Capital University of Science and Technology,

Islamabad

CE- 3033: Quantity Surveying and

Estimation

Week No. 02

Dr. Syed Shujaa Safdar Gardezi

Department of Civil Engineering

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :
• Contract Documents
When the tender of a contractor is accepted, an agreement
between the contractor and the owner takes place and the
documents defining the rights and obligations of the owner
and the contractor are attached to the agreement bond and this
is called a contract document. In general, the following
documents make part of contract:
– Instructions to tenderers
– Contract agreement
– General and particular conditions of contract
– Acceptance of offer
– Bill of quantities
– Specifications
– Drawings
– Appendices etc

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 2

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :
• Rate analysis
The process of determining rate of any work in Civil Engineering project like
earthwork, concrete work, brickwork, plastering, painting etc. is known as
Analysis of Rates or simply Rate Analysis.

The rates of these works further help in

determining cost of particular work and
in turn cost of the project.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 3

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :
• Specifications
Specifications detail the requirements for materials, equipment, systems,
standards and workmanship for the Work and performance of related
services. According to AIA, specifications are a written description of the
, products, and workmanship used to construct a building. Specification
ensures the works are being carried out per best practicing standards.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 4

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :
• Measurement Book
It is an official document, mostly used in government departments, to
record the measurements of actual work done at a project site. The data is used
to make the payments to the contractors on actual basis.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 5

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :

• Unit Cost
Unit cost means cost of execution
of a unit quantity of the work.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 6

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :
• Contingencies
Sometimes during detailed estimates, there is always possibility that
Few items, though unimportant in nature, might have been overlooked and
which may result in raising the estimate of the project.
– There may be also certain unforeseen circumstances affecting the project
– Therefore, a certain allowance is made in the estimation to cater for all these
items that are unforeseen or are overlooked. This allowance is known as
"Contingency".
– It is usually 5 to 10% of the total cost

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 7

 Introduction – Some Basic Definitions :
• What is Quantity Survey?
Quantity survey is a schedule of quantities of all the items of work
in a building

• Data Requirements of an estimate

– Drawings (plans and sections etc.). Complete and fully dimensioned
plans & sections of the work.
– Detailed specifications giving the nature and class of work and material
to be used.
– Rates for calculating abstract of cost. These should be approved ones.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 8

 Introduction :
• Qualifications of an Estimator
A good estimator should possess the following qualifications:
– A thorough understanding of architectural drawings.
– A sound knowledge of building materials, construction methods and
customs prevailing in the trade.
– A fund of information collected or gained through experience in
construction work, relating to materials required, hourly output of
workers and plant, overhead expenses and costs of all kinds.
– An understanding of a good method of preparing an estimate.
– A systematic and orderly mind.
– Ability to do careful and accurate calculations.
– Ability to collect, classify and evaluate data that would be useful in
estimating.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 9

 Introduction :
• Role of a Quantity Surveyor/ Estimator
Some of the roles of a quantity surveyor are :
– Estimating
– Cost planning.
– Preparing, negotiating and analyzing costs for tenders and contracts.
– Procurement advice.
– Preparing Bill of Quantities (BOQ).
– Monitoring Budget.
– Preparation of Payment Invoice and certification.
– Assessment of variations
– Preparing feasibility studies.
– Cost control.
– Value engineering.
– Advice on cost limits and budgets
– Whole life cycle costing.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 10

 Introduction :
• Main Items of an Estimate for a typical residential
building
– Earthworks
– Concrete
– Reinforcement
– Brick work/ block work
– Plaster
– Paint
– Tile work
– Doors/ windows
– Finishing works
– Electrical works
– Plumbing works
9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 11
 Types of Estimates :

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 12

 Methods of Estimation :

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 13

 Types of Estimates :

