Construction Contractors Survey

For Information only

This is an electronic survey example for information purposes only. This is not a working questionnaire.

Introduction

Purpose

The Construction Contractors Survey (CCS) collects residential and non-residential construction price movements and market information across 11 census metropolitan areas in Canada.

The information is used to produce various building construction price indexes which measure change over time in contractors' prices to construct a range of new commercial, institutional, industrial and residential buildings.

The contractor's price reflects the value of all materials, labour, equipment, overhead and profit to construct a new building. It excludes value added taxes and any costs for land, land assembly, building design, land development and real estate fees.

The building construction price indexes are of use to government agencies undertaking economic analyses and other users that are interested in evaluating the impact of price changes on capital expenditures. Statistics Canada, for example, uses these indexes in preparing estimates of the construction industry’s contribution to national expenditure, real output and capital stock. Other uses include the re-evaluation of expenditure, output and new order figures for construction work; making adjustments to project costs for escalation; as well as forecasting financial requirements for proposed projects and real rates of return on investment.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkage

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

For agreements with provincial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

Answering this questionnaire

Reporting instructions:

  • Statistics Canada requires information on construction market conditions and quarterly price movements for all building construction cost components and general market information. The specific building components are identified by you in the questionnaire.
  • Question numbers may appear out of order. This is due to the design of the electronic questionnaire. Please continue to report data regardless of the question number.
  • Do not press the Submit button until you have completed reporting for all building components and market conditions.

Who should complete this questionnaire?
This questionnaire should be completed by an estimator for this business.

Printing your completed questionnaire
You may print this questionnaire once you have completed and submitted it.

Business or organization and contact information

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier: 1.

Verify or provide the business or organization’s legal and operating name, and correct information if needed.

Note: Legal name should only be modified to correct a spelling error or typo.

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

  • Legal name
  • Operating name (if applicable)

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier: 2.

Verify or provide the contact information for the designated contact person for the business or organization, and correct information if needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. Thedesignated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Preferred language of communication
  • Mailing address (number and street)
  • City
  • Province, territory or state
  • Postal code or ZIP code (Example: A9A 9A9 or 12345-1234)
  • Country
  • Email address (Example: user@example.gov.ca)
  • Telephone number (including area code) (Example: 123-123-1234)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
  • Fax number (including area code) (Example: 123-123-1234)

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier: 3.

Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

  • Operational
  • Not currently operational (e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership)

Selected city - Company information

Company information - Question identifier: 1.

Does the company offer general contracting construction services in the selected city?

  • Yes
  • No

Company information - Question identifier: 2.

Does the company offer general contracting construction services in industrial, commercial or institutional building construction?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Does the company offer general contracting construction services in single family homes, townhomes, low and high rise apartment building construction?
      • Yes
      • No

Company information - Question identifier: 3.

Does the company offer general contracting construction services in single family homes, townhomes, low and high rise apartment building construction?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Does the company offer general contracting construction services in industrial, commercial or institutional building construction?
      • Yes
      • No

Selected city - Construction component pricing information

Construction component pricing information - Question identifier: 4.

(Non-Residential) Was the company involved in or did the company bid on a construction project in the selected city between the first and last month of the previous quarter?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Can the company report price changes in construction cost components between the period of the first and last month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter for building materials and/or labour used in a typical construction project in the selected city?
      • Yes
      • No

Construction component pricing information - Question identifier: 5.

(Non-Residential) Indicate for which Divisions below the company in the selected city can report price changes in construction cost components between the period of the first and last month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter.

If you were not involved in or did not bid on a construction project, provide the information based on a typical building construction project your company has been involved in or bid on in the past.

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

Select all that apply.

  • Division 1: General Requirements
  • Division 2: Existing Conditions
  • Division 3: Concrete
  • Division 4: Masonry
  • Division 5: Metals
  • Division 6: Wood, Plastics and Composites
  • Division 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection
  • Division 8: Openings
  • Division 9: Finishes
  • Division 10: Specialties
  • Division 11: Equipment
  • Division 14: Conveying Equipment
  • Division 21: Fire Suppression
  • Division 22: Plumbing
  • Division 23: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
  • Division 25: Integrated Automation
  • Division 26: Electrical
  • Division 27: Communications
  • Division 28: Electronic Safety and Security
  • Division 31: Earthwork
  • Division 32: Exterior Improvements
  • Division 33: Utilities

Construction component pricing information - Question identifier: 6.

(Non-Residential) In the Divisions selected, indicate if the prices of the construction cost components remained the same, increased or decreased.

Include labour, material, machinery and equipment, overhead costs and profit margin changes when reporting price movements for each cost component.

