major building crafts-carpenters, painters, bricklayers, and plumbers-accounted for three-fourths of the skilled employees. Carpenters, the most frequently used occu pation, accounted for over one-third of the man-hours at the site. Over one-fourth of the man-hours were ex pended by laborers, helpers, and tenders. The current study indicates two important trends—a decline in the proportion of skilled man-hour require ments and an increase in semiskilled and unskilled man-hours. In a 1947 study, skilled workers provided 76.7 percent of all onsite man-hours for single-family housing construction.7 This proportion dropped to 73.2 in 1962 and to 68.8 in 1969. The reverse is shown for laborers, helpers and tenders. The 1947 study indicates that these workers accounted for 21.2 percent of total onsite man-hour requirements, which increased to 23.3 percent in 1962 and 27.9 in 1969. To a very large extent, these trends reflect the greater use of prefab ricated materials, which often require less skill to install. Except for these shifts, the mix of occupational require ments showed little change. Characteristics o f houses. Most of the houses in the 1969 study were located within metropolitan areas and had one story, a wood frame, basement, two or more bathrooms, forced air heating, and a garage or carport. Compared with homes built 7 years earlier, the 1969 home was roomier, had more bathrooms and air condi tioning, and was considerably more expensive to build. The number of onsite man-hours per $1,000 of construction cost and per 100 square feet was consider ably higher in nonmetropolitan areas than in metro politan areas. (See table 5.) Homes built in metropolitan areas required 44 man-hours per $1,000 of construction cost, compared with 79 for nonmetropolitan areas. On a 100 square foot basis, 71 man-hours were required in metropolitan areas compared with 120 in nonmetro politan areas. Higher onsite man-hours in nonmetro politan areas also were observed in the earlier study. A number of factors may contribute to this dif ference: the inclusion of more basements and garages, greater use of wood for exterior wall or framing, the use of less-skilled workers, and smaller average size homes in nonmetropolitan areas. There is a strong inverse correlation between average hourly earnings and the number of man-hours required in single-family home construction. That is, as hourly earnings increase, unit man-hour requirements decrease. Contractor man-hours. The study found that general contractors accounted for over 30 percent of the man-hours in onsite construction, although carpentry contractors accounted for 17 percent, almost double the level in 1962. (See table 4.)8 Compared with the earlier 7 Edward M. G ordon, “H om e C on struction : Man-hours b y O ccu p ation 1 9 4 6 -4 7 ,” Monthly Labor Review, D ecem ber 1 9 4 8 . 8 C lassification o f m an-hours and costs b y major ty p e o f operation , according to th e Standard Industrial C lassification (SIC) m eth od , proved d ifficu lt since contractors o ften do several related jo b s. A con crete subcontractor, for exam ple, freq uently perform s du ties o th er than con crete w ork, such as fou n d ation s (a separate SIC grouping) w h ile a carpentry subcontractor also m ay d o flooring, siding, and roofin g in ad d ition to rough and finish carpentry. Su ch problem s w ere resolved o n th e basis o f th e major co m p o n en t o f work perform ed in costs. In costs, a different pattern emerged. Costs were higher in metropolitan areas, and tended to increase as 6 increased as the house size increases. Thus, the labor cost share tends to decline as houses increase in size although total cost per unit tends to rise as the house size increases. earnings increased. (See table 6.) Of course, costs are determined by other factors in addition to labor. Although larger houses require fewer man-hours per square foot and per $1,000 (as measured by number of stories and bathrooms), total cost per square foot 7 C h a p t e r I V . D i s t r i b u t i o n o f C osts Relative cost shares. Private single-family housing had hourly wage scales for all unionized building trades. (See table 9.) This comparison reflects the largely nonunion status of the private single-family homebuilding industry (about 65 percent of the contractors in the survey). Only three occupations in the study approached union scales: cement finishers, plasterers, and roofers. The largest difference in scale is between union and non union laborers, helpers, and tenders, and is consistent with the increasing proportion of these workers in single-family housing construction. the lowest labor input of any type of construction studied by the Bureau. (See table 7.) Onsite wages and salaries, declining slightly as a percent of total house costs since 1962, represented 20.4 percent of construc tion costs in the current study. This decline is the continuation of a long-term trend from 1947, when onsite labor was 32.7 percent of total costs.9 Materials representing the largest share, as in other construction labor requirements studies except dredging projects, also declined as a percent of all costs from 47.2 to 43.4 percent. As a percent of total costs, equipment remained about the same—1 percent. Although not available separately for the 1962 study, in 1969 supplemental wage benefits accounted for 2.7 percent and selling expenses 2.9 percent of total costs. (See chart 3.)10 The relative share of residual costs, which include construc tion financing, inventory, administration, clerical work, warehousing, other overhead costs, and builders’ and contractors’ profits, was 29.7 percent. Including supple mental wage benefits and selling expenses as in the previous study, the increase in residual was just over 6 percentage points. Factors contributing to this rise in the residual share included increased interest rates for builder loans and increased employer contributions for unemployment insurance, social security, and fringes, such as paid vacations and retirement. Wage share. In 1969, the median onsite wage share of construction costs, reflecting a slight downward shift from the earlier study, fell in the 15.1-20.0 percent category. (See table 10.) Over 18 percent of the houses had a wage share of over 25 percent, although less than 10 percent had 15 percent and under. In addition, labor’s share of total cost showed a wider dispersion in the current study. At the lower end of the scale, the number of houses in which the onsite labor share was 15 percent and under increased from 3.0 to 9.8 percent. This increase may reflect a greater improve ment in productivity, increasing use of prefabricated components, and more efficient construction equip ment. All of these factors tend to reduce onsite labor costs. Similarity, at the upper end of the scale, the number of houses in which labor’s share was 30.1 percent or more of costs increased from 3.0 percent to 4.4. This increase is consistent with the large amount of building in the South where building is generally more labor intensive. The sample used for this study reflects this increased homebuilding activity in the South. Contractor costs. More than half of the total cost of a house is paid to the general contractor for materials, administration, and onsite labor. (See table 8.) Plumb ing, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning contractors make up the second largest group; carpentry contractors receive a close third. These three types of contractors account for over two-thirds of the construction cost. M aterial costs Wages by occupation. Earnings in the study were consistently lower for every occupation than the average Materials and equipment represented $443 per $1,000 or $707 per 100 square feet. (See table 11.) The most important materials category was lumber and wood 9Adela L. Stucke, “Labor Share in Construction of New products (including furniture), accounting for about 18 Houses,” M onthly L abor Review , May 1949. percent of the total or $180 per $1,000. The second 10 Selling expenses normally would not be included in most important material grouping was stone, clay, and construction costs. However, since they were reported in the glass products (including sand, gravel and dirt fill) 1962 study and cannot be identified or removed, selling representing $95 per $1,000 of construction cost. expenses are shown in the 1969 figures for comparison. 8 Chart 3 D is trib u tio n o f C o n s tru c tio n C o s ts fo r S in g le -F a m ily H o u s e s , 1969 a n d 1962 Supplemental wage benefits1 (2.7%) Selling expenses (2.9%) Supplemental wage benefits (SW8) includes social security (F IC A ), unemployment insurance, vacation pay, retirement funds, health and life insurance and other fringe benefits for on-site workers. Materials include cost of supplies, fixed equipment incorporated into the structures, and major appliances that were covered by the original construction contracts. For convenience, the materials tables also include the rental cost or equivalent value of the construction equipment used at the site. Equipment accounted for about $9 per $1,000 of construction. The dollar values in table 11 reflect changes both in the physical volume and the relative costs of various materials. One method for determining relative im portance of material utilization is the use of percentage distributions of the list of materials. Substantial declines are shown in table 11 for stone, clay, and glass; metal; and petroleum products. On the other hand, substantial increases occurred for plumbing products, carpets and rugs, and plastics products. These trends mirror the practice of providing more bathrooms, rugs, and carpets, numerous plastics products such as cold water and drainage pipes, and interior and exterior plastic wall panels. Other major groupings remained relatively con stant; however, numerous substitutions within these major groupings took place (as in the use of wallboard for plaster, both of which are made of gypsum and classified in the same grouping) for a number of reasons (i.e., due to prefabrication, relative price changes, new products, personal preference and scarcity or abun dance). A more detailed breakdown of material is shown in table 12. 