There are basic two types of estimates

1. Rough cost estimate

2. Detailed estimate

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 14

 Types of Estimates :
1. Rough cost estimate
– It is the estimation of cost from plans or architectural drawings of a
project before construction even when detailed or structural design has
not been carried out. Rough cost estimates are used to obtain
Administrative Approval from the concerning Authorities.
– Unit cost is worked out for projects similar to the project under
consideration carried out recently in nearly the same site conditions.
– To find rough cost of any project, this worked average unit cost is
multiplied with total quantity of the present work in the same units.
– For example, in case of a building, plinth area (sq. ft.) of the proposed
building is worked out, which is then multiplied by the cost per unit
area (Rs. /ft2) of similar building actually constructed in the near past
in nearly the same site conditions, to find out the rough cost estimate of
the building.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 15

 Types of Estimates :
• The rough cost estimate may be prepared on the following
basis for different types of projects:

– Residential Buildings – Cost per square foot of covered area

– Public buildings - cost per capita
• Students hostel - cost per student
• Hospitals - Cost per bed
• Hotel - Cost per Guest
– Commercial offices, shopping centers, factory buildings, etc. -
Cost per cubic foot
– Water tank/reservoir - Capacity in gallons of water stored.
– Roads and railways – Cost per mile/kilometer of length.
– Streets - Cost per hundred feet/meters of length.
– In case of bridges, cost per foot/meter of clear span may be
calculated.
9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 16
 Types of Estimates :
2. Detailed estimate

Detailed estimates are the estimates based upon detailed

calculations work out very carefully and separately for each of
the individual item included in the project. The estimates are
prepared from the detailed drawings after the design has been
finalized.
The procedure is known as "taking out of quantities".
Then quantities of each of the item are presented in a prescribed
pattern in B.O.Q (Bill of quantities)

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 17

 Types of Estimates :
2. Detailed estimate
The following steps may be generally adopted for a detailed
estimate:
– Calculate B.O.Q
– Multiply each of the items of work with its estimated current rate
calculated by a fixed procedure to find out cost of the item.
– Add cost of all items in the work to get the total estimated cost.

Detailed estimates are compulsory for technical approval

from a competent authority.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 18

 Types of Estimates :
• If there are any mistakes in rough cost estimates, they are
eliminated or removed in the detailed estimate. While
preparing a detailed estimate, one had to be very careful to see
that all items of the work are incorporated. There is always
possibility that
– few Items, though unimportant in nature, might have been
overlooked and which may result in raising the estimate of
the project.
– There may be also certain unforeseen circumstances
affecting the project.
• Therefore, a contingency allowance is made in the estimation
which will take care of all these items that are unforeseen or
are overlooked.
9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 19
 Methods of Estimation:
• For estimation,
– The dimensions (length, breadth and height or depth) are to be taken
out from the working drawings (plan, elevation and section).
– The junctions of walls, corners and the meeting points of walls require
special attention.
• For symmetrical footings, which is the usual case, earthwork in excavation
in foundations, foundation concrete, brickwork in foundation and plinth,
and brickwork in superstructure may be estimated by either of the two
methods:
1. Centre Line Method
2. Separate or individual wall method

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 20

 Methods of Estimation:

• For estimation,
– The dimensions (length, breadth and height or depth) are
to be taken out from the working drawings (plan, elevation
and section).
– The junctions of walls, corners and the meeting points of
walls require special attention.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 21

 Methods of Estimation:

• For symmetrical footings, which is the usual case, earthwork

in excavation in foundations, foundation concrete, brickwork
in foundation and plinth, and brickwork in superstructure may
be estimated by either of the two methods:
1. Separate or individual wall method
2. Centre Line Method

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 22

 Methods of Estimation – Separate or
Individual Wall Method:
1. Separate or individual wall method
– In this method, the walls are divided into long walls and short walls.
The walls running in one direction are termed as "long walls” and the
walls running in the transverse direction, as "Short walls", without
keeping in mind which wall is lesser in length and which wall is greater
in length.
– Lengths of long walls are measured or found “Out-to out" and those of
short walls as "In-to-in". The different quantities are calculated by
multiplying the respective lengths by the breadth and the height of the
wall. The same rule applies to the excavation in foundation, to concrete
bed in foundation, D.P.C., masonry in foundation and super structure
etc.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 23

