Temporary facilities are a real share of general conditions on any long project. Priced as a lump or forgotten, they come straight out of margin — and a slipped schedule makes it worse.
In this article
The line item that gets underestimated
Temporary facilities are easy to forget in a bid and hard to avoid on the job: toilets, power, water, lighting, fencing, the trailer and its internet. On a long project they add up to a real share of general conditions, and missing them comes straight out of margin.
Toilets and handwashing
OSHA sets a minimum number of toilets based on crew size, and many jobs need handwashing stations too. Service frequency matters as much as quantity; a unit serviced once a week for a crew of forty becomes a morale and compliance problem.
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Temporary power
Coordinate early with the utility, because temporary service can take weeks. Until then, generators burn fuel and need someone to manage them. Include GFCI protection, distribution and the monthly power bill in the estimate.
Water
Water for drinking, concrete, dust control and cleanup. Confirm the source, the meter or hydrant permit, and who pays the bill.
Fencing and security
Perimeter fence, gates, signage and sometimes cameras or a guard. Price the rental for the full duration plus relocations as the site changes.
Trailer and connectivity
Office trailer, furniture, internet and a printer. With drawings and daily reports on tablets, a weak connection costs more hours than its monthly fee.
Who provides what
Spell out in subcontracts which temporary facilities the GC provides and which each trade brings. Assumptions about power, hoisting, dumpsters and storage are a common source of backcharges and arguments. A simple responsibility matrix attached to the subcontract settles it before anyone mobilizes.
Price by duration, not by lump
Build each item as a monthly cost times the schedule. When the schedule slips, you can show what the extra months cost, which supports time-related claims.
Remember removal
Disconnection, removal and site restoration at the end of the job cost money too. Include them in the estimate and in the demobilization plan.
Where to start
Build a temporary facilities checklist with monthly costs and attach it to every estimate's general conditions.
Margin is won in the estimate.
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Frequently asked questions
What temporary facilities should be included in a construction estimate?
Toilets and handwashing with service, temporary power and its monthly bill, water, perimeter fencing and security, the office trailer with internet, dumpsters and removal at the end. Price each as a monthly cost times the schedule so time extensions can be supported.