PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION

Quantities Calculations

Workshop,
Workshop,Week
Week11
6
SemesterAnswers
1, 20111
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 Quantities Overview
The 3 most common methods of
estimating the cost of a building are:

– Building cost per square metre

– Elemental costs of buildings
– Bill of Quantities

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 Building cost per square metre
This method of costing is used during the initial briefing stage of design or
sketch design stage.
It is worked out on a cost/m2 of gross floor area or functional space.
The building cost per square metre method is sometimes used as a per unit
calculation
ie cost/bed (accommodation or hospital)
Commonly used by Clients in house or preliminary work with
Designers/Valuers/Developers.

“This provides the average cost range for a wide selection of typical buildings.
Whilst square meter costs are recommended for use in initial feasibilities only,
they also provide the base figure in the valuation of buildings, however when
so used they should be adjusted as described in the following Elemental Costs
of Buildings. It should also be noted that, as the figures given are for a typical
building on a flat site adjustment must be made for such factors as sloping
sites, ground conditions unusual shape and other design considerations.

The costs given are based on the total floor area of all levels measured
between the inner faces of external walls.”

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 Elemental costs of buildings
This is used from sketch design stage to the detailed
design. It is worked out on a costs of grouped similar
elements and abbreviated quantities. Commonly used
with more detailed costings from Designers/Architects
and sometimes a Quantity Surveyor.

“This assists in the compilation of a more accurate

cost per square metre through evaluation and
adjustment of the mean figures of the various
elements of the foregoing typical buildings, to reflect
the particular building being examined. Examples of
the major variations from the typical are the like of
special façade treatments, the extent of floor finishes
and whether or not the building services include air-
conditioning, lifts, etc.”

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Comparative Costs (Bill of Quantities)

This is used from detailed design to

working drawings.

It sets out details of the pricing of all

elements of construction.

Used by a Quantity Surveyor.

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Comparative Costs (For Bill of Quantities)
The more detailed rates given in this section facilitate
a finer adjustment of the foregoing elemental figures
through the application of unit costs to a particular
element i.e. different design treatments such as
facades, interior finishes, etc.

The costs given are all-up estimating costs i.e. they

include allowance for labour and minor items. For
items not covered in this section it will be necessary to
refer to the Detailed Prices section

Detailed prices provide a wide range of costs for

particular items in all trades and services. The prices
do not, unless stated to the contrary, include
allowance for labours and other minor items; if using
to complement the rates of Estimating – Comparative
Costs it will be necessary to make due allowance for
such minor items. Depending on the project, an
allowance of between 5% and 10% would normally
suffice.

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 Worked Example
Quantities Calculations:
Industrial Building
Calculate the building costs for the following building
using both ‘cost per square meter’ and ‘elemental
cost’ methods.

Use Rawlinsons to calculate the building costs,

Cost per square meter
Elemental cost methods

This exercise will help you with your assignment as it is

fairly much what you are required to do for the
calculations sections.

Some givens;
Use 269m2 for landscaping area.
Only rear 62.5m2 has a skillion roof
The car park is done on a rate per bay which included
driveway.

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 Estimation of building cost for the building
using “cost per square meter” only.

Ref Page Description Unit Rate Total

8.1.1.3
Page 16
Warehouse: (For Letting) Single m2 $760 $503,120
storey, concrete floor, tilt- up
125 mm walls, high bay,
metal roof, roller shutter
doors
Area= 27x25 less perimeter wall
0.125x104 = 662m2
From
Builder
Mezzanine storage: Suspended m2
1 only
$555 $22,200
N.E.150mm Slab Area = 8x5
= 40m2

10.2
Page 18
Bitumen paved carpark 12 bays: Per $2,950 $35,400
open area, bitumen paving, Car
stormwater drainage

11.13.1
Page 19
For landscaping use an area of m2
m2
$49.70 $13,369.30
269m2
Page 107
Landscaping: shrubs, top soil $3.00 $807
@269m2
Reticulation: Mains supply
including piping & sprinklers
@ 269m2
(use lower end of residential rate)

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $574,896.30

Cost / m2 $868

Cost estimates using Cost per Square Meter should be calculated in conjunction with Rawlinsons
2021 and then add speciality items above this basic rate from Elemental Costs

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Ref Page Description Unit Rate Total
31 8.1.1.4 Preliminaries:
Floor area (662 m2) 662 m2 75.75 50,146.50
Substructure:
Floor area 662 m2 110.75 73.316.50
Superstructure:
External walls 662 m2 187.50 124,125
662
Roof 202.25 133,889.50
External Doors 662 m2 29.50 19,529
Finishes:
Wall 662 m2 6.50 4,303
Floor 662 m2 10.00 6,620
Services:
Plumbing 662 m2 37.75 24,990.50
Electrical 662 m2 68.00 45,016
Fire 662 m2 10.75 7,116.50
External Services
Water, sewer, electricity, gas, telephone, drainage 662 m2 9.75 6,454.50
– 662 m2
Contingency
Allowance – 662 m2 662 m2 20.50 13,571
Total Estimated Cost 509,078
Cost / m2 662 m2 769
Additional costs: (From Cost per Square Meter)
Bitumen carparking 35,400
Landscaping & Reticulation 14,176.30

Total including landscaping allowance 558,654

Cost / m2 843

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Comparison between costing methods

Cost Per Square Meter $574,896.30

Elemental $558,865
Difference $16,031.30 (2.79%)

Why is there a difference?

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