An Interview with Ben White, Estimator at Advance Construction

When it comes to implementing the perfect retaining wall solution, there are many factors to consider. From planning through to construction, challenges often arise along the way. We sat down with Ben White, an estimator at Advance Construction Scotland, to talk about how tools and services can simplify this part of hard landscaping.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Advance Construction?

“My name is Ben White, and I’m an estimator at Advance Construction Scotland. I’ve been with the company for 12 years now, starting as a buyer before moving into estimating. My role involves providing estimates for housing projects, covering everything from roads, sewers, and retaining walls, to paving for individual plots.”

At the preliminary planning stage, budgets are a key concern. How has our Secura FastFind tool helped streamline your budget planning?

“For many of our clients who need early budget assistance, Secura FastFind has been really useful. It offers two wall options to match the retaining wall height, along with indicative sections and details that aren’t always available early on. This helps us provide clearer budget estimates for clients.”

Saving time and efficiency are always priorities in construction. How has the Secura Tender Calculator helped you achieve these goals?

“The Secura Tender Calculator gives us all the quantities we need, which makes the estimating process quicker and more accurate. From an estimator’s point of view, it’s a huge time-saver. If we win the tender, the breakdown it provides is really helpful when we hand things over to the Quantity Surveyor. It details everything from material quantities to the cost of supply and installation. The way Tobermore’s website is set up, and how efficient the tools are, really makes my job easier.”

How has your experience been using Tobermore’s website tools alongside our Secura retaining wall blocks?

“With the tools and the support from Alex Walther (Retaining Walling Category Manager at Tobermore), the experience has been really smooth. Alex is always available to answer any questions we have, and the Tender Calculator itself is so easy to use. It saves us from manually working out calculations – we just input the figures, and we get the results instantly.”

For those who haven’t yet tried Tobermore’s online Secura tools, what do you see as the biggest advantages in terms of efficiency and cost savings?

“The biggest advantage is how quick and simple the tools are to use. They not only calculate the wall structure but also the required backfill and foundation. Integrating them into my workflow has definitely sped up the process of getting tenders back to clients. Plus, it’s a cost-saver because we can clearly compare the price difference between masonry walling and Secura retaining walling.”

How have these tools helped Advance Construction successfully execute retaining wall projects?

“Each department at Advance Construction benefits from Tobermore’s tools. For instance, our engineering and construction teams use FastFind to review how the wall will be built and plan the necessary labour and equipment. The Tender Calculator is invaluable for our buyers, who can calculate the exact volumes of materials needed and schedule deliveries accordingly.”

We’d like to thank Ben for taking the time to share his insights with us. If you’re looking for support with planning and executing your next retaining walling project, check out our Secura Retaining Wall Blocks page for all the tools and guidance you need to implement the perfect retaining wall solution.