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Definition

• Calculation of quantities , cost for various items required for 
completion of proposed work
Estimation costing and 
specification • Cost = quantity of each work x unit cost of item

• To prepare an estimate,  drawing consisting of plan , section and 
elevation along with a detailed specification are required 

Need for estimate Types of estimate
• To ascertain necessary amount of money required by the owner or  Detailed estimate 
builder to complete the work
• Includes detailed particulars for the quantities , rates and cost of all 
items involved for satisfactory completion of a project 
• To ascertain the quantity of materials in order to programme their 
timely procurement
• Quantities of item of work are calculated from their respective 
dimensions on the drawing on a measurement sheet
• To calculate the different categories of workers that are employed to 
complete the work • multiplying these quantities by their respective rates , cost of all 
items of work are worked out individually 
• Accompanied by
• To fix up the completion period
• (a) report
• (b)Specifications 
• To invite tender and prepare bills for payment • (c) Detailed drawings
• (d)Design data and collections 
• An estimate of an existing property is required for valuation • (e) Basic rates

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Revised estimate
Preliminary or approximate or rough estimate

• Approximate estimate to find out the approximate cost  in a short time
• Helps the authority concerned to consider the financial aspect of 
scheme , and to get sanction
• Prepared after knowing the rate of similar works and from practical  work as compared with original estimate
knowledge 
• Detailed estimate for revised quantities and rates of item of work 
originally provided in the estimate  without material deviation of 
structural nature from the design originally approved for the project
• Accompanied with a comparative statement abstract form showing 
the probable variations of quantity ,rate and amount of each item of 
 
• Submitted for fresh technical sanction 

Supplementary estimate 
Revised estimate

It is required to be  prepared for the following reasons :  • While a work is in progress, some changes or additional works due 
to material deviation of structural nature from the design originally 
approved 
(i) When a sanctioned estimate is likely to exceed by more than 5%  
either from rate being found  insufficient or from any cause 
whatsoever  except important structural alterations • Abstract shows the amount of original estimate and total of sanction 
required including supplementary amount
(ii) When expenditure of work exceed or is likely to exceed by more 
than 10% of administrative approval

(iii) When there are material deviations from original proposal but 
not due to material deviation of a structural nature

(iv) When  it is found that the sanctioned estimate is more than 
actual requirement

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Revised estimate Supplementary estimate Revised estimate and supplementary estimate due to 

reduction of cost 
This is required when the sanctioned amount is  This is required due to supplementary works which are 
exceeded due to changes of rates or addition of works  fairly independent of the works at first sanctioned,
fairly dependent on the at first sanctioned. So. A supplementary estimate is due to material 
So, a revised estimate is due to material deviation from  deviation of structural nature from the design originally  • When a substantial section of a project costing not less than 5% of
the original proposal approved
total sanctioned cost of project is abandoned or where material
deviations from the original proposals are expected to result in
substantial savings , estimate is revised by the department and
intimated to engineer in charge for execution of work
No comparative abstract form is required.
It is accompanied with a comparative statement abstract 
This is an estimate for additional works only. The 
form showing the probable variations for quantity, rate 
abstract shows the original estimate and the total 
and amount against each item of work involved in the 
amount of the sanction required including 
project
supplementary works

Revised estimate is required due to change of rate or  Supplementary estimate is required due to some new 
quantity of materials, so no additions or revisions of  works or due to change of design so additions or 
drawings necessary revisions of drawings may be necessary

Maintenance Estimate
Contingencies

• After completion of work, it is necessary to maintain the same for its • Expenses of miscellaneous character which cannot be 
proper function reasonably predicted during preparation of estimate 

• Prepared for items which require replacement, repair, renewal

• An additional amount of 3 to 5 %  of the estimated cost is 
provided
Eg: white washing, colour washing, painting of doors, windows etc
are based on previous measurements recorded in measurement books
• Eg. Nosing of step
• For works like replacement of glass panes, repair of floors, patch
repairs to cement plaster on walls, only lump sum provision is made
for different items in estimate

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Lump Sum item
Work Charged establishment

• Temporary establishment employed for the  • Work which is very difficult to measure or assess during its 
execution or immediate technical supervision  or  execution and a lumpsum rate is provided
departmental stores and machinery in connection 
with a specified work  • Site cleaning, site dressing , removing roots of trees, 
dewatering from a small diameter tube well till sand free 
water is obtained  
• Work charged staff may be a technical person  or an 
understaff of technical person to assist him at 
worksite, guard ….

• 2 to 2.5% of estimated cost

Methods for the calculation of approximate estimate

Provisional sum

• An amount arbitrarily provided by an experienced estimator 1. Plinth area method

in the total estimated cost of a project to carry out some 2. Cubic rate method
special type of work whose details cannot be known at the
time of preparing estimate 3. Unit rate method
4. Typical bay method
• Installation of lifts, Shifting of water lines , sewer lines or
electric cables , service pipe connection with water mains

• Such works are done through a licensed contractor or

through respective department engaged by the owner on a
separate tender

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Plinth area method or square metre method • Covered Area

• First plinth area of a building shall be determined Ground area covered by the building immediately above the plinth level

• It is the build up covered area measured at the floor level of the • Floor area
basement or any storey of the building Plinth Area – Area of walls
Calculation
• By taking external dimensions excluding the plinth offset • Carpet Area
Floor area – area of following portions
Portions included Portions excluded  Verandah
Stair cover balcony  Corridors & passages
Lift well including landing Architectural works, cornice Entrance hall & porch
Staircase & stair cover
Machine room Spiral staircase
Bathroom
Porch area other than cantilevered Terrace at floor one , Kitchen and pantry
towers , domes projecting above
terrace level at terrace Store room
Air conditioning duct

Cubic Rate Method

 Approximate Rate = volume of proposed building * rate per cubic
volume of similar building in locality
• Estimated cost = plinth area calculated x plinth area rate 
Volume of building = l x b x h
• Plinth area rate is found from rate of similar adjacent 
building  length and breadth calculated from external dimensions of building
( general specification, price level,  shape of building,  above plinth level ..(plinth area )
design of building and provisions made, arrangement of 
rooms, circulation area, location )
Height of building measured from half the depth of foundation

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 Bay method
Unit Rate Method
• Approximate Cost = No: of bays in proposed structure * cost
• cost of unit quantity is such as per km for a highway, per m of one bay
of span for a bridge , per classroom for school building , per
bed for hospital , per litre of water tank are determined
• Bay – Compartments or similar portions of a structure eg ;Go-
downs, railway platforms,
• Estimate = cost per unit x no: of units

General items for work of the building estimate & units

No. ITEMS UNIT

1 Earthwork excavation cu. m
2 Concrete cu. m
3 Stone work cu. m
4 Brick work cu. m
5 Damp proof coarse sq. m
6 Wood work sq. m
7 Plastering sq. m
8 Pointing cu. m
9 Steel work sq. m
10 Roof covering sq. m
11 Floor finishing sq. m
12 White washing and colour washing sq. m