Note:

  • For each Division, report for all construction cost components that apply
  • Select “Not applicable” for all that do not apply
  • Select “No change” if there was no price movement
  • Please report percentage without decimals
  • If you were not involved in or did not bid on a construction project this period, provide your best estimate based on a typical building construction project your company has been involved in or bid in the past.

For each Division, provide:

Change in the price of the construction components observed on the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter compared to the period between the first and last month of the previous quarter.

For each component, provide:

  • Change status
    • Increase
    • Decrease
    • No change
    • Not applicable
  • Percentage change
  • Provide any comments explaining the price movement

Division 1: General requirements

  1. Crane and hoist rental
  2. Utility connections
  3. Temporary utilities (e.g., temporary hydro, water, lighting, sanitation, etc.)
  4. Site trailer
  5. Trucking
  6. Insurance rates
  7. Labour (e.g., temporary hydro, water, lighting, sanitation, etc.)

Division 2: Existing Conditions

  1. Demolition

Division 3: Concrete

  1. Concrete forming or formwork
  2. Reinforcement bars (e.g., 400 MPa rebar)
  3. Fabric and grid reinforcing (welded wire mesh)
  4. Concrete supply and placing (cast-in-place)

Division 4: Masonry

  1. Exterior brick veneer
  2. Stone work
  3. Concrete unit masonry or concrete block masonry

Division 5: Metals

  1. Structural steel framing  
  2. Metal fabrications (e.g., metal stairs, railings, fence)

Division 6: Wood, Plastics and Composites

  1. Rough carpentry (e.g., framing, building rough temporary structures such as concrete forms, scaffolds, tunnels, installation of doors, windows and wood trims)
  2. Plywood
  3. Lumber

Division 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection

  1. Waterproofing and dampproofing
  2. Thermal insulation
  3. Membrane roofing system (e.g., built-up bituminious roofing, asphalt flood with coat layer with gravel surfacing, asphalt base sheet, adhesive, cants and felt)
  4. Asphalt roofing
  5. Metal roofing
  6. Stucco finished walls, EIFS (exterior insulation and finish systems) with additional insulation, reinforcing
  7. Vinyl siding

Division 8: Openings

  1. Metal doors
  2. Wood doors
  3. Metal windows
  4. Wood windows
  5. Vinyl windows
  6. Glazing for windows and doors

Division 9: Finishes

  1. Gypsum board (drywall) (e.g., partition system comprised of gypsum board on both sides of metal studs of different dimensions)
  2. Ceramic tile
  3. Wood flooring (Include hardwood and laminate)
  4. Vinyl flooring
  5. Carpeting
  6. Painting

Division 10: Specialties

  1. Exterior signage (e.g., "warehouse" sign)
  2. Washroom accessories (e.g., toilet paper dispenser)

Division 11: Equipment

  1. Loading dock levelers
  2. Laboratory hoods (steel)

Division 14: Conveying equipment

  1. Elevators

Division 21: Fire Suppression

  1. Fire suppression (e.g., sprinkler system)

Division 22: Plumbing

  1. Plumbing

Division 23: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

  1. Heating
  2. Ventilating
  3. Air conditioning

Division 25 – Integrated Automation:

  1. Integrated Automation (e.g., thermostat, automatic light sensors)

Division 26 - Electrical:

  1. Electrical

Division 27 - Communications:

  1. Communications (e.g., fibre optics)

Division 28 - Electronic Safety and Security:

  1. Electronic safety and security (e.g., smoke detection sensors)

Division 31 - Earthwork:

  1. Clearing site and fine grading
  2. Excavation and hauling
  3. Backfill (Include granular base, 4" thick, lowest floor)

Division 32 - Exterior Improvements:

  1. Asphalt paving
  2. Concrete sidewalk
  3. Planting (Include landscaping, seeding, sodding, ground cover, shrubs, trees and transplanting)

Division 33 - Utilities:

  1. Utilities (e.g., water utility, sanitary and storm utility piping)

Construction component pricing information - Question identifier: 7.

(Residential) Did the company participate in, or bid on, a construction project in the selected city between the first and last month of the previous quarter?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Can the company report price changes in construction cost components between the period of the first and last month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter for building materials and/or labour used in a typical construction project in the selected city?
      • Yes
      • No

Construction component pricing information - Question identifier: 8.

(Residential) Indicate for which Divisions below the company in the selected city can report price changes in construction cost components between the period of the first and last month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter.

If you were not involved in or did not bid on a construction project, provide the information based on a typical building construction project your company has been involved in or bid on in the past.

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

Select all that apply.