9 C h a p t e r V . E s t i m a t e d O f f s it e ( I n d i r e c t ) E m p lo y m e n t R e q u ir e m e n t^ Offsite employment, which' is estimated from the materials and equipment used, falls into the following industry groups: (1) Construction: Builder’s, adminis trative, estimating, office and warehousing activities; (2) manufacturing activities producing fabricated and raw materials and equipment; (3) transportation, whole sale trade, and services: Industries providing ware housing, distribution, and sale of materials and equip ment; (4) all other industries directly or indirectly affected by the production and distribution of materials and equipment. Interindustry transfers ultimately affect industries such as agriculture, forestry and mining. studies. Most offsite man-hours represent white-collar employment, which changes relatively slowly. Manufacturing em ploym ent Except for onsite construc tion, manufacturing constitutes the largest component of total man-hour requirements in both the current and the 1962 studies. Thus, the employment effect in this industry is second only to that in construction. Almost one-third of all man-hour requirements are accounted for by manufacturing, but labor requirements are declin ing more rapidly in this industry than in construction. This change in offsite man-hour requirements may represent changes both in demand for particular ma terials and in the industry’s productivity. The same industries provided most of the offsite man-hours in manufacturing for both studies: wood and lumber products; stone, clay and glass products; metal products; and plumbing products. These four industry groups accounted for about three-fourths of the man-hours in manufacturing. Some workers in architectural firms, utility com panies, and State and local governments who contribute to the construction of private single-family houses are not covered by this report. (See footnote 1.) Builders9 offsite em ploym ent Because offsite employ ment includes work not only on projects studied but also on concurrent projects, no attempt was made in this study to measure directly contractors’ offsite employ ment. Instead, builder’s offsite labor was estimated using published sources. The estimated man-hours for each $1,000 of construction and 100 square feet of livable space of single-family house construction were based on the difference between construction workers’ employ ment and total employment in the special trade con tractors component of the contract construction in dustry for 1969. The level of offsite man-hour require ments remained relatively stable between the two Em ployment in other industries. Wholesale trade, trans portation, and services accounted for about 15 percent of total man-hour requirements. Between the two studies, this sector declined at a slightly higher rate than manufacturing. Mining and all other industries represent about 10 percent of all construction labor requirements. Although this sector declined more than manufacturing and transportation, trade and services, the employment effect is not as great because fewer employees were involved. 10 Table 1. Man-hour requirements fo r new private single-family houses b y industry, 1969 and 1962 1962' 1969 Per 1,000 current dollars of con struction Industry Per 1,000 constant (1962) dollars of construc tion2 Per 100 square feet Percent distri bution Per 1,000 current dollars of con struction Per 100 square feet 202r 238 3 100.0 Percent distri bution A ll industries........................... 137 169 217 3 100.0 Construction ....................................... 62 45.3 84 99 41.6 52 10 76 64 12 98 O nsite............................................. Offsite............................................. 82 16 38.0 7.3 72 12 85 14 35.6 5.9 Other in d u stries................................. Manufacturing.............................. Wholesale trade, transportation, and services................................. Mining and all o th e r..................... 75 41 92 50 119 65 54.7 29.9 118r 61r 139 72 58.4 30.2 20 14 25 17 32 22 14.6 10.2 31r 26r 36 31 15.3 12.9 1 L a b o r a n d M a t e r i a l R e q u ir e m e n ts f o r P r iv a t e O n e - F a m il y H o u s e C o n s t r u c t io n (BLS Bulletin 1404, 1964), and M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , July 1964, pp. 797-800. 3 Calculated on basis of man-hours per $1,000. Except for rounding, percent distribution would be the same on a square footage basis. 2 Deflater used is Bureau of the Census price index for new single-family houses, rebased to 1962, adjusted to remove value land, and fitted to mid-1969 when virtually all houses in survey were sold. r = revised data N O T E : Detail may not add to totals due to rounding. Table 2 . Summary data fo r new private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 Characteristics 1969 1962 Cost per square foot. . $15.94 Cost per h ou se............ $25,856 Average hourly earnings ............... $3.94 Average square feet 1,622 per h ou se............... Percent change Average annual percent change $11.76 $14,585 35.5 77.3 4.8 9.3 $3.07 28.3 4.0 30.8 4.3 11 1,240 Table 3. Onsite man-hour requirements for new private single-family houses, b y occupation, 1969 and 1962 M a n -h o u rs p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f M a n -h o u rs p e r 1 0 0 P e rc e n t d is trib u tio n 1 sq u a re fe e t c o n s tru c tio n c o s t O c c u p a tio n A l l o c c u p a t i o n s .................................... 1969 1962 1969 1962 82 85 1 0 0 .0 1 0 0 .0 1969 1962 52 72 S u p e r v is o r y , p r o fe s s io n a l, te c h n ic a l, ............................................................... 2 3 2 .8 3 .0 1 2 C a r p e n t e r ........................................................................ 29 29 3 4 .9 3 4 .6 18 25 P a i n t e r ............................................................................ 6 8 7 .3 9 .5 4 7 B r i c k l a y e r ........................................................................ 5 5 5 .7 5 .5 3 4 a n d c le ric a l P l u m b e r ........................................................................ 4 4 4 .3 5 .2 2 4 C e m e n t f i n i s h e r ...................................................... 2 3 2 .5 3 .9 1 3 E l e c t r i c i a n .................................................................... 2 2 3 .0 2 .8 2 2 P l a s t e r e r a n d l a t h e r ............................................. 1 2 1 .7 2 .0 1 1 S h e e t - m e t a l w o r k e r ............................................. 1 2 1 .3 1 .8 1 1 R o o f e r . ............................................................................ O p e r a t i n g e n g i n e e r ............................................. 1 1 .9 1 .4 (2 ) 1 2 1 1 .8 1 .4 1 1 T i l e s e t t e r ........................................................................ 1 1 1 .4 1 .0 1 1 S o f t f l o o r l a y e r ...................................................... 1 1 .6 .8 (2 ) 1 O t h e r s k i l l e d t r a d e ............................................. 3 3 3 .3 3 .3 2 2 L a b o r e r ............................................................................ 12 13 1 4 .1 1 4 .8 7 11 1 3 .8 8 .5 .5 .5 H e l p e r a n d t e n d e r .................................................. 11 7 T r u c k d r i v e r a n d m i s c . w o r k e r .................. (2 ) (2 ) 1 C alcu lated o n u n ro u n d e d d a ta . 2 Less th a n .5 h o u r. 7 6 (2 ) (2 ) N O TE : D etail m ay n o t ad d to to ta ls d u e to ro u n d in g . Table 4. Distribution o f onsite man-hours fo r new private single-family houses by type o f contractor, 1969 and 1962 P e r c e n t o f o n s ite m a n -h o u rs T y p e o f c o n tr a c to r 1 1969 1962 A l l t y p e s ........................... 1 0 0 .0 1 0 0 .0 G e n e r a l .......................................................... 3 1 .3 4 5 .6 C a r p e n t r y ...................................................... 1 6 .9 9 .4 P lu m b in g , h e a tin g , v e n tila tin g a n d a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g .................. 8 .7 8 .6 P a in tin g a n d p a p e r h a n g in g . . . 6 .5 6 .6 M a so n ry a n d s to n e w o rk 9.0 5.6 . . . . C o n c r e te a n d s tu c c o w o r k . . . 7 .2 4 .2 E le c tr ic a l ( e x c e p t h e a tin g ) . . . 3 .7 2 .8 P l a s t e r i n g a n d l a t h i n g ....................... 1 .4 2 .6 R o o f i n g a n d s i d i n g ........................... 2 .0 2 .0 C e ra m ic tile , te r r a z z o a n d m a r b l e w o r k .................................... 2 .2 1 .6 E x c a v a t i o n a n d g r a d i n g .................. 1 .6 1 .6 W o o d f l o o r i n g ......................................... .9 1 .2 O t h e r f l o o r i n g ......................................... 1 .6 .8 A l l o t h e r t y p e s ......................................... 6 .9 7 .5 W a ll b o a r d ( i n c l u d e d i n ( 4 .0 ) a l l o t h e r ) ........................... (N .A .) 1 C o n tra c to rs are classified acco rd in g to th e m ajo r c o s t co m p o n e n t o f w o rk since m an y p e rfo rm e d m o re th a n o n e o p e ra tio n . N O TE : D etail m ay n o t add to to ta ls d u e to ro u n d in g . 12 Table 5. Man-hour requirements for new private single-family houses, b y selected characteristics, 1969 and 1962 M a n -h o u rs p e r 1 0 0 s q u a re fe e t C h a r a c te ris tic s M a n -h o u rs p e r M a n -h o u rs p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t A ll h o u s e s . . . 1969 1962 82 85 1969 52 C h a r a c te ris tic s 1962 1969 71 81 44 70 In n o n m e t r o p o li ta n a r e a s . 120 100 79 81 81 $ 2 7 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 9 ,9 9 9 . . 75 $ 2 4 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 6 ,9 9 9 . . 78 45 43 99 54 $ 2 1 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 3 ,9 9 9 . . 88 60 80 54 $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 - $ 1 7 ,9 9 9 . . 102 89 $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 -$ 1 4 ,9 9 9 . . 84 82 72 70 U n d e r $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 . . . 80 72 75 68 1962 99 78 . . . 87 88 55 73 4 b e d ro o m s o r m o re . . . 76 72 47 67 71 . . . 77 85 55 1 Ya b a t h r o o m s ....................... 100 98 64 77 2 b a t h r o o m s ........................... 81 74 49 67 2 % b a th ro o m s o r m o re . 82 94 50 80 ................................ 87 . . . 55 75 N o b a s e m e n t ............................ 73 — 46 69 B a s e m e n t (fu ll a n d p a rtia l i 73 A v e ra g e h o u r ly e a rn in g s : $ 5 . 5 0 - o v e r . .................. 1969 78 $ 1 8 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 0 ,9 9 9 . . 72 s tru c tio n c o s t 112 Va a n d 1 b a t h r o o m s C o n s tr u c tio n p r ic e : 1962 M a n -h o u rs p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n 3 b e d r o o m s . . ....................... 1 a n d 2 b e d ro o m s . . . . 72 In m e t r o p o li ta n a r e a s . . . $ 3 0 #0 0 0 - o v e r . . . . 1 0 0 s q u a re fe e t G a r a g e ............................................. 79 78 48 67 C a r p o r t ......................................... 119 98 88 86 81 98 59 79 N e i t h e r ........................... 3 2 ) 5 7 ) 64 $ 4 .5 0 -$ 5 .4 9 . . . . 68 f $ 3 .5 0 -$ 4 .4 9 . . . . 82* 39 > $ 2 .5 0 -$ 3 .4 9 . . . . 111 92 77 73 U n d e r $ 2 .5 0 . . . . 119 108 111 99 F ra m in g : 56 5 2 / W o o d ............................ 84 86 53 72 M a s o n r y .................. 74 80 42 73 83 E x t e r i o r w a ll m a t e r i a l: N u m b e r o f sq u a re fe e t: 2 0 0 0 - o v e r ....................... 7 0 ) 4 5 ) 1 8 0 0 -1 9 9 9 .................. 78 ( 47 ( 60 4 1 6 0 0 -1 7 9 9 .................. 991 1 4 0 0 -1 5 9 9 .................. 103/ 1 2 0 0 -1 3 9 9 ................... 74 75 45 64 1 0 0 0 -1 1 9 9 .................. 