 Methods of Estimation- Separate or Individual
Wall Method:

• Steps :
– For symmetrical footing on either side, find out the center-to-center
lengths of long walls and short walls from the plan.
– Long wall length out-to-out
1. Option No. 01, when the dimensions are given from center to center
= Center to center length + half breadth on one Side + half breadth on other side.
= Center to center length + one breadth
2. Option No. 02, when internal dimensions are given
= Internal length + one breadth on one Side + one breadth on other side.
= Internal length + two breadths
– Short wall length in-to-in
= Center to Center length - one breadth

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 24

 6.2m
5.3m

Long Wall = 5.3+0.9=6.2 m

3.4 m 4.3 m
Short Wall = 4.3-0.9=3.4 m
0.9 m

Separate Wall Method (Option No. 01)

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 25

 7.1m
5.3m

Long Wall = 5.3+0.9+0.9=7.1 m

4.3 m 4.3 m
Short Wall = 4.3 m
0.9 m

Separate Wall Method (Option No. 02)

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 26

 Methods of Estimation- Centre Line Method
2. Centre Line Method

– This method is suitable for walls of similar cross sections.

– In this method, total length of center lines of walls is calculated.
– The quantity of item is calculated by multiplying total center length by
the respective breadth and the height.
– In this method, the length will remain the same for excavation in
foundations, for concrete in foundations, for all footings, and for
superstructure (with slight difference when there are cross walls or
number of junctions).
– This method is quicker but requires special attention and considerations
at the junctions, meeting points of partition or cross walls.

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 27

 Methods of Estimation- Centre Line Method

• Steps :
– For symmetrical footing on either side, find out the center-to-center
lengths of long walls and short walls from the plan.
1. Option No. 01, when the dimensions are given from center to center
= Center to center length
2. Option No. 02, when internal dimensions are given
= Internal length + half breadth on one Side + half breadth on other side.
= Internal length + two half breadths
– There is no Long wall or Short wall in this method

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 28

 5.3m

4.3 m Total Center line = 5.3+5.3+4.3+4.3=19.2 m

0.9 m

Centre Line Method (Option No. 01)

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 29
 6.2m
5.3m

Total Length=5.3+5.3+4.3+4.3+0.9+0.9+0.9+0.9=22.8 m

5.2 m 4.3 m

0.9 m

Centre Line Wall Method (Option No. 02)

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 30

 Methods of Estimation :

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 31

 Methods of Estimation:

5m

4m
0.9 m

Plan

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 32

 12.7 m
5.9m 5.9m

4.9 m

Intermediate wall
4m
0.9 m

Separate Wall Method

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 33
 Total Center line = 5.9+5.9+5.9+5.9+4.9+4.9+4.9=38.4 m

5.9m 5.9m

Intermediate wall
4.9 m
0.9 m

Centre Line Method

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 34
 Methods of Estimation- Measurement Sheet:

Item Description of Item No. Length Breadth Height/ Total

No. Depth Quantity Remarks

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 35

 Methods of Estimation :

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 36

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 37
9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 38
9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 39
 Methods of Estimation :
• Main Items of an Estimate for a typical residential building

– Earthworks
– Concrete
– Reinforcement
– Brick work/ block work
– Plaster
– Paint
– Tile work
– Doors/ windows
– Finishing works
– Electrical works
– Plumbing works
9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 40
 Methods of Estimation:

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 41

 Methods of Estimation- Measurement Sheet:

Item Description of Item Unit No. Length Breadth Height/ Total

No. Depth Quantity Remarks

A Separate line method

Long Wall

L1 m 1 5 5

L2 m 1 5 5

Short Wall

S1 m 2 2 4

S2 m 3 3 9

Total Wall Length m 23

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 42

9/24/2018 Department of Civil Engineering 43