  • Division 1: General Requirements
  • Division 2: Existing Conditions
  • Division 3: Concrete
  • Division 4: Masonry
  • Division 5: Metals
  • Division 6: Wood, Plastics and Composites
  • Division 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection
  • Division 8: Openings
  • Division 9: Finishes
  • Division 11: Equipment
  • Division 14: Conveying Equipment
  • Division 21: Fire Suppression
  • Division 22: Plumbing
  • Division 23: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
  • Division 26: Electrical
  • Division 31: Earthwork
  • Division 32: Exterior Improvements
  • Division 33: Utilities

Construction component pricing information - Question identifier: 9.

(Residential) In the Divisions selected, indicate if the prices of the construction cost components remained the same, increased or decreased.

Include labour, material, machinery and equipment, overhead costs and profit margin changes when reporting price movements for each cost component.

Note:

  • For each Division, report for all construction cost components that apply
  • Select “Not applicable” for all that do not apply
  • Select “No change” if there was no price movement
  • Please report percentage without decimals
  • If you were not involved in or did not bid on a construction project this period, provide your best estimate based on a typical building construction project your company has been involved in or bid in the past.

For each Division, provide:

Change in the price of the construction components observed on the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter compared to the period between the first and last month of the previous quarter.

For each component, provide:

  • Change status
    • Increase
    • Decrease
    • No change
    • Not applicable
  • Percentage change
  • Provide any comments explaining the price movement

Division 1: General requirements

  1. Site supervision and trailer
  2. General contractors fee
  3. Building permit costs and development charges (e.g., temporary hydro, water, lighting, sanitation, etc.)
  4. Insurance rates

Division 2: Existing Conditions

  1. Demolition

Division 3: Concrete

  1. Concrete forming or formwork
  2. Reinforcement bars (e.g., 400 MPa rebar)
  3. Welded wire fabric reinforcing (welded wire mesh)
  4. Concrete supply and placing (cast-in-place)

Division 4: Masonry

  1. Exterior brick veneer
  2. Stone work
  3. Concrete unit masonry or concrete block masonry

Division 5: Metals

  1. Structural steel framing

Division 6: Wood, Plastics and Composites

  1. Rough and finish carpentry (Include framing, building rough temporary structures such as concrete forms, scaffolds, tunnels, installation of doors, windows and wood trims)
  2. Wood truss roof framing system
  3. Kitchen cabinets

Division 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection

  1. Waterproofing and dampproofing
  2. Thermal insulation
  3. Asphalt (e.g., shingles, flashing, vents, etc.)
  4. Membrane roofing system (e.g., built-up bituminious roofing, asphalt layer with gravel surfacing, asphalt base sheet, adhesive, cants and felts)
  5. Roof construction (Include allowance for ice and water shield)
  6. Stucco finished walls, EIFS (exterior insulation and finish systems) with additional insulation, reinforcing
  7. Prefinished metal roofing
  8. Vinyl siding

Division 8: Openings

  1. Metal doors
  2. Wood doors
  3. Metal windows
  4. Wood windows
  5. Vinyl windows
  6. Glazing for windows and doors

Division 9: Finishes

  1. Gypsum board (drywall)
  2. Ceramic tile
  3. Wood flooring (Include hardwood and laminate)
  4. Vinyl flooring
  5. Carpeting
  6. Painting

Division 11: Equipment

  1. Household appliances

Division 14: Conveying equipment

  1. Elevators

Division 21: Fire Suppression

  1. Fire suppression (e.g., sprinkler system)

Division 22: Plumbing

  1. Plumbing

Division 23: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

  1. Heating
  2. Ventilating
  3. Air conditioning

Division 26 - Electrical:

  1. Electrical

Division 31 - Earthwork:

  1. Clearing site and fine grading
  2. Excavation and hauling
  3. Backfill (Include granular base, 4" thick, lowest floor)

Division 32 - Exterior Improvements:

  1. Asphalt paving
  2. Concrete sidewalk
  3. Planting (Include landscaping, seeding, sodding, ground cover, shrubs, trees and transplanting)

Division 33 - Utilities:

  1. Utilities (e.g., water utility, sanitary and storm utility piping)

Selected city - General market information

General market information - Question identifier: 10.

(Non-Residential) Between the 15th day of the second month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, has there been a change in the number of construction projects available for bid?

  • Yes
    • Please report the percentage change status and percentage change in the number of construction projects available for bid.
      • Change status:
        • Increase
        • Decrease
      • Percentage change
      • Provide any comments regarding the change in the number of construction projects available for bid.
  • No

General market information - Question identifier: 11.

(Non-Residential) Between the 15th day of the second month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, has there been a change in the number of general contractors bidding on available construction projects?