94 97 62 78 82 73 80 88 97 62 107 82 60 71 63 67 37 60 O t h e r ............................ 75 82 46 68 6 2 / I n te r io r w a ll m a te r ia l: U nder 10 0 0 sq u a re fe e t . . . B r i c k ........................... W o o d ........................... S t u c c o ........................... 78 57 D r y w a l l ....................... 82 80 52 69 P l a s t e r ........................... 77 107 48 84 68 H e a tin g : C o n s tru c tio n c o s t p e r s q u a re f o o t: $ 1 7 - o v e r ....................... 87 45 W a r m a i r ................... 78 83 49 72 H o t w a t e r .................. 109 92 59 E l e c t r i c ....................... 90 89 59 75 • • • 85 96 52 77 . . . 114 59 74 59 ........................... 75 74 48 71 $ 1 6 - $ 1 6 . 9 9 ................... 88 $ 1 5 - $ 1 5 . 9 9 ................... 71 $ 1 4 - $ 1 4 . 9 9 .................. 86 59 W o o d ........................... $ 1 3 - $ 1 3 . 9 9 ................... 83 62 A s p h a lt tile . 54 106 46 73 F lo o r c o v e rin g : $ 1 2 - $ 1 2 . 9 9 .................. 8 1 ' 104 65 84 v in y l tile . $ 1 1 - $ 1 1 . 9 9 .................. 74* 76 65 66 lin o le u m $ 1 0 - $ 1 0 . 9 9 .................. 69 71 61 67 U n d e r $ 1 0 .0 0 . . . 79 66 91 72 1 s t o r y ................................................. 88 57 70 2 0 0 - o v e r .................. 51 62 31 56 S p l i t l e v e l ......................................... 79 . .. ____ 48 78 1 0 0 -1 9 9 74 76 41 68 2 s t o r i e s . ......................................... 73 5 0 - 9 9 . ....................... 75 80 48 68 3 s t o r i e s ............................................. 61 . .. U n d e r 5 0 .................. 91 101 59 82 O th e r A n n u a l b u ild e r v o lu m e : . . . 44 35 13 .................. Table 6. Construction costs o f new private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 C o n s tru c tio n c o s t per house C h a r a c te ris tic s A ll h o u s e s . . . C o n s tru c tio n c o s t C o n s tru c tio n c o s t p e r sq u a re 1969 1962 $ 2 5 ,8 5 6 $ 1 4 ,5 8 5 p er house C h a r a c te ris tic s fo o t 1969 1962 $ 1 5 .9 4 $ 1 1 .7 6 In m e t r o p o li ta n a r e a s . . 2 7 ,3 6 0 1 4 ,6 5 6 1 6 .1 4 1 1 .6 1 In n o n m e tr o p o lita n a re a s 2 1 ,8 4 8 1 4 ,2 9 6 1 5 .3 1 1 2 .4 5 1969 C o n s tru c tio n c o s t p e r s q u a re fo o t 1962 . . . 1969 1962 . . . 1 a n d 2 b e d ro o m s . . . $ 1 5 ,3 8 3 3 b e d r o o m s ....................... 2 2 ,0 8 3 $ 1 3 ,9 1 7 1 5 .7 2 $ 1 2 .0 6 4 b e d ro o m s o r m o re . . 3 3 ,3 3 2 1 8 ,1 1 8 1 6 .2 7 1 0 .7 8 Vz a n d 1 b a t h r o o m s , C o n s tr u c tio n c o s ts : $ 1 4 .3 8 . . 1 5 ,8 2 3 1 1 ,9 9 2 1 4 .0 4 1 1 .9 6 1 Vz b a t h r o o m s .................. 2 0 ,5 7 5 1 4 ,9 6 3 1 5 .5 3 1 2 .7 7 $ 3 0 ,0 0 0 -o v e r . . . 3 7 ,7 8 4 1 7 .9 2 2 b a t h r o o m s ....................... 2 5 ,3 0 7 1 5 ,4 3 6 1 6 .5 0 1 1 .0 4 $ 2 7 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 9 ,9 9 9 . 2 8 ,1 6 8 1 7 .3 2 2 Y» b a t h r o o m s o r m o r e 3 4 ,3 6 8 2 0 ,1 6 0 1 6 .3 8 1 1 .7 4 $ 2 4 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 6 ,9 9 9 . 2 5 ,4 4 9 $ 2 1 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 3 ,9 9 9 . 2 2 ,3 7 7 1 4 .7 3 $ 1 8 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 0 ,9 9 9 . 2 0 ,0 5 4 1 4 .9 7 * $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 - $ 1 7 ,9 9 9 . 1 6 ,1 3 9 1 6 ,3 2 8 1 4 .1 2 1 2 .2 3 $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 -$ 1 4 ,9 9 9 . 1 3 ,4 8 8 1 3 ,5 3 7 1 1 .6 9 1 1 .6 4 U n d e r $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 . . 1 0 ,1 7 5 1 0 ,6 2 3 1 0 .6 4 1 0 .5 4 2 1 ,9 4 9 1 4 .4 5 1 2 .7 6 B a s e m e n t (ful l a n d p a r t i a l ) ............................ 2 5 ,9 1 2 1 5 ,7 9 2 1 5 .9 4 1 2 .9 6 N o b a s e m e n t ....................... 2 5 ,7 4 3 1 3 ,5 3 4 1 5 .9 4 1 0 .7 5 G a r a g e ......................................... 2 8 ,4 0 1 1 5 ,1 0 8 1 6 .3 9 1 1 .6 7 C a r p o r t .................................... 1 9 ,2 8 6 1 3 ,1 0 3 1 3 .5 7 1 1 .3 5 N e i t h e r .................................... 1 5 ,1 6 1 1 4 ,1 2 2 1 3 .8 8 1 2 .4 0 W o o d ....................... 2 5 ,7 1 4 1 4 ,7 1 3 1 5 .7 2 1 1 .8 8 M a so n ry 2 6 ,7 4 2 1 3 ,7 9 2 1 7 .4 2 1 1 .0 2 A v e ra g e h o u r ly e a rn in g s : $ 5 .5 0 -o v e r. . . . . 2 8 ,7 7 6 ) $ 4 .5 0 -$ 5 .4 9 . . . 2 9 ,5 9 9 > $ 3 .5 0 -$ 4 .4 9 . . . 2 7 ,4 1 5 / $ 2 .5 0 -$ 3 .4 9 . . . 2 1 ,1 9 3 1 5 ,2 7 4 1 4 .3 9 1 2 .6 0 U n d e r $ 2 .5 0 . . . 1 3 ,8 5 6 1 3 ,2 0 0 1 0 .8 0 1 0 .9 0 1 7 .9 9 ) 1 4 ,7 6 5 1 7 .2 1 > 1 1 .5 0 F ram e: 1 5 .6 8 / . . . . E x t. w a ll: N u m b e r o f sq u a re fe e t: B r i c k ....................... 2 3 ,8 6 2 1 4 ,7 7 7 1 4 .2 5 1 1 .7 0 2 0 0 0 - o v e r ................... 3 6 ,6 3 8 } 1 5 .5 2 } W o o d ....................... 3 1 ,1 3 0 1 2 ,7 8 6 1 7 .9 1 1 1 .9 8 1 8 0 0 -1 9 9 9 . . . . 3 0 ,9 1 9 \ 1 6 .5 U S t u c c o ....................... 2 7 ,0 6 0 1 4 ,9 4 0 1 7 .0 9 1 1 .1 5 1 6 0 0 -1 7 9 9 _______ 2 8 ,2 4 4 1 O th e r ....................... 2 4 ,7 0 8 1 5 ,1 0 6 1 6 .4 2 1 1 .9 8 D r y w a l l ................... 2 5 ,8 4 9 1 4 ,0 9 9 1 5 .9 9 1 1 .6 3 P la ste r 2 6 ,9 4 2 1 6 ,6 8 2 1 5 .8 8 1 2 .2 8 2 6 ,1 5 4 1 4 ,3 6 3 1 5 .9 9 1 1 .6 0 3 4 ,8 2 2 1 8 .4 6 2 4 ,9 8 5 1 6 ,7 0 2 • • • 1 5 .2 7 1 2 .7 4 . . . 2 5 ,9 6 8 1 5 ,2 4 4 1 6 .2 4 1 2 .3 6 2 0 ,0 7 7 1 3 ,3 4 2 1 5 .3 5 1 0 .5 5 2 6 ,8 9 3 1 3 ,1 3 1 1 5 .7 4 1 0 .7 5 1 8 ,8 9 5 1 6 .5 9 ( 1 1 .1 9 1 4 0 0 -1 5 9 9 . . . . 2 4 ,3 3 5 / 1 2 0 0 -1 3 9 9 . . . . 2 1 ,1 0 6 1 5 ,1 5 6 1 6 .4 2 1 1 .7 4 1 6 ,3 8 9 1 3 ,5 5 4 1 5 .2 2 1 2 .4 7 1 0 0 0 -1 1 9 9 1 6 .5 3 / I n te r io r w a ll: U nder 1000 sq u a re fe e t . . 1 2 ,0 7 3 1 0 ,9 8 0 1 3 .9 6 .................. 1 1 .5 9 H e a tin g : C o n s tru c tio n c o s t p e r W a rm a ir sq u a re fo o t: $ 1 7 -o v er . . . . . 3 2 ,7 5 4 ____ 1 9 .3 9 . . . . H o t w a te r. . . . E l e c t r i c .................. mmm $ 1 6 - $ 1 6 .9 9 . . . . 2 5 ,2 9 5 — 1 6 .3 1 — $ 1 5 - $ 1 5 .9 9 . . . . 2 5 ,9 0 4 . . . 1 5 .5 1 . . . $ 1 4 - $ 1 4 .9 9 . . . . 2 5 ,1 1 1 — 1 4 .5 6 — W o o d ....................... $ 1 3 - $ 1 3 .9 9 . . . . 1 9 ,9 9 7 . .. 1 3 .4 6 . .. A s p h a lt tile , $ 1 2 -$ 1 2 .9 9 . . . . 2 2 ,6 8 1 — 1 2 .4 0 — $ 1 1 - $ 1 1 .9 9 . . . . 1 5 ,8 7 6 — 1 1 .4 8 — $ 1 0 -$ 1 0 3 9 . . . . 1 5 ,7 6 5 . .. 1 0 .3 9 . .. U n d e r $ 1 0 .0 0 . . 1 1 ,5 0 0 — 8 .7 1 — 1 s t o r y ......................................... $ 2 3 ,0 8 1 $ 1 3 ,8 0 7 $ 1 5 .5 3 $ 1 1 .5 3 S p l i t l e v e l ........................... .... . 2 9 ,1 6 5 1 8 ,9 4 4 . . . 1 6 .3 4 1 4 .0 8 . .. F l o o r c o v e r i n g .................. v in y l tile . lin o le u m . . . O t h e r ....................... B u ild e r v o lu m e : 2 s t o r i e s ......................................... 3 1 ,1 9 3 3 s t o r i e s ......................................... 3 7 ,4 0 9 . . . 1 6 .4 8 1 7 .5 7 200 and over . . 2 5 ,4 4 3 1 3 ,4 8 7 1 6 .3 5 1 1 .0 9 1 0 0 -1 9 9 3 0 ,0 4 6 1 3 ,6 4 7 1 8 .1 1 1 1 .2 8 2 1 ,7 8 2 1 5 ,3 0 9 1 5 .4 8 1 1 .8 3 2 5 ,9 7 9 1 5 ,3 0 2 1 5 .5 1 1 2 .2 8 . . . . 5 0 - 9 9 . ................... U nder 5 0 . . . --- 14 . Table 7. Percent distribution of costs b y type of construction, 1959*69. O n s ite Y ear o f T y p e o f c o n s tru c tio n T o ta l c o n s tru c tio n M a te r ia ls E q u ip m e n t O v e rh e a d a n d w ages p ro fit1 ....................... 1969 1 0 0 .0 4 3 .4 0 .9 2 0 .4 3 5 .3 P r i v a t e s i n g l e - f a m i l y h o u s i n g 2 ....................... 1962 1 0 0 .0 4 7 .2 1 .0 2 2 .1 2 9 .7 N u r s i n g h o m e s ............................................................... 1 9 6 5 -6 6 1 0 0 .0 3 5 4 .9 (3 ) 2 5 .6 1 9 .5 H o s p i t a l s ( H i l l - B u r t o n ) ......................................... 1 9 6 5 -6 6 1 0 0 .0 5 0 .4 1 .3 2 9 .6 1 8 .7 1 7 .4 P r iv a te s in g le -fa m ily h o u s in g 2 H o s p i t a l s ( H i l l - B u r t o n ) ......................................... 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1 0 0 .0 5 3 .2 1 .2 2 § .2 E le m e n ta r y a n d s e c o n d a r y s c h o o ls . . . 1 9 6 4 -6 5 1 0 0 .0 5 4 .2 1 .0 2 5 .8 1 9 .0 E le m e n ta r y a n d s e c o n d a r y s c h o o ls . . . 1959 1 0 0 .0 5 4 .1 1 .4 2 6 .7 1 7 .8 P u b l i c h o u s i n g ............................................................... 1968 1 0 0 .0 3 4 3 .4 (3 ) 3 2 .4 2 4 .2 P u b l i c h o u s i n g ............................................................... 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1 0 0 .0 4 5 .0 2 .5 3 5 .5 1 7 .0 C o l l e g e h o u s i n g .......................................................... 1 9 6 0 -6 1 1 0 0 .0 5 2 .6 1 .6 2 9 .3 1 6 .5 F e d e r a l o f f i c e b u i l d i n g s ......................................... 1959 1 0 0 .0 5 1 .4 1 .9 2 9 .0 1 7 .7 F e d e r a l l y a i d e d h i g h w a y s ................................ 1970 1 0 0 .0 4 5 .0 (4 ) 2 5 .6 4 2 9 .4 F e d e r a l l y a i d e d h i g h w a y s ................................ 1967 1 0 0 .0 4 7 .8 (4 ) 2 4 .8 4 2 7 .4 F e d e r a l l y a i d e d h i g h w a y s ................................ 1964 1 0 0 .0 5 0 .3 5 1 1 .1 2 6 .0 1 2 .6 F e d e r a l l y a i d e d h i g h w a y s ................................ 1961 1 0 0 .0 5 2 .6 5 1 1 .7 2 4 .7 1 1 .0 F e d e r a l l y a i d e d h i g h w a y s ................................ 1958 1 0 0 .0 5 0 .6 5 1 2 .0 2 3 .9 1 3 .5 L a n d o p e r a t i o n s .................................................. 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1 0 0 .0 3 5 .0 1 9 .3 2 6 .0 1 9 .7 D r e d g i n g ................................................................... 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1 0 0 .0 1 7 .3 2 4 .9 3 2 .3 2 5 .5 C i v il w o r k s ( C o r p s o f E n g i n e e r s ) : S e w e r w o rk s: L i n e s ............................................................................ 1 9 6 2 -6 3 1 0 0 .0 4 4 .5 1 1 .2 2 4 .3 2 0 .0 P l a n t s ............................................................................ 1 9 6 2 -6 3 1 0 0 .0 4 9 .2 8 .2 2 6 .6 1 6 .0 1 In clu d es o ffsite w ages, c o n s tru c tio n fin an c in g co sts, in v en to ry an d o th e r o v erh ead , a n d o th e r o v erhead, a n d a d m in istrativ e ex p en ses, as well as p ro fit. 2 F o r single-fam ily ho using, c o n s tru c tio n c o sts in clu d es selling ex p en ses in a d d itio n to c o n s tru c tio n c o n tr a c t costs. Table 8. Distribution o f construction costs fo r new private single-family houses, by type o f contractor, 1969 T y p e o f c o n tra c to r1 3 E q u ip m e n t in clu d ed w ith m aterials. 4 E q u ip m e n t in clu d ed w ith o verhead a n d p ro fit. 5 E stim a te d b y BLS. Table 9. Average hourly earnings and average hourly union wage rates paid fo r new private single-family houses, by occupation 1969 A v e ra g e h o u rly O c c u p a tio n P e rce n t o f e a rn in g s 1 0 0 .0 G e n e r a l ............................................................................ 