DEPARTMENT OF ARHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

BL501 – QUANTITY SURVEYING & ESTIMATING IV

Learning Pack No. 1 – MEASUREMENT OF GROUNDWORKS

Siteworks
This classification is concerned with the removal of trees, tree stumps, bushes, and shrubs as having a
trunk of at least 0.5 m girth at 0.5m above ground level at the top of the stump. The assumption can be
made that anything smaller is a bush.
Guidelines for estimating for the removal of trees and stumps might include the following:

 Trees – time for the gang to fell; hire of chain saws; fuel and oil; sharpening; axes; wedges; pince
bars and mauls; protective clothing; time to cut up and burn the slash; disposal of the main limbs
and trunks to a tip.
 Stump – Time to excavate around larger stumps by hand, or by machine if numbers or size
warrant; men excavating or hire of machine and operative; disposal of stumps to tip.
 Bushes, shrubs and undergrowth can be removed by hand using chain saws and burning the
residue. Machines can also be used to ‘bulldoze’ the shrubs off the ground into piles for burning
or remove from the site and dumped in other locations. The choice depends on the size to be
cleared and density of the growth.

GROUND WORKS

A. Hand Excavation Data

Table 1: Hours to excavate 1 m3 by hand for Ordinary Soil.

Depth stage (m) To excavate and To throw the soil To clear the sides Totals Hours
get out out
 1.0 2.4 0.0 0.0 2.4
> 1.0 to  2.0 2.4 1.4 1.4 5.2
> 2.0 to  3.0 2.4 2.8 1.4 6.6
> 3.0 to  4.0 2.4 5.2 1.4 8.0

Table 2 Multipliers for difficulty due to nature of ground and type of hand excavation

Soil type Multiplier Excavation type Comment

( x hours / m3)
Vegetable 1.11 – 1.33 Because of small volume for a given area
soil
Sand 1.25 – 1.52 Reduce level, Depending on degree of compaction and
basement, trench, moisture content, a shovel will not hold much
pit. sand as soil.
Ordinary 1.00 Reduce level, Any soil capable of being removed with a
basement, trench shovel and minimal use of the pick.
1.11 – 1.25 Narrow trench, pit Higher proportion of trimming
1.11 – 1.33 Wider trench, pit
Heavy clay 1.25 – 2.00 Reduce level, Graft or pneumatic spade; trimming is almost
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 basement, trench, assured with accurate use of tools.
pit.
Soft rocks 1.43 – 3.00 Reduce level, Heavy use of pick or wedges; trimming is
basement, trench, almost assured with accurate use of tools
pit.
Hard rock 3.00 – 5.00 Reduce level, Wedges or compressor and pneumatic drill
5.00 – 10.00 basement, trench, Trimming difficulty and confined space.
pit.

Table 3 – Range of outputs for various classes of hand excavation in ordinary soil (hours per m3).

Oversite <250m 1.25 – 1.50

Basement and the like 2.00 – 2.25
Trenches (depending on width) 2.00 – 2.75
Pits (depending on size) 3.00 – 4.50
Reduce level 1.75 – 2.00
Benching 1.75 – 2.00

Table 4 Sundry outputs associated with hand excavation

Volume outputs (hours/ m3)

Wheel 50m and deposit 0.60 – 0.80
Additional 50m 0.60 – 0.80
Spread and level 0.40 – 0.50
Re-excavate from spoil heaps 1.25 – 2.00
Return fill and ram 1.25 – 1.75
Lift one stage 1.25 – 1.50
Clear from site excavation 1.25 – 1.50
Clear from site excavation and segregate from backfilling 1.40 – 1.80
Barrowing and filling hardcore in bulk 0.80 – 1.00
Barrowing and filling hardcore in beds <250mm 1.15 – 1.30
Mechanical ramming bulk fill in 300mm layers 0.40 – 0.60
Fix and withdraw timber 7.00 – 10.00
Area outputs (hours/ m2)
Grading / leveling trench bottoms 0.15 – 0.20
Mechanical ramming hardcore in beds 0.12 – 0.13
Spread and consolidate blinding 0.05 – 0.10

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B. Machine Excavation Data

Table 5 Multiplier for difficulty excavation due to nature of ground

Multiplier
3
Soil type ( x output per hour / m )
Vegetable soil, sand, ordinary soil 1.00
Heavy clay 1.33
Soft rock 2.00
Hard rock 5.00 *

* Low output due to general inability of machines to do the breaking up, which requires pneumatic drills
or explosives.