  • Yes
    • Please report the percentage change status and percentage change in the number of general contractors bidding on available construction projects.
      • Change status:
        • Increase
        • Decrease
      • Percentage change
      • Provide any comments regarding the change in the number of general contractors bidding on available construction projects.
  • No

General market information - Question identifier: 12.
(Non-Residential) Between the 15th day of the second month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, has there been a change in the dollar value of construction projects available for bid?

  • Yes
    • Please report the percentage change status and percentage change in the number of construction projects available for bid.
      • Change status:
        • Increase
        • Decrease
      • Percentage change
      • Provide any comments regarding the change in the dollar value of construction projects available for bid.
  • No

General construction market information - Question identifier: 13.

Between the 15th day of the second month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, what proportion of the overall cost of a typical construction project is attributed to the overhead and profit?

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

  • Percentage
  • Provide any comments regarding the proportion of the overall cost of a typical construction project that is attributed to the overhead and profit.

General construction market information - Question identifier: 14.

Between the 15th day of the second month of the previous quarter and the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, did the company’s productivity change?

When answering this question, indicate which factors had an impact on the change in productivity.

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

  • Yes
    • Please report the percentage change status and percentage change.
      • Change status:
        • Increase
        • Decrease
      • Percentage change
      • Provide any comments regarding changes to the company’s productivity.
  • No

General construction market information – Question identifier: 15.

On the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, how would you rate the current state of the construction market?

  • Growing
  • Stable
  • Declining
  • Unsure
  • Provide any comments regarding the current state of the construction market.

General construction market information - Question identifier: 16.

On the 15th day of the second month of the current quarter in the selected city, which factors are having an impact on the building construction market?

Select all that apply.

  • Building codes
  • Skilled labour shortages
  • Labour rates
    • Was there an increase or decrease in labour rates?
      • Increase
      • Decrease
  • Availability of materials
  • Cost of materials
    • Was there an increase or decrease in the cost of materials?
      • Increase
      • Decrease
  • Availability of land for development
  • Availability of site services
  • Land prices
    • Was there an increase or decrease in the land price?
      • Increase
      • Decrease
  • Number of projects available
    • Was there an increase or decrease in the number of projects available?
      • Increase
      • Decrease
  • Competition among sub-contractors
    • Was there an increase or decrease in the competition among sub-contractors?
      • Increase
      • Decrease
  • Competition among general contractors
    • Was there an increase or decrease in the competition among general contractors?
      • Increase
      • Decrease
  • Federal tax regime changes
    • Please explain the change to the federal tax regime
  • Provincial tax regime changes
    • Please explain the change to the provincial tax regime
  • Municipal tax regime changes
    • Please explain the change to the municipal tax regime
  • Other
    • Please specify the type of change
  • Provide any additional feedback on the building construction market.

General construction market information - Question identifier: 17.

Which of the selected choices had the largest impact on the building construction market?

Please select one and briefly explain how it impacted the building construction market.

  • Building codes
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of the building codes.
  • Skilled labour shortages
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of skilled labour shortages.
  • Labour rates
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of labour rates.
  • Availability of materials
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of availability of materials.
  • Cost of materials
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of the cost of materials.
  • Availability of land for development
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of availability of for development.
  • Availability of site services
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of the availability of site services.
  • Land prices
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of land prices.
  • Number of projects available
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of projects available.
  • Competition among sub-contractors
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of competition among sub-contractors.
  • Competition among general contractors
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of competition among general contractors.
  • Federal tax regime changes
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of federal tax regime changes.
  • Provincial tax regime changes
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of provincial tax regime changes.
  • Municipal tax regime changes
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of municipal tax regime changes.
  • Other
    • Please provide any comments regarding the impact of other changes.

General construction market information - Question identifier: 18.

Please estimate the expected level of activity in the construction market in the selected city for the next 6 months.

  • Increasing
    • Report the estimated percentage change
      • Percentage change
      • Please provide any comments regarding your estimate of an increasing activity level in the construction market in the next 6 months.
  • Flat
  • Decreasing
    • Report the estimated percentage change
      • Percentage change
      • Please provide any comments regarding your estimate of a decreasing activity level in the construction market in the next 6 months.

Contact person

Contact person - Question identifier: 19.

Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.

Is the specified person the best person to contact?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?
      • First name
      • Last name
      • Title
      • Email Address (Example: user@example.gov.ca)
      • Telephone number (including area code) (Example: 123-123-1234)
      • Extension number (if applicable)
      • Fax number (including area code) (Example: 123-123-1234)

Feedback

Feedback - Question identifier: 20.

How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include time spent gathering the necessary information.

  • Hours
  • Minutes

Feedback - Question identifier: 21.

Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Enter your comments

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