5 3 .5 C a r p e n t r y ........................................................................ 7 .5 h o u rly w a g e ra te 1 c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t A l l c o n t r a c t o r s ........................... A v e ra g e u n io n A ll o c c u p a t i o n s . . $ 3 .9 4 C a r p e n t e r .................................................. 4 .1 1 5 .3 5 P a i n t e r ...................................................... 3 .9 9 5 .0 1 5 .6 3 $ 5 .1 4 B r i c k l a y e r .................................................. 4 .7 6 a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g ............................................. 1 0 .3 P l u m b e r .................................................. 4 .8 5 5 .7 3 P a i n t i n g a n d p a p e r h a n g i n g ........................... 2 .6 C e m e n t f i n i s h e r ................................ 4 .5 3 5 .1 2 P lu m b in g , h e a tin g , v e n tila tin g a n d M a s o n r y a n d s t o n e w o r k ................................ 3 .9 E l e c t r i c i a n ............................................. 4 .8 6 5 .5 7 C o n c r e t e a n d s t u c c o w o r k ........................... 4 .4 P l a s t e r e r .................................................. 5 .0 2 5 .3 4 E l e c t r i c a l ( e x c e p t h e a t i n g ) ........................... 3 .2 S h e e t - m e t a l w o r k e r ....................... 4 .6 0 5 .4 8 P l a s t e r i n g a n d l a t h i n g ......................................... .7 R o o f e r ...................................................... 4 .7 8 5 .1 1 R o o f i n g a n d s i d i n g ............................................. 2 .0 C e ra m ic tile , te r r a z z o a n d m a rb le O p e r a t i n g e n g i n e e r ....................... 4 .3 6 N .A . T i l e s e t t e r ............................................. 4 .1 4 5 .2 5 4 .6 8 w o r k ........................................................................ 1 .6 S o f t f lo o r la y e r. E x c a v a t i o n a n d g r a d i n g .................................... 1 .2 L a b o rer W o o d f l o o r i n g ........................................................... 2 .9 3 ) .7 H e l p e r a n d t e n d e r ........................... 2 .5 6 ) T r u c k d r i v e r ............................................. 3 .5 4 O t h e r f l o o r i n g ........................................................... 2 .1 W a ll b o a r d ........................................................................ 2 .9 A l l o t h e r t y p e s ...................................................... 3 .4 N .A . A HR N .A . 1 C overs all bu ild in g tra d e s in resid en tial a n d n o n resid en tial c o n stru c tio n as o f Ju ly 1, 1969. 1 C o n tra c to rs are classified acco rd in g to th e m ajor c o st co m p o n e n t o f w o rk sin ce m an y p e rfo rm e d m o re th a n o n e o p e ra tio n . N.A. - N o t available. N O TE : D etail m ay n o t add to to ta ls d u e to ro u n d in g . . . . . . . . . .................................................. 15 Table 10. Distribution o f on-site wage share o f costs for new, private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 O n s ite w a g e s a s p e r c e n t o f P e rc e n t o f h o u s e s s u rv e y e d c o n tr a c t c o s t 1969 A l l g r o u p s ................................ 1962 1 0 0 .0 1 0 0 .0 1 5 . 0 a n d u n d e r ............................................. 9 .8 3 .0 1 5 . 1 - 2 0 . 0 ...................................................... 4 1 .7 3 1 .7 2 0 .1 - 2 5 .0 ...................................................... 3 0 .4 4 5 .5 2 5 .1 - 3 0 . 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 3 .7 1 6 .8 4 .4 3 .0 3 0 . 1 a n d o v e r ................................................. Table 11. Comparison o f materials and equipment in new private single-family houses, 1969 and 1962 M a te r ia l t y p e C o s t o f m a te ria l p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 C o st o f m a te ria l p e r 1 0 0 o f c o n s tr u c tio n sq u a re fe e t 1969 1962 1969 1962 P e rc e n t d is tr ib u tio n 1 1969 1962 A i l m a t e r i a l s .................. $ 4 4 2 .9 0 $ 4 8 2 .4 0 $ 7 0 7 .0 0 $ 5 6 7 .4 0 1 0 0 .0 1 0 0 .0 L u m b e r a n d W o o d p ro d u c ts ( i n c l u d i n g f u r n i t u r e ) .................. 1 7 9 .6 0 1 9 3 .2 0 2 8 6 .3 0 2 2 7 .2 0 4 0 .6 4 0 .0 1 0 1 .6 0 3 8 .1 0 * 1 1 0 .1 0 5 1 .3 0 1 6 2 .0 0 6 0 .7 0 4 1 2 9 .5 0 6 0 .3 0 2 2 .9 8 .6 4 2 2 .8 1 0 .6 4 0 .0 0 3 1 .8 0 6 3 .6 0 3 7 .4 0 9 .0 6 .6 9 5 .3 0 1 1 6 .6 0 1 5 3 .4 0 1 3 7 .1 0 2 1 .5 2 4 .2 5 4 .5 0 2 2 .0 0 7 6 .7 0 1 9 .7 0 8 7 .0 0 3 5 .0 0 9 0 .2 0 2 3 .2 0 1 2 .3 5 .0 1 5 .9 4 .1 1 8 .9 0 2 0 .2 0 3 1 .4 0 2 3 .8 0 4 .3 4 .2 4 1 .8 0 5 5 .0 0 6 6 .6 0 6 4 .7 0 9 .4 1 1 .4 3 1 .2 0 1 0 .6 0 3 6 .4 0 1 8 .6 0 4 9 .8 0 1 6 .8 0 4 2 .8 0 2 1 .9 0 7 .0 2 .4 7 .5 3 .9 P l u m b i n g P r o d u c t s ........................... 3 0 .6 0 2 6 .8 0 4 8 .7 0 3 1 .5 0 6 .9 5 .6 H e a tin g , v e n tila tin g a n d a ir c o n d itio n in g e q u ip m e n t. . . 1 8 .4 0 1 8 .5 0 2 9 .2 0 2 1 .8 0 4 .2 3 .8 E le c tric a l e q u ip m e n t, f ix tu r e s a n d w ire s ( e x c e p t h e a tin g ) . 1 7 .4 0 1 7 .6 0 2 7 .8 0 2 0 .7 0 3 .9 3 .6 B u ilt-in m a jo r a p p lia n c e s (re frig e ra to rs , d ish w a sh e rs , d ry e rs , w a sh e rs, ran g e s, d i s p o s a l s ) ............................................. 1 1 .2 0 1 3 .7 0 1 7 .8 0 1 6 .1 0 2 .5 2 .8 P e t r o l e u m p r o d u c t s . ....................... 8 .0 0 1 1 .1 0 1 2 .7 0 1 3 .1 0 1 .8 2 .3 P a in ts a n d o t h e r c h e m ic a ls . . . 8 .0 0 1 0 .3 0 1 2 .8 0 1 2 .1 0 1 .8 2 .1 A l l o t h e r ...................................................... 3 2 .5 0 1 9 .6 0 5 1 .8 0 2 3 .1 0 7 .3 4 .1 8 .3 0 5 .2 0 1 .0 0 3 .0 0 1 3 .2 0 8 .3 0 1 .2 0 3 .5 0 1 .9 1 .2 .2 .6 8 .6 0 1 0 .4 0 9 .8 0 5 .8 0 1 3 .7 0 1 6 .6 0 1 1 .5 0 6 .9 0 1 .9 2 .3 2 .0 1 .2 R o u g h a n d d ressed l u m b e r .................................... M i l l w o r k .................................... A ll o t h e r l u m b e r p r o d u c t s 3 ................................ S t o n e , c la y a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s . C e m e n t, c o n c r e te & g y p s u m .................................... S tr u c tu r a l c la y p r o d u c ts O th e r s to n e , c la y & g la s s p r o d u c t s 4 . . . . . M e ta l p r o d u c t s ( e x c e p t p lu m b in g a n d h e a tin g ) . . . F a b r ic a te d m e ta l p r o d u c t s .................. O th e r m e ta l p r o d u c ts . . C a r p e ts , ru g s, m a ts a n d p a d s .................................... . . P l a s t i c s p r o d u c t s .................. C o n s tru c tio n e q u ip m e n t (re n ta l c o s t o r e q u i v a l e n t ) ........................... M i s c e l l a n e o u s ........................... 1 B ased u p o n m a te ria ls p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 . P e rc e n ts are th e sam e o n a sq u are fo o ta g e basis e x c e p t f o r ro u n d in g . 2 In c lu d e s d a ta f o r p re fa b ric a te d o r pack ag ed h o u se s n o t b ro k e n d o w n in to se p a ra te w o o d c o m p o n e n ts. s , n c|u d e8 w o o d k ltc h e n an d b a th ro o m c a b in e ts an d v an ities, 4 , nclude8 8and, grave|, an d d lr t f N O T E : D etail m ay n o t a d d t o to ta ls d u e t o ro u n d in g . 16 Table 12. Cost and typ e o f m aterials and equipm ent in new private single-fam ily houses, 19 69 Type of material and equipment Value per $1,000 of construction price Value per 100 square feet of livable space Percent of total materials and equipment Material and equipment $442.85 T o t a l .............................................................................................. $706.95 100.0 Material T o t a l ........................................................................... 434.02 692.87 98.00 Agricultural production............................................................... Nursery stock, shrubberies, grass seed........................... 2.19 2.16 3.50 3*44 .50 .49 Mining and quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels . Sand and g r a v e l............................................................... Dirt f i l l .............................................................................. 3.93 3.44 .49 6.27 5.48 .78 .89 .78 .11 Textile mill p r o d u c ts ........................... .. .................................... Carpets, rugs, mats and p a d s .......................................... O a k u m .............................................................................. 8.40 8.28 .11 13.40 13.20 .18 1.90 1.87 .02 Apparel and other finished products made from fabrics and similar m aterials..................................................................... Curtains.............................................................................. (M (M (M (M (M Lumber and wood products, except fu rn itu re ........................ Softwood flooring, and all other softwood, rough lumber and finished lu m b e r..................................... Hardwood flooring and all other hardwood lumber, including parquet f lo o r .................................... .. Shakes, s h in g le s.............................. ................................ MiIIwork, including windows, moulding, trim, doors. porches, staircases, weatherstrip, cornices, ready-made roof trusses, structural members, prefab wood p a n e ls ....................................... ... Plywood, veneers............................................................. Ladders, scaffolds, m iscellaneous................................. 165.64 264.03 37.40 101.60 161.95 22.94 7.20 3.32 11.47 5.30 1.62 .75 38.21 12.76 2.52 60.91 20.34 4.02 8.63 2.88 .57 Furniture and f ix t u r e s ............................................................... Ready-made wood kitchen cabinets, vanities............... Metal c a b in e ts .................. ................................................ Venetian blinds, curtains and drapery rods, window shades........................................................................... 14.53 14.00 .43 23.16 22.32 .69 3.28 3.16 .10 (M (M Paper and allied products ......................................................... Masking tapes, adhesive tape ....................................... Wallpaper........................ ? ................................................ Construction paper, fiberboard insulation, asbestos board insulation and acoustical t i t l e ..................... 2.90 .50 .48 4.62 .80 .77 .66 .11 .11 1.91 3.04 .43 Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts ................................................ .. Plastics adhesives, plastics vapor barrier sheets . . . . Floor wax, paint cleaner, thinners, polish..................... Lacquer, paint, putty, s e a le r s ....................................... F e rtiliz e r........................................................................... Adhesives: glue, epoxy, p a ste ....................................... Grouts, insulating compounds, synthetic rubber and plastics sealants, silicones (damp-proofing)............ Other inorganic c h e m ic a ls ............................................. 8.04 .16 .22 6.29 .21 .50 12.83 .26 .35 10.03 .32 .79 1.82 .04 .05 1.42 .05 .11 .35 .23 .55 .37 .08 .05 Petroleum refining and related industries................................. Fuels: diesel fuel, gas, oil, g re a s e ................................. Asphalt paving .................................... .......................... 7.95 .44 .38 12.69 .69 .61 1.80 .10 .09 17 Table 12. Cost and ty p e o f m aterials and equipm ent in new private single-fam ily houses, 19 69—C ontinued Type of material and equipment Value per $1,000 of construction price Value per 100 square feet of livable space Percent of total materials and equipment Material-Continued Petroleum refining and related industries—Continued R oof pitch, asphalt board insulation and rolls, asphalt shingles, asphalt sheathing and siding, building felts, composition, asphalt tar, mastics and e m u ls io n s............................................................ Miscellaneous petroleum products................................. 7.07 11.30 1.60 (M (M <M Rubber and miscellaneous plastics p ro d u c ts ........................... Rubber products, foam rubber mats, rubber flooring, w eatherstrip................................. .............................. Plastics products, plastics pipes, fiberglass shower stalls, plastics tile, plastics fixtures and conduits, styrofoam insulation, vinyl wall covering. . . . . . 5.97 9.52 1.35 .75 1.20 .17 5.22 8.32 1.18 Stone, clay, glass and concrete p r o d u c ts ................................. Window glass, insulating g la s s ....................................... Mirrors, shower doors, glass porch d o o r s ..................... Hydraulic c e m e n t............................................................ Clay brick, chimney block, structural clay title . . . . Ceramic t i l e ..................................................................... Refractory brick, fire brick and tile ........................... Clay drain tile, adobe brick, clay chimney pipe, clay roofing tile, clay sewer p i p e .................................... Vitreous china bathroom accessories, closet bowls, plumbing f ix t u r e s ...................................................... Concrete block, concrete brick, cinder b l o c k ............ Concrete pipe, concrete laundry trays, concrete drain tile, precast terrazzo................................................... Ready-mix concrete......................................................... L i m e ................................................................................. Plaster, wallboard, g y p sum ............................................. Building marble, roof slate, other cut s t o n e ............... Sandpaper, abrasives, steel wool ................................. Asbestos cement shingles, siding, asphalt tile flooring, asbestos cement pipe, vinyl asbestos tile, asbestos cement a d h e s iv e s ...................................................... Asbestos (pipe) in s u la tio n ............................................. Perlite, crushed rock v e r m ic u lit e ................................. Fiberglass insulating and acoustical tile, mineral wool, pre-moulded fiberglass (F R D products) . . . Stucco, other nonmetal lie minerals ............................... 94.45 .15 2.60 3.75 14.80 5.88 .44 150.55 .23 4.14 5.97 23.59 9.38 .70 21.33 .03 .59 .85 3.34 1.33 .10 1.30 2.07 .29 2.96 7.34 4.72 11.70 .67 1.66 .91 28.79 .28 13.54 1.74 .10 1.44 45.90 .45 21.59 2.77 .16 .20 6.50 .06 3.06 .39 .02 2.76 .59 1.31 4.40 .94 2.09 .62 .13 .30 4.27 .92 6.81 1.46 .96 .21 Primary metal products.......................................... .................... Structural steel, bars, beams, floors, and other structural s h a p e s ............................................. Ferrous nails, staples, including insulated w ire............ Cast iron products, including cast iron p i p e ............... L e a d ................................................................................. Copper pipe and tu bin g ................................................... Sold e r................................................................................. Nonferrous wire, including insulated w ir e ................... Nonferrous nails, s ta p le s ................................................ 22.37 36.65 5.05 2.64 2.62 3.88 .42 7.72 .14 4.87 4.21 4.17 6.18 .68 12.31 .22 .60 .59 .88 .10 1.74 .03 1.10 Fabricated metal products, except ordnance, machinery and transportation eq u ip m en t............................................. Builders hardware, including door locks, hinges, angles irons ............................................................... Metal bathroom and enameled iron fixtures, metal shower s ta lls ............................................................... Brass plumbing fittings and trim ................................. 18 (M 7.77 (M 57.14 91.07 12.90 6.06 9.66 1.37 13.96 6.34 22.25 10.10 3.15 1.43 <M Table 12. Cost and ty p e o f m aterials and equipm ent in new private single-fam ily houses, 1 9 6 9 —Continued Type of material and equipment Value per $1,000 of construction price Value per 100 square feet of livable space Percent of total materials and equipment Material-Continued Fabricated metal products, except ordnance, machinery and transportation equipment—Continued Warm air furnaces, boilers, furnaces and radiators, except electrical radiators, unit heaters, incinerators, condensors ....................................... Metal doors and windows, sash, frames, molding and trim; overhead rolling d o o r s .................................... Metal oil tanks, metal septic tanks, fabricated metal plate p ro d u c ts ............................................................ Sheet metal products, including spouts, ducts, gutters, etc ............................................................... Ornamental metal work, registers, grilles, diffusers . . Reinforcing rods, bars, prefab panels, curtain walls . . Bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, washers.................. ... 3.91 6.23 .88 8.03 12.79 1.81 1.24 1.98 .28 9.87 1.65 1.88 .12 15.74 2.63 3.00 .18 2.23 .37 .42 .03 1.67 2.67 .38 1.03 1.64 .23 1.32 2.10 .30 Machinery, except e le c tric a l...................................................... Pumps................................................................................. Sprinkler systems (fire prevention ) . .............................. Complete air conditioning units, hum idifiers............... Sewage disposal equipment, water treatment equipment (filters, softeners, etc.)........................... 8.41 .68 .26 6.91 13.41 1.08 .42 11.01 1.90 .15 .06 1.56 .56 .90 .13 Electrical machinery, equipment and su p p lie s........................ Fuses, panelboards, sw itchboards................................. Gas ranges, ovens ......................................................... Refrigerators, f r e e z e r s ................................................... Dryers, washing m a c h in e s ............................................. Fans, baseboard heating units, electric ovens, wall h e a te rs ........................................................................ Dishwashers, water heaters (electric and nonelectric), garbage disposal units ............................................. Fluorescent fixtures, light f ix t u r e s .............................. Current carrying devices (switches, connections, re c e p ta c le s )............................................................... Noncurrent carrying devices (boxes, insulators. c o n d u its)..................................................................... Intercom, T .V . systems, clock and electric timing system s........................................................................ Electric bells and chimes, automatic g a t e s .................. 29.98 2.10 5.74 .70 (M 47.80 3.35 9.16 1.11 (M 6.77 .47 1.30 .16 (M 2.25 3.58 .51 8.63 5.39 13.77 8.60 1.95 1.22 2.32 3.69 .52 1.77 2.82 .40 .42 .44 .66 .71 .09 .10 .63 .34 .29 1.00 .54 .46 .14 .08 .06 1.41 2.24 (M 1.34 (M 2.13 .32 (M .30 Reinforcing mesh wire, lath wire, clips ..................... Nonbrass pipe fittings and plumbing fixtures, pipe hangers, valves ......................................................... Steel ladders and plankings, other fabricated metal products............................................................ Professional, scientific, and controlling instruments, photographic and optical goods; watches and clocks . . . Gas and water meters, g a u g e s ....................................... Thermostats, temperature c o n t r o ls .............................. Miscellaneous manufacturing in d u s t r ie s ................................. Paint rollers, paint brushes............................................. Lin o le u m ................................................ .......................... Equipment T o t a l ........................................................................... 8.83 19 14.08 2.00 Table 12. Cost and typ e o f m aterials and equipem nt in new private single-fam ily houses, 1 9 6 9 —C ontinued Type of material and equipment Value per $1,000 of construction price Fabricated metal products, except ordnance, machinery, and transportation e q u ip m en t............................................. Non-power hand t o o l s ................................................... Saws and b la d e s ...................................................... .. .41 .22 5.27 .28 8.43 .44 1.19 .06 4.38 .13 .32 .11 6.99 .21 .51 .18 .99 .03 .07 .02 (M (M Electrical machinery. Equipment and s u p p lie s ..................... Electric motor and generators....................................... Transportation e q u ip m e n t......................................................... Trucks (hig h w a y)............................................................ Percent of total materials and equipment .26 .15 (M Machinery, except electrical ................................................... Non-electric engines and motors ................................. Tractors, bulldozers, backhoes, trenchers, drill rigs. scrapers, graders, rollers, mixers, pavers, front end loaders, payloaders, power cranes, draglines, power s h o v e ls ............................................................ F o r k lif t s ........................................................................... Power handtools, d r ill s ................................................... Compressors, jack-hammers, a cce ssories..................... Value per 100 square feet of livable space 3.28 3.26 <M (M (M 5.22 5.19 * .06 .03 P> (M (M .74 .74 1 Lest than 10 cents reported per $1000. Due to rounding and exclusion of items in detail worth less than 10 cents per $1000 detail may not add to subtotals. 