Table 6 Outputs for a tractor with front shovel (1.24m3) and backhoe (0.06 – 0.28m3), required
for loading of spoil and straight into dumper or tipping lorries alongside excavation.

Firm cohesive and

Excavation Bucket Loose granular Compact organic soil Soft cohesive compact granular
Size (small) (large)
(m3) (m3/hour) (hour/m3) (m3/hour) (hour/m3) (m3/hour) (hour/m3) (m3/hour) (hour/m3)
Trenches 0.06 2.5 0.4 2 0.5 1.6 0.63 1.4 0.71
0.12 4 0.25 3 0.33 2 0.50 1.8 0.56
0.19 6 0.17 5 0.2 4 0.25 4 0.25
0.28 9 0.11 8 0.13 7 0.14 6 0.17

Basements 0.06 4 0.25 3.5 0.29 2.5 0.40 2.5 0.40

0.12 6 0.17 5 0.20 4 0.25 4 0.25
0.19 9 0.11 8 0.13 6 0.17 6 0.17
0.28 13 0.08 12 0.08 10 0.10 9 0.11

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 Example 1 Groundworks
1. Site works
1.1 Clearing the site incl. trees ≤ 0.5m girth complete with stumps and roots………….M2

Assume site to clear is 50m x 20m and that we will excavate 1m length and 1m width at any time. Plant
rate of JCB at K410.00/8hr.day and Dump Truck at K250.00/8hr.day
VDMRC

Volume excavated Difficulty Machine hours per

(1.0 x 1.0 x 0.25) multiplier m3 Rate per hour (K) Cost (K)
0.25 1 Refer to table 5 0.11 Refer to table 6 51.25 JCB Rate 1.41
0.25 1 0.11 31.25 0.86
Total cost for excavating 0.25m3 2.27
Divide total cost by total volume 9.08
TDPRU
Profit and on-cost 10% 0.91
Rate per M3 9.99
Unit Rate per M2 2.50
K9.99/m3 x 0.25m = 2.50m2

Example 2 Groundworks
1. Site works
1.2 Removal of trees > 0.5m and ≤ 1m girth complete with stumps and roots…………No

Assume site to clear is 50m x 20m having 5 x trees and 3 x stumps > 0.5m girth. Plant rate of Lorry at
K180.00/8hr.day, 2 x chain saws at K100.00/8hr.day, 3 x labourers at K3.60/hr and charges at tip off at
K30.00/load for 3 x loads.

(i) Felling of trees, cutting up, burning, loading onto lorry: LHLC3
3 labourers for 2 days of 8 hours at K3.60/hr ................................................................. K173.28
Hire of chain saw, 2 off for 2 days at K100 per day ................................................... K400.00
Lorry with Mechanical Off- Load and driver for 2 days at K180.00 per day ............ K360.00
Charges at tip: 3 loads at K30.00 per load ................................................................... K90.00
Cost of 5 x trees K1023.28
Cost per tree K204.66

(ii) Removal of stumps and roots of trees AVPEBLC3

Assume root spread approximately 1.50m radius and root depth approximately 1.25m
Volume of excavation approximately 8.84 m3
Plant rate of JCB at K500.00/8hr.day, Lorry at K180.00/8hr.day and charges at tip off at K30.00/load
for 5 x loads.
Excavation for 8 stumps: 70.72m3 at 10m3/hour at K62.50/hour inc. driver K442.00
Backfill excavation: 70.72m3 at 15m3/hour at K62.50/hour inc. driver K294.67
Loading onto lorry and disposal: lorry time included in example 1.
Charges at tip: 5 loads at K30.00 per load ................................................................. K150.00
Cost of 8 x stumps K886.67
Cost per stump K110.83
TPU
Total Cost..................................................................................................................... K315.49
Profit and on-cost 10% ................................................................................................ K31.55
Unit Rate per Tree ......................................................................................................... K347.04
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 The followings are the two examples of rates for Machine Excavation, using the outputs in Table 5 & 6.

