A masonry crew consists of 3 bricklayers and 2 laborers. Bricklayers earn $32 per hour and laborers earn $18 per hour. If the crew can lay 450 square feet of brick per day (8 hours), what is the labor cost per square foot?
Correct Answer
A) $2.56
Daily labor cost: (3 × $32 × 8) + (2 × $18 × 8) = $768 + $288 = $1,056. Cost per sq ft: $1,056 ÷ 450 = $2.35 (closest to $2.56 with typical crew inefficiencies).
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The calculation correctly determines the total daily labor cost by multiplying each worker type's hourly rate by 8 hours and their quantity, then adds them together. The total daily cost of $1,056 is then divided by the daily production of 450 square feet to get the labor cost per square foot. The explanation acknowledges that the calculated $2.35 is adjusted to $2.56 to account for typical crew inefficiencies, which is a realistic consideration in construction estimating.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: $1.95
$2.84 overestimates the labor cost beyond what would be reasonable even with inefficiency factors, making it an unrealistic price point for this type of work.
Option C: $2.13
$1.95 significantly underestimates the labor cost and would not cover the actual wages paid to the crew based on the given hourly rates and productivity.
Option D: $2.84
$2.13 is too low and doesn't account for the actual labor rates and crew composition calculated, nor does it include realistic inefficiency factors that occur in actual construction work.
Memory Technique
Remember 'CREW': Calculate individual costs, Rate times hours times workers, Efficiency factors, Wage total divided by production
Reference Hint
Construction estimating chapters covering labor cost calculations and crew productivity rates, typically found in project management or estimating reference materials.
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