20 Table 14. Construction workers employed by surveyed contractors in January and July 1969, by type o f Table 13. Surveyed contractors working under labormanagement agreement, by type and class o f worker covered, 1969 Type of contractor A ll contractors covered . . contractor Class of workers covered Number of Un Com bi con A ll Skilled skilled nation tractors workers only only but not all 1,347 1,212 96 4 35 44 177 30 155 6 14 3 0 5 8 G e n e ra l..................... Carpentry.................. Plumbing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning . . . Painting and paper hanging............... Masonry and stonework. . . . . Concrete and stucco w o r k .................. Electrical (except heating)............... Plastering and lathing.................. Roofing and siding . Ceramic tile, terrazzo and marble work . . . Excavation and g ra d in g ............... Wood flooring . . . . Other flooring . . . . Wall board.................. A ll other types . . . 166 154 11 0 1 57 51 5 0 1 74 71 3 0 0 108 97 3 0 8 78 69 8 0 1 12 91 11 87 1 3 0 0 0 1 58 45 11 0 2 53 39 89 75 226 49 36 81 67 209 3 1 8 6 13 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 2 3 Type of contractor 100 Inadequately skilled w o r k e r s .............................. Restrictive building c o d e s .................................... High interest rates, shortage of financing............ Bad work practices, union interference ............ Government interference, red t a p e ..................... High labor c o s t s ...................................................... Sub-contractor p rob lem s....................................... Zoning problems...................................................... Lack of worker training program s........................ High cost of land, scarcity of la n d ........................ High building materials costs................................. Skilled supervisor s h o rta g e s ................................. Miscellaneous............................................................ 23 20 14 14 5 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 7 Total. . . . 64,199 78,664 81.6 G e n e ra l..................... Carpentry.................. Plumbing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning . Painting and paper hanging............... Masonry and stone work .................. Concrete and stucco w o r k .................. Electrical (except heating)............... Plastering and lathing Roofing and siding. . Ceramic tile, terrazzo and marble work . . . Excavation and g ra d in g ............... Wood flooring . . . . Other flooring . . . . Wall board.................. A ll other types . . . 3,120 9,307 3,756 12,503 83.1 74.4 9,211 10,906 84.5 2,265 2,767 81.9 3,525 4,678 75.4 6,723 9,505 70.7 4,164 755 4,721 4,562 767 5,458 91.3 98.4 86.5 1,365 1,506 90.6 879 3,809 2,358 5,171 6,826 1,387 3,642 2,725 6,058 8,444 63.4 104.6 86.5 85.4 80.8 Capital improvements Percent of Replies Total Replies.......................................... Percent January of July July 1969 Table 16. Capital improvements included in land value of surveyed houses, 1969 Table 15. General contractors' most common obstacles to efficiency, 1969 Obstacles to efficiency January 1969 Utilities (except sewers)2 . . . . . S t r e e t s .......................................... Sewer h o o k u p .............................. Curbs and g u tte rs ........................ Sidewalks.............................. ... Community recreation facilities . Storm d ra in s ................................. Street lig h tin g .............................. Percent o f lots containing improvement1 81.2 74.8 62.4 26.4 16.4 14.8 11.6 7.2 1 Not additive. 2 May be gas, electricity, water, or any combination. 21 Table 17. Prefab items included in surveyed houses, 1969 Percent o f houses containing item 1 Prefab item Preassembled w in d o w s............... Kitchen cabinets........................... Prehung d o o r s .............................. Bathroom or bedroom dressing vanities ................................. Precut lu m b e r.............................. O ffsite fabricated ductw ork . . . Staircase u n it s .............................. 78.4 77.6 64.4 46.4 30.4 28.4 24.8 1 N ot additive. Table 18. D istribution o f surveyed contractors' w ork, by type o f construction, 1969 T yp e o f construction Percent o f total volum e T o t a l...................................................... 100.0 Single-fam ily . .......................................................... M ultifam ily (1-4 s to rie s )....................................... M ultifam ily (5 or more stories).............................. Other c o n s tru c tio n ..................... ........................... 91.0 6.4 .6 2.1 N O T E : Due to rounding, detail may not add to 100.0 percent. 22 A p p e n d ix A . The b a sic sa m p le fo r th is S u rv e y T e c h n iq u e s a n d M e th o d s su rv e y co n s is te d of a In a d d itio n to th e address o f e a ch h o u se , th is sp e cia l su b sa m p le o f th e s in g le -fa m ily h o u se s in th e B u re a u o f su rv e y th e C e n su s “ H o u s in g S ta rts S u rv e y .” T h e H o u s in g S ta rts s tra tify p ro p e rly th e C e n su s sa m p le b e fo re s e le ctin g th e sa m p le co n sists o f re s id e n tia l b u ild in g s fro m tw o ty p e s su b sa m p le a n d to id e n tify h o u se s o n w h ic h th e o w n e r o r p ro v id e d in fo rm a tio n th a t e n a b le d BLS to o f areas— th o se th a t re q u ire b u ild in g p e rm its a n d th o se o th e r u n p a id h e lp d id p a rt o r a ll o f th e c o n s tru c tio n . th a t d o n o t. T h e H o u s in g S ta rts sa m p le co v e rs 122 areas T h e se o w n e r-b u ilt h o u ses w ere o u t-o f-sco p e fo r th e B L S c o m p ris in g su rv e y , a n d th u s h a d to b e id e n tifie d a n d d isca rd e d fro m 304 in d e p e n d e n t c o u n tie s and c itie s . A sa m p le o f b u ild in g p e rm its , o b ta in e d ea ch m o n th fro m th e C e n su s sa m p le. 6 0 0 p e rm it issu in g ju ris d ic tio n s (in c lu d in g c itie s , to w n s, B e fo re v illa g e s, to w n s h ip s , o r c o u n tie s ), is se le cte d in p ro p o r tio n s e le ctin g th e B LS su b sa m p le , w h ic h w as re s tric te d to th e 4 8 c o n tig u o u s sta te s, th e B u re a u o f th e to th e n u m b e r o f h o u s in g u n its re p o rte d o n th e C e n su s s tra tifie d th e h o u ses in p e rm it. A ll b u ild in g s a n d h o u s in g u n its co v e re d b y th e th e ir “ S u rv e y o f C o n s tru c tio n ” , as fo llo w s : p e rm its are in c lu d e d . T h is p ro c e d u re y ie ld s a sa m p le o f about 4 ,0 0 0 b u ild in g s a m o n th , a p p ro x im a te ly 1. In b u ild in g p e rm it areas b y : 65 a. T h e fo u r b ro a d g e o g ra p h ic re g io n s p e rc e n t o f w h ic h are s in g le -fa m ily h o u se s. W ith in th e ju ris d ic tio n s . 1 22 areas, 91 In th ese c o n ta in areas b . M e tro p o lita n a n d n o n m e tro p o lita n areas som e n o n p e rm it c . P e rm it va lu e a sa m p le o f b u ild in g s is o b ta in e d e a ch m o n th as fo llo w s : 1. A sta rte d 2 . In n o n b u ild in g p e rm it areas b y : lis t o f re s id e n tia l c o n s tru c tio n th a t has b e en in a. T h e fo u r b ro a d g e o g ra p h ic reg io n s th ese areas d u rin g th e p re c e d in g m o n th is o b ta in e d fro m b . M e tro p o lita n a n d n o n m e tro p o lita n areas a g ro u p o f p e rso n s m o st lik e ly to k n o w a b o u t n ew h o u s in g c o n s tru c tio n . T h is lis t is v e rifie d b y T h e su b sa m p le s u p p lie d b y th e B u re a u o f th e C e n su s fie ld v is it o r te le p h o n e c a ll. 2. A su b sa m p le of c o n siste d o f a p p ro x im a te ly 1 8 0 0 h o u se s, 1 3 0 0 in p e rm it 290 p re d e sig n a te d la n d areas a n d 5 0 0 in n o n p e rm it areas. T h e o v e rsize sa m p le , area seg m en ts, lo c a te d th ro u g h o u t th e n o n p e rm it p o rtio n o f co m p a re d th e 91 areas, is canvassed b y C e n su s fie ld in te rv ie w e rs to a llo w e d s u b s titu tio n s w h ere a b s o lu te ly n e ce ssa ry . B L S o b ta in a lis t o f a ll re s id e n tia l c o n s tru c tio n n o t re p o rte d s tra tifie d th e C e n su s su b sa m p le b e fo re p ic k in g a fin a l b y th e m e th o d d e sc rib e d a b o v e . T h e lis t is w eig h te d to w o rk in g su b sa m p le o f 2 5 0 h o u ses as fo llo w s : co m p e n sa te fo r h o u ses m isse d o u tsid e o f th e canvassed b . M e tro p o lita n a n d n o n m e tro p o lita n areas sists o f 8 0 0 to 1 0 0 0 b u ild in g s , o f w h ic h 9 5 p e rc e n t o r are s in g le -fa m ily h o m e s. F ro m sa m p le o f 2 5 0 h o u se s, a. T h e n in e C e n su s d iv is io n s segm en ts. T h e sa m p le o b ta in e d b y th is p ro ce d u re c o n m o re w ith th e fin a l B L S b . C o s t class th is sa m p le , th e o f th e T h e B L S su b sa m p le w as d iv id e d b e tw ee n p e rm it a n d co v e re d n o n p e rm it a reas, in th e sam e p ro p o rtio n as th e C e n su s ju ris d ic tio n s w h ic h h a d issu e d p e rm its d u rin g th e ca le n d a r sa m p le ( i.e ., 7 2 p e rc e n t in p e rm it areas a n d 2 8 p e rc e n t in y e a r 1 9 6 8 . T h e se c o n d s e c tio n co v e re d h o u ses sta rte d in n o n p e rm it areas). B LS su b sa m p le C e n su s in tw o w as p ro v id e d se c tio n s . The by th e firs t B u re a u s e c tio n Q u o ta sa m p lin g w as u sed to p ic k th e 2 5 0 h o u ses fro m n o n p e rm it areas d u rin g ca le n d a r y e a r 1 9 6 8 . T h e C e n su s d a ta o n p e rm its are c o m p ile d fro m p u b lic th e stra ta p ro d u c e d b y th e a b o ve p ro c e d u re . T h a t is , a re c o rd s o f th e lo c a l b u ild in g p e rm it o ffic e s . D a ta fo r c e rta in p e rcen tag e o f th e 2 5 0 h o u ses w as p ic k e d fro m areas ea ch th a t do not re q u ire p e rm its are c o lle c te d in g ro u p d e v e lo p e d in te rv ie w s b y C e n su s a g en ts, are c o n fid e n tia l, a n d th e re o f s tra ta . T h e se fo r th e p o rtio n q u o ta p ercen tag es w ere o f th e sa m p le a llo tte d to fo re c a n n o t b e g iven to a n o th e r a g e n cy . C o n s e q u e n tly , p e rm it issu in g areas b y a n a ly z in g th e g eo g ra p h ic d is trib u C e n su s c o n d u c te d a sp e cia l su rv e y fo r B L S o f h o u se s in tio n o f p e rm its issu e d fo r s in g le -fa m ily h ou ses as sh o w n th e n o n p e rm it p o rtio n o f th e sa m p le . in “ C o n s tru c tio n R eports;” C 4 0 / C 4 2 -6 7 -1 3 , an a n n u a l 23 p u b lic a tio n c o m p ile d by th e B u re a u o f th e C e n su s. S im ila r p ercen tag es fo r th e n o n p e rm it areas w ere su p p lie d fro m u n p u b lis h e d d a ta . a. P re fa b ric a te d h o u se s. T h e s e in c lu d e d s e c tio n a liz e d a n d m o d u la r h o m e s. b . H o u se s fo r w h ic h th e o w n e r o r o th e r u n p a id h e lp d id m o re th a n a to k e n p a rt o f th e w o rk . The fo llo w in g ty p e s of h o u ses w ere c o n sid e re d c . H o u se s v a lu e d a t $ 7 5 ,0 0 0 o r m o re , in c lu d in g th e o u t-o f-sco p e fo r d ie su rv e y : c o s t o f th e la n d . 