Example 3 Groundworks
2. Surface excavation
2.1 Surface excavation to reduce level 0.25m depth (50m x 20m)……………………...M3

Assume site is 50m x 20m and top soil to be removed. Plant rate of JCB at K500.00/8hr.day and Dump
Truck at K250.00/8hr.day.

Refer to Table 5 and 6

VDMRC
Volume excavated Difficulty Machine hours per
(1.0 x 1.0 x 0.25) multiplier m3 Rate per hour (K) Cost (K)
0.25 1 0.11 62.50 1.72
0.25 1 0.11 31.25 0.86
Total cost for excavating 0.25m3 2.58
TDPU Divide total cost by total volume 10.32
Profit and on-cost 10% 1.03
Unit Rate per M3 11.35

Example 4 Groundworks
3. Trench excavation
3.1 Excavate strip footing > 1m total depth from reduce level …………………………M3

Assume strip footing girth at 20m x 8m and 600mm deep and will excavate 1m length and 1m width at
any time. Plant rate of JCB at K500.00/8hr.day and Dump Truck at K250.00/8hr.day.

Refer to Table 5 and 6 VDMRC

Volume excavated Difficulty Machine hours per

(1.0 x 1.0 x 0.60) multiplier m3 Rate per hour (K) Cost (K)
0.60 1 0.11 62.50 1.72
0.60 1 0.11 31.25 0.86
TDPU Total cost for excavating 0.60m3 2.58
Divide total cost by total volume 4.30
Profit and on-cost 10% 0.43
Unit Rate per M3 4.73

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The followings are the two examples of rates for Hand Excavation, using the outputs in Table 1 & 2.

Example 5 Groundworks
3. Trench excavation
3.1 Excavate strip footing at reduce level > 1m ≤ 2m total depth ……………………..M3
UTHC2PU
Using data from Table 1, assuming the excavation dimensions to be 1m by 1 m on plan:
Throw out soil at 2.0m deep: Assume labour rate at K26.50
2.0m3 at 5.2 hours/m3 at K26.50................................................................................. K275.60
Cost to excavate 2m3 …………… K275.60
Cost per m3 ................................................................................................................ K137.80
Profit and on-cost 20% ................................................................................................ K27.56
Unit Rate per M3 ................................................................................................................ K165.36

Example 6 Groundworks
3. Trench excavation
3.1 Excavate strip footing at reduce level ≤ 4m total depth …………………………..M3
UTHC2PU
Using data from Table 1, assuming the excavation dimensions to be 1m by 1m on plan:
Throw out soil at 4.0m deep: Assume labour rate at K26.50
4.0m3 at 8.0 hours/m3 at K26.50................................................................................. K848.00
Cost to excavate 4m3 …………… K848.00
Cost per m3 ................................................................................................................ K212.00
Profit and on-cost 20% ................................................................................................ K42.40
Unit Rate per M3 ................................................................................................................ K254.40

Example 7 and 8, it is closely related to Example 2, however, it will only apply if it is stated in BOQs
that you price ‘backfilling’ as part of Groundworks (refer Example 2). However, if BOQ states
‘backfilling’ is priced separately, then this is the case, part (ii) of Example 2 will be omitted and priced
as in Example 7 or 8 shown below.

Example 7 Groundworks
4. Backfill excavation
4.1 Backfill excavation with previously excavated materials …………………………..M3
BAVPBPU
Backfilling of stumps and roots of trees
Assume root spread approximately 1.50m radius and root depth approximately 1.25m
Volume of excavation approximately 8.84 m3/ tree
Plant rate of JCB at K500.00/8hr.day 8.84m3 x 8 holes for 8stupms in example 1 = 70.72m3

Backfill excavation: 70.72m3 at 15m3/hour at K62.50/hour inc. driver K294.67

Profit and on-cost, 10% K29.47
` K324.14
3
Unit Rate per M K4.58

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Example 8 Groundworks
4. Backfill excavation
4.1 Backfill excavation with previously excavated materials …………………………..M3
BAVPBPU
Backfilling of stumps and roots of trees
Assume root spread approximately 1.50m radius and root depth approximately 1.25m
Volume of excavation approximately 8.84 m3 / tree
Plant rate of JCB at K500.00/8hr.day

Backfill excavation: 8.84m3 at 15m3/hour at K62.50/hour inc. driver K36.83

Profit and on-cost, 10% K3.68
K40.51
Unit Rate per M3 K4.58

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