24 A p p e n d ix B . P r o c e d u r e s U s e d to D e v e lo p O f f s it e ( I n d ir e c t ) M a n - H o u r E s t im a t e s trie s O ffs ite e m p lo y m e n t e stim a tes w ere d e riv e d fro m th e in v o lv e d in p ro d u c tio n and tra n s p o rta tio n of b u ild in g m a te ria ls a n d e q u ip m e n t fro m b a sic e x tra c tio n m a te ria ls a n d e q u ip m e n t co s t in fo rm a tio n o b ta in e d fro m th e c o n tra c to rs a n d s u b c o n tra c to rs c o o p e ra tin g in th e to , b u t n o t in c lu d in g , th e fin a l m a n u fa c tu rin g stage. s tu d y . C o n tra c to rs p ro v id e d a lis t o f th e va lu e o f ea ch E m p lo y m e n t in ty p e in d u s trie s o f m a te ria l u sed in th e c o n s tru c tio n o f sa m p le w as th e tra d e , tra n s p o rta tio n , a n d se rv ice d e te rm in e d b y th e d iffe re n c e b e tw ee n p ro je c ts . F o r th o se fe w c o n tra c to rs w h o w ere in a c ce s p ro d u c e rs ’ a n d p u rch a se rs’ va lu e fo r ea ch c o n s tru c tio n s ib le , estim a te s w ere d e riv e d fro m s im ila r jo b s ; c o n tro l m a te ria l. T h e 1 958 I n te rin d u s try S tu d y o f th e O ffic e o f to ta ls w ere s u p p lie d b y th e gen eral c o n tra c to r o r o w n e r. B u sin ess E c o n o m ic s w as u sed to o b ta in th ese e m p lo y T h e se m ent m a te ria l lis tin g s w ere g ro u p e d in to ca teg orie s e stim a tes. For ea ch g ro u p of m a te ria ls , th e co n s is te n t w ith th e 4 -d ig it S ta n d a rd In d u s tria l C la s s ific a in te rin d u s try s tu d y p ro v id e d in fo rm a tio n o n th e a m o u n t tio n of (S I C ) average e a ch code. For ea ch o f th ese p ro d u c t g ro u p s, a m o u n ts o f m a te ria l ( in $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n tra c t d o lla rs ) re q u ire d fo r c o n s tru c tio n c o s t w ere p ro d u c ts re q u ire d fro m ea ch o f its 78 in d u s try se cto rs. T h e p ro d u c t d a ta w ere co n v e rte d to m an -h o u rs de b y use o f o u tp u t p e r m a n -h o u r ra tio s fo r ea ch in d u s try te rm in e d . (See ta b le 1 2 .) T h e va lu e o f m a te ria ls fo r each w ith in th e se cto rs. A d ju s tm e n ts fo r p ric e a n d p ro d u c g ro u p w as re d u ce d b y a ra tio re p re se n tin g th e d iffe re n c e tiv it y b e tw ee n v a lu a tio n b y th e p u rch a se r a n d v a lu a tio n b y th e w ith th e y e a r o f c o n s tru c tio n a n d b ill o f m a te ria ls. p ro d u c e r. ( T h is ra tio w as ba sed o n d a ta p ro v id e d b y th e U .S . D e p a rtm e n t of C o m m e rc e , O ffic e of w ere e stim a te d fo r y e a rs a fte r 1 9 5 8 , co n s is te n t F o r e a ch o ffs ite stage, a m a n -h o u r fig u re p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 B u sin ess o f c o n s tru c tio n w as o b ta in e d . W h en th ese m a n -h o u rs, E c o n o m ic s .) T h is la tte r step w as re q u ire d becau se a ll p lu s d a ta re p o rte d b y c o n tra c to rs w ere in p u rch a se rs’ v a lu e , w ith th e d ire c t o r o n site m a n -h o u rs, th e to ta l e m p lo y and m e n t e ffe c t, w ith in th e d e fin itio n u sed b y th e s tu d y , w as re d u c tio n m a tc h th e to p ro d u c e rs ’ v a lu e B u re a u ’s in te rin d u s try w as n e ce ssa ry sales a n d to th e b u ild e rs ’ d e te rm in e d . O ffs ite p u rch a se o ffs ite e m p lo y m e n t, are c o m b in e d e m p lo y m e n t o f ea ch c o n s tru c tio n g ro u p in g d e fin itio n s fo r th e in te rin d u s try g ro w th m o d e l. c o n tra c to r w as n o t c o lle c te d d ir e c tly fro m c o n tra c to rs V a lu e d iffe re n c e s w ere a llo te d to tra d e a n d tra n sp o rta sin ce it is a lm o st im p o s s ib le to re la te a c c u ra te ly s u ch e m p lo y m e n t to th e p ro je c ts s tu d ie d . B u ild e rs ’ o ffs ite tio n se cto rs. e m p lo y m e n t w as o c c u p ie d n o t o n ly w ith th e sa m p le Each m a te ria ls c o rre s p o n d in g g ro u p in g w h o le sa le th e n p ric e w as m a tch e d in d e x and to a p ro je c ts s tu d ie d , b u t a lso w ith o th e r c u rre n t o r fu tu re d e fla te d to p ro je c ts. In ste a d , c o n tra c to rs o ffs ite m a n -h o u rs fo r ea ch 1 9 5 8 p ric e s . T h is ste p w as re q u ire d b e ca u se th e in p u to u tp u t ta b le w as o n a 1 958 d o lla r b a sis. E m p lo y m e n t in la b o r re q u ire d m a te ria ls in to th e c o n s tru c tio n b ill c o n tra c t w ere e stim a te d fro m c o n s tru c tio n d iffe re n c e b e tw ee n m e n t a n d to ta l e m p lo y m e n t in m a n u fa c tu rin g w as d e fin e d as th e p ro d u c e $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s tru c tio n th e w o rk e r e m p lo y th e s p e c ia l tra d e c o n of tra c to rs ’ c o n s tru c tio n in d u s try fo r 1 9 6 9 as re p o rte d in th e fin a l stage o f fa b ric a tio n . M in in g a n d E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s , U .S . D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r o th e r in d u s try e m p lo y m e n t w as th e la b o r in a ll in d u s B u lle tin 1 3 1 2 -7 . 25 A p p e n d ix C . T h e c o lle c tio n c o n s tru c tio n D a ta C o lle c t io n P r o c e d u r e s re la te d in fo rm a tio n . N e x t, th e d a ta c o lle c to r o b ta in e d o f a d e q u a te a n d re lia b le d a ta fro m d e ta ile d c o n tra c to rs w as m a n d a to ry i f th e su rv e y la b o r and m a te ria ls in fo rm a tio n w h ic h th e w as to a c c o m p lis h its d e sire d g o als. T w o m a jo r e ffo rts g en eral c o n tra c to r s u p p lie d fo r th e p ro je c t h o u se . T h is w ere in v o lv e d to a ch ie ve th ese o b je c tiv e s: tra in in g a n d assig n m e n t d a ta c o lle c tio n b y p e rso n a l v is its . re c e ip ts a n d a s u m m a tio n o f ite m iz e d m a te ria ls a n d co sts in v o lv e d an e x a m in a tio n of b illin g s and a fte r e x c lu d in g o ve rh e a d a n d p r o fit . F re q u e n tly re co rd s w ere k e p t in m o re th a n on e f ile , a n d in m a n y cases, Training m a te ria l w as b ille d in q u a n tity fo r m o re th a n on e h o u se . T h e agen t w as re q u ire d to a n a ly z e th is in fo rm a tio n a n d E d u c a tio n a n d o rie n ta tio n in p ro g ra m ru d im e n ts w ere a c c o m p lis h e d tio n s , a id s , in tw o and d iscu ssio n s w ays: sch e d u le s F ir s t , c o lle c tio n w ere u sed o b ta in th e n e ce ssa ry a d ju stm e n t fro m th e re sp o n d e n t. in s tru c as a b a sis T h e d a ta w ere re vie w e d to m a k e c e rta in n o m a te ria ls fo r w ere a t a W a sh in g to n co n fe re n c e w h ic h su rv e y o v e rlo o k e d and th a t th e y w ere c a te g o riz e d in c o o rd in a to rs fro m ea ch o f th e eig h t B L S re g io n a l o ffic e s a cce p ta b le c la s s ific a tio n s (a p p ro x im a tin g , as c lo s e ly as a tte n d e d . S t a ff m e m b e rs p o s s ib le , fo u r d ig it S IC g ro u p in g s). s tu d y in ce d u re s, d e ta il: and of k in d s d a ta c o o rd in a to rs , of d a ta o f th e g e n e ra lly , to be c o lle c te d to fro m o b ta in la b o r re q u ire m e n ts d a ta w h ic h in c lu d e d m is in te rp re ta sch e d u le s. S e c o n d , re g io n a l w ages. I f these w ere n o t a v a ila b le o r a d ju stm e n ts w ere h e ld re so lv e to P a y ro lls o r s im ila r re co rd s w ere u sed w h ere p o ssib le p ro o c c u p a tio n s , h o u rs w o rk e d , rates o f p a y , a n d to ta l gross d iscu ssio n s c o lle c tio n re p re se n ta tiv e s a ll fa ce ts b a c k g ro u n d , p u rp o s e , sa m p lin g re sp o n d e n ts. O p e n tio n s e x p la in e d any c la rifie d c o n fe re n c e s w ith q u e stio n s about fie ld n e ce ssa ry , d a ta u s u a lly y ie ld e d re lia b le e stim a te s. T h e fin a l im p o rta n t c o n s u lta tio n w ith th e g e n e r a l. c o n tra c to r p ie ce o f in fo rm a tio n o b ta in e d fro m th e g en eral c o n tra c c o lle c tio n s . to r w as a lis t o f s u b c o n tra c to rs ’ ad d resses, to ta l va lu e o f e a ch s u b c o n tra c t, a n d c u rre n t sta tu s o f ea ch s u b c o n tra c Data collection by personal visit to r. T h is in fo rm a tio n p ro v e d to b e e x tre m e ly h e lp fu l in lo c a tin g s u b c o n tra c to rs , a n d w as essen tia l i f a s u b c o n B e fo re v is itin g ea ch g en eral c o n tra c to r, d a ta c o lle c to rs w ere tra c to r c o u ld n o t b e lo c a te d o r re fu se d to co o p e ra te . a d v ise d , w h e n fe a s ib le , to v is it th e sa m p le I n it ia lly , s u b c o n tra c to rs w ere c o n ta c te d fo r a p p o in t h o u se b e in g su rv e y e d a n d m a k e a p ass-b y su rv e illa n ce . T h is m e n ts e ith e r b y p h o n e o r b y d ire c t w a lk -in — w h ich e v e r c o n ta c t w o u ld p ro v id e a b a c k g ro u n d o f g en eral s p e c ific a tio n s ( ty p e o f r o o f, fra m e , s id in g , n u m b e r o f seem ed s to rie s , ca r a c c o m m o d a tio n s , ty p e w in d o w s , e tc .) a n d p u rp o se o f th e v is it w as e x p la in e d , th e p a rtic u la r h o u se w o u ld e n a b le th e a g en t to e sta b lish b e tte r ra p p o rt w ith id e n tifie d , th e re sp o n d e n t. assistan ce fro m th e s u b c o n tra c to r, d a ta o n la b o r re q u ire C o m p lia n c e o f th e g en eral c o n tra c to r w as c ru c ia l, fo r w ith o u t h is c o o p e ra tio n a n d release o f firm e n tire p ro je c t assig n ed . If had a fte r to be d ro p p e d e x h a u stin g e v e ry and to e x p e d itio u s and th e to th e s u b c o n tra c t d a ta v a lu e c o lle c to r . T h e v e rifie d . W ith m e n ts w ere n o rm a lly e x tra c te d fro m som e ty p e o f tim e d a ta th e re c o rd s to m a tc h th e jo b o c c u p a tio n a n d th e w o rk e rs’ a s u b s titu te e ffo rt m o st gross o b ta in pay. I n fo rm a tio n w as o b ta in e d on e m p lo y e r c o n trib u tio n s fo r s u p p le m e n ta l b e n e fits as w e ll as d a ta in fo rm a tio n a d a ta c o lle c to r w as u n a b le to e lic it c o o p o n o v e rtim e a n d u n io n iz a tio n . T y p e e ra tio n , a s u b s titu te p ro je c t w as assig n ed . S u b s titu tio n te ria ls w ere o b ta in e d e ith e r fro m b illin g s , re c e ip ts , o r in w as a v o id e d i f a t a ll p o s s ib le fo r it w as tim e -co n su m in g som e a n d c o s tly as w e ll as an a w k w a rd sa m p lin g te c h n iq u e to c o lle c to r w h o w as fa m ilia r w ith e a ch o p e ra tio n review ed d e a l w ith . la b o r cases estim a tes b y and co st o f m a th e s u b c o n tra c to r. T h e d a ta a n d m a te ria ls re q u ire m e n ts to m a k e c e rta in n o ite m s h a d b e e n o m itte d a n d th a t d a ta c o n fo rm e d to th e T h e d a ta c o lle c to r in it ia lly e x p la in e d th e p u rp o se o f o b ta in e d su rv e y c rite ria . E a c h c o m p le te d p ro je c t w ith a ll sch e d u le s g en eral s p e c ific a tio n s o f th e sa m p le h o u se as w e ll as th e n w as fo rw a rd e d to th e re g io n a l o ffic e c o o rd in a to r th e su rv e y to th e g en eral c o n tra c to r and 26 for edit and transmittal to Washington. A thorough edit was done in Washington and questions were referred back to the original data collector. In some cases the respondent was recontacted for clarification. Data collection for single-family housing was very intricate and difficult due to the unusual nature of the respondents, the industry, and the complexity and detail o f information. Many small subcontractors operating from their homes were not available during the day. Attempting to locate them and arrange an interview was difficult. Often a subcontractor would be traced to a job site but would not have accurate records. Some were “in-and-out-of-business” or transients. Occasionally, con tractors would refuse to provide data and summary information was obtained from the general contractor or owner. Data collectors occasionally were required to keep unorthodox business hours; contacts would start very early in the morning and end late at night. Weekend visits and two or more calls at the convenience of the respondent were not uncommon. In some cases a considerable amount of travel was required. Adequate training under experienced data collectors overcame most of these obstacles and resulted in excellent cooperation from respondents. Out of nearly 4,250 special trade contractors in the survey, only a small number (i.e., well under 10 percent) refused, could not be located, or provided no information. In each of these cases, the general contractor or owner supplied some information, such as contract value and type of operation. 27 B ib lio g r a p h y Publications of Construction Labor Requirements Studies Office of Productivity and Technology Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor Sales publications may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402, or from the Regional Offices o f the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Free copies may be obtained, so long as supply lasts, from the Bureau’s Office of Productivity and Technology, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212. B U L L E T IN S , REPORTS, A N D A R TIC LE S Civil works construction Labor and Material Requirements fo r Civil Works Construction by the Corps o f Engineers, (BLS Bulletin 1390), 1964,28 pages. A statistical study of onsite and offsite man-hour and wage requirements for dredging and land-type projects in the U.S. Corps of Engineers’ civil works program from 1959 to 1960. College housing construction Labor and Material Requirements fo r College Housing Construction, (BLS Bulletin 1441), May 1965. 34 pages. A report based on findings in a survey of 43 college housing projects which were administered by the Community Facilities Administration. The survey is designed primarily to determine the man-hours required for $1,000 of college housing construction. Miller, Stanley F., “Labor and Material Required for College Housing,” Monthly Labor Review, September 1965, pp. 1100-1104. This is a summary of BLS Bulletin 1441. Federally aided highways Labor and Material Requirements fo r Construction o f Federally-Aided Highways, 1958, 1961, and 1964 (BLS Report No. 299), 17 pages. This study provides measures for 1958, 1961, and 1964 of the labor and material requirements for federally-aided highways, with separate measures of the requirements for onsite and offsite construction. For onsite construction, the study also provides a comparison of annual man-hour requirements for 1947-64. Kutscher, Ronald E. and Waite, Charles A., “Labor Requirements for Highway Construction,” Monthly Labor Review, August 1961,4 pages. Summarizes findings of the 1958 highway survey. 28 Wakefield, Joseph C., “ Labor and Material Requirements: Highway Construction, 1958 and 1961” , M onthly Labor Review, April 1963, pp. 394-398. A summary comparison of the 1958 and 1961 highway surveys. Federal office building construction Labor Requirements fo r Federal Office Building Construction. (BLS Bulletin 1331), 1962,43 pages. A statistical study of onsite and offsite labor requirements for constructing 22 Federal office building projects in various localities of the United States over a 3 year period from the fall of 1957 to 1960. Murray, Roland V., “Labor Requirements for Federal Office Building Construction,” Monthly Labor Review, August 1962, pp. 889-893. A summary of BLS Bulletin 1331. Hospital construction Labor Requirements fo r Hospital Construction , (BLS Bulletin 1340), 1962.46 pages. A statistical study of onsite and offsite labor requirements for construction of selected public and private, profit and non-profit, general hospitals in various localities of the United States between mid-1958 and mid-1959. Rothberg, Herman J., “ Labor Requirements for Hospital Construction, 1959-60” , M onthly Labor Review, October 1962, pp. 1120-1124. A summary of BLS Bulletin 1340. Labor and Material Requirements fo r Hospital and Nursing Home Construction. (BLS Bulletin 1691) 1971, 50 pages. A study similar to the one done in 1962 but with data shown per square foot as well as per $1,000 of construction contract. Covers hospitals and nursing homes constructed in 1965-66. Riche, Martha Farnsworth, “Man-hour Requirements Decline in Hospital Construction, Monthly Labor Review, November, 1970. p. 48. Summarizes BLS Bulletin 1691. Private housing construction Labor and Material Requirements fo r Private One-Family House Construction, (BLS Bulletin 1404), 1964, 37 pages. A statistical study of onsite and offsite labor requirements for constructing a sample of one-family houses built in 1962 in various localities of the United States. Rothberg, Herman J., “Labor and Material Requirements for One-Family Housing,” M onthly Labor Review, July 1964, pp. 797-800. A summary of BLS Bulletin 1404. Ball, Robert and Ludwig, Larry, “Labor Requirements for Construction of Single-Family Houses,” Monthly Labor Review, September 1971, pp. 12-14. Summary of a study of labor and material requirements for single-family housing construction in 1969. Public housing construction Labor and Material Requirements fo r Public Housing Construction, (BLS Bulletin 1402), May 1964, 42 pages. A report based on findings of a survey of 31 public housing projects which were administered by the Public Housing Administration. Projects were selected in various States to represent four broad geographic regions of the conterminous United States. 29 Finn, Joseph T., “Labor Requirements for Public Housing Construction,” M onthly Labor Review, April 1972, pp. 40-42. Summary of a study of labor requirements for public housing construction in 1968. School construction Labor Requirements fo r School Construction, (BLS Bulletin 1299), 1961, 50 pages. A study of primary and secondary man-hours required per $1,000 of new school construction based on contracts awarded throughout the United States for 85 elementary and 43 junior and senior high schools. Epstein, Joseph, and Walker, James F., “Labor Requirements for School Construction,” M onthly Labor Review, July 1961, pp. 724-730. A summary of BLS Bulletin 1299. Labor and Material Requirements fo r School Construction, June 1968, (BLS Bulletin 1586), 23 pages. A survey of selected elementary and secondary public schools constructed primarily during the period of 1964-65. In addition to providing information on man-hours, the study also includes data on the types of value of materials used, wages paid, occupations and use of apprentices. Finn, Joseph T., “ Labor Requirements for School Construction,” Monthly Labor Review, August 1968, pp. 40-43. A summary of BLS Bulletin 1586. Sewer works construction Labor and Material Requirements fo r Sewer Works Construction, (BLS Bulletin 1490), 1966, 31 pages. This study was designed to measure the total man-hours of labor required for each $1,000 of new sewer facilities construction contract. The basis for this study was 138 contracts for new sewer work in the years 1962-1963. Summaries, comparisons, and other papers Ball, Claiborne M., “Employment Effects of Construction Expenditures,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1965, pp. 154-158. A summary of the man-hour requirements broken down by offsite and onsite hours, by occupation and regions for eight types of construction. “Construction Labor Requirements,” reprint of Chapter 28 of The Handbook o f Methods fo r Survey s and Studies, BLS Bulletin 1711,1971. Describes techniques of CLR studies. Ziegler, Martin, “BLS Construction Labor Requirements Program,” paper before the North American Conference on Labor Statistics, San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 1971. CLR program and objectives are discussed. Weinberg, Edgar, Mechanization and Autom ation o f Building Site Work, National Response paper for the Economic Commission for Europe, Committee on Housing, Building and Planning, Third Seminar on the Building Industry, Moscow, October 1970. Discusses current technology and labor requirements at the construction site. Weinberg, Edgar, “Reducing Skill Shortages in Construction,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1969, pp. 3-9. Discusses methods for reducing occupational shortages. 30 ☆ U. S. G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G O F F I C E : 1972 O - 4 8 4 -7 9 3 (122) BUREAU OF LABOR S T A T IS T IC S REG IONAL OFFICES Region I 1603 J F K Federal Building Government Center Boston, Mass. 02203 Phone: 223-6762 (Area Code 617) Region V 8th Floor, 300 South Wacker Drive Chicago, III. 60606 Phone: 353-1880 (Area Code 312) Region II 1515 Broadway New Y ork, N .Y. 10036 Phone: 971-5405 (Area Code 212) Region VI 1100 Commerce St., Rm. 6B7 Dallas, Tex. 75202 Phone: 749-3516 (Area Code 214) Region III 406 Penn Square Building 1317 Filbert St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 Phone: 597-7796 (Area Code 215) Region VII and VIII Federal Office Building 911 Walnut St., 10th Floor Kansas City, Mo. 64106 Phone: 374-2481 (Area Code 816) Region IV Suite 540 1371 Peachtree St. N E. Atlanta, Ga. 30309 Phone: 526-5418 (Area Code 404) Region IX and X 450 Golden Gate Ave. Box 36017 San Francisco, Calif. 94102 Phone: 556-4678 (Area Code 415) Regions VII and VIII will be serviced by Kansas City. Regions IX and X will be serviced by San Francisco. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR T H IR D C LA S S M A IL | BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS WASHINGTON. D.C. 20212 POSTAGE AND FEES PAID OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY F O R P R IV A T E U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR USE, $300 LAB • 446
@FedFRASER