lecture note

Construction Commercial management

(QTS 303)

first SEMESTER

2023/2024 SESSION
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

5.6 COMPUTATION OF UNIT RATES

5.6.1 Excavation and Earthworks

Question 3

Carefully build-up unit rates for the items of work extracted from a following Bill of Quantities:

Item Description Qty Unit Rate Amount

(N)
A. Excavating topsoil for preservation
Average 150mm deep 205 m2 ?

B. Excavating trenches with not

Exceeding 1.0m commencing level
300mm below ground level 93 m3 ?

Solutions:

A. Unit Rate for topsoil excavation

Input Resources:
Labour:
Labour output = 5.35m3/man-day
Work Content:
205m2 x 0.15m = 30.75m3
Add:
Bulkage factor
(assume firm soil) 25% = 7.69m3

38.44m3

Man-day Required:
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 38.44𝑚3
= 𝐿𝑏𝑎𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
= 5.35𝑚3/𝑚𝑎𝑛−𝑑𝑎𝑦

= 7.23 days ≈ 8days

Analysis:
7.23days @ N1,956.42/day = N14,136.24

N14,136.24
Rate/m2 = = N 68.96/m2 (Net)
205𝑚2

Add:
25% P + OH = 17.24

N 86/m2 (Gross)

2 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

B. Unit Rate for Trenches Excavation

Input Resources:
Labour:
Labour output = 3.73m3/man-day
Work Content:
= 93m3
Add:
Bulkage factor
(assume) 25% = 23.25m3

116.25m3

Man-day Required:
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 116.25𝑚3
= 𝐿𝑏𝑎𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
= 3.75𝑚3/𝑚𝑎𝑛−𝑑𝑎𝑦

= 31 days ≈ 31days
Analysis:
31days @ N1,956.42/day = N 60,649.02

N 60,649.02
Rate/m3 = = N 652.14/m3 (Net)
93𝑚3

Add:
25% P + OH = 163.04

N 815.18/m3 (Gross)

Question 4

Calculate the Amount N for the following item of work:

‘Fabric mesh laid in floors, BS242, weighing 2.61kg/m2 (195m2)’
Solution:

Unit Rate for Fabric Mesh

Input Resources:
(A) i. Mesh (ii) Tying wire (B) Labour laying

Ai. Fabric mesh (2.61kg/m2)

say, 4.8m x 2.40m (11.52m2) @ N 10,500.00 = N 10,500.00

Add:
Waste + Lap (say 20) = 2,100.00

Aii. Tying wire

assume 0.1kg/m2
tying wire required = 0.1kg/m2 x 11.52m2 = 1.152kg

therefore, 1.152kg @ N 120/kg = 138.24 c/f

3 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

b/f = 138.24
B. Labour laying
Labour output = 4m2/hr
11.52𝑚2
Man-hr required = 4𝑚2/ℎ𝑟
= 2.88hrs

Therefore, 2.88hrs @ 356.72/hr = 1,027.35

N 13,765.59

N 13,765.59
Rate/m2 = 11.52𝑚2
= N 1,194.93/m2 (Net)

Add:
25% P + OH = 298.73
N 1,493.66/m2 (Gross)

5.6.2 Earthwork Support

Anything requires to uphold the sides of excavation is known as earthwork support or timbering.
The following constants are average labour output for earthwork support, taking 10m length and
2m deep as basis.

i. Fixing timber, polling boards, wallers and struts m2 18hrs

ii. Stripping ditto m2 9hrs

iii. Unloading timber m3 2hrs

g.l.

150 x 25mm th. Polling Board

@2m centres

100 x 100mm th. Struts

300 x 25mm th. Walling Board

@2m centres

750mm

4 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

Question 5

Earthwork support to foundation not exceeding 2.00m deep distance between opposing faces not
exceeding 1.0m

Solution:

Input Resources:
A. Materials:
i. Polling board, ii. Walling iii. Struts iv. Nails

B. Labour:
i. Fixing ii. Stripping

A Materials
i. Polling board: 12 x 0.15m x 0.025m x 2m = 0.09m3
ii Walling board: 4 x 0.30m x 0.025m x 10m = 0.30m3
iii. Struts: 12 x 0.10m x 0.10m x 0.65m = 0.08m3
0.47m3

NB: Size mostly available in market in scantling lengths

If in market white wood 0.3m x 0.025m x 3.6m = 0.027m3 costs say, N1,200.00

Then, polling board of 0.09m3 required will cost = N 4,000.00

Walling board of 0.30m3 will cost = 13,333.33

Struts of 0.08m3 will cost = 3,555.56

N20,888.89
Add:
10% waste 2,088.89
N 22,977.78
Add:
Unloading and stacking, say, 3.55m3/man-day
0.47𝑚3
Man-day required = , = 0.132 day
3.55𝑚3/𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑎𝑦

0.132 day @ N1,956.42/day = 259.02

N 23,236.80

Cost of timer per 4 no. of uses = N 23,236.80

N 23,236.80
Therefore, cost per use =, = N 5,809.20
4 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠

iv. Nails (assume 3 uses)

1st use - 0.2kg/m2
2nd use - 0.1kg/m2
3rd use - 0.1.kg/m2
0.4kg/m2

5 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

Area of the trench = 2 x 20m2

For the 2 sides = 20m2 x 2sides = 40m2

Nails for the 40m2 x 0.4kg/m2 = 16.0kg

Add:
10% waste = 1.6kg
17.6kg

Nail = 25kg/bag
17.6𝑘𝑔
Cost of nails required = 25𝑘𝑔/𝑏𝑎𝑔
𝑥 𝑁7,000.00 = N 4,928.00 (for 3 uses)

N 4,928.00
Therefore, cost of nails required for 1 use = 3 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠
= N1,642.67

B. Labour
i. Timbering
Say, 53m2/gangday output
40𝑚2
Gang day required = = 0.755 day
53𝑚2/𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑎𝑦

Take gang size = (2carpenters + 1 labourer)

i.e. 2 x N 2,853.73 + N 1,956.42 = N 7,663.88

Then, 0.755 day @ N 7,663.88 = N 5,784.06

ii. Stripping off

Say, 40m2/manday output
40𝑚2
Gang day required = = 1 day
40𝑚2/𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑦

Take 1 labourer for stripping (i.e. N 1,956.42)

Then, 1 day @ N 1,956.42 = 1,956.42

Total cost labour timbering + stripping = N 7,740.48

Total Summary
A. Materials:
Timber - N 5,809.20
Nails - 1,642.67
B. Labour - 7,740.48
N15,192.35

N15,192.35
Rate/m2 = 40𝑚2
= 379.81 (Net)
Add:
25% P+OH 94.95
N474.76 (Gross)

6 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

5.6.3 Concretework

This has to do with concrete, reinforcement and formwork.

3.3.1 Concrete
There are 3 main initial factors to be considered in the cost of mixing concrete: (i) method
of mixing, (ii) materials and (iii) site transportation and placing. The mixing methods
available are: (i) hand, (ii) potable machine, (iii) reading mix, and (iv) batch plant installed
on site.
Question 6

Plain in-situ concrete (1:3:6 – 39mm aggregate) in foundation, poured against unblinded earth.
(16m3).

Solution:

Where the necessary materials (cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate) for preparation of concrete
are sold by the tonne, the conversion of volume of dry materials to weight is important. This is shown as
follows:

1m3 cement - 1.44tonnes

1m3 sand - 1.52tonnes
1m3 coarse aggregate - 1.60tonnes
NB: the ratio of volume to weight may vary for sand and the different type of aggregates used from
location to location.

Input Resources:
A. Materials
i. Cement ii. Sand iii. Course aggregate
B. Plants
i. mixing ii. vibrating
C. Labour:
i. mixing ii. Hosting iii. Placing and compacting

Cement (I ton) delivered to site @ N 2,500/bag = N 50,000.00

Unloading and stacking (say, 20bags/hr)
20𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠
i.e. 20𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠/ℎ𝑟 x N 244.60/hr = 244.60
N 50,244.60
Mix by volume:
A(i) For Cement: 1m3 cement x 1.44 tonnes @ N50,244.60 = N 72,352.22
A(ii) For Sand: 3m3 sand x 1.52 tonnes @ N 1,468.05 = 6,694.31
A(iii) For Granite: 6m3 granite x 1.60 tonnes @ N 4,183.07 = 40,157.48

N 119,204.01
Add:
45% Shrinkage + waste 53,641.80

N172,845.81

As the ratio is 1:3:6; this gives a total of 10

7 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

𝐍 172,845.81
Cost/m3 = 𝟏𝟎𝒎𝟑
= N17,284.58/m3

B. Plants:
(i) 10/7 mixer operating @ 5 minutes per cycle:
Cost of hiring the mixer, say - 20,500.00/day
Cost of fueling 10litres of diesel/day @ N 200/litre - 2,000.00/day

N 22,500.00/day
Mixer capacity, say, 2.65m3/hr
i.e. 8hrs = 21.2m3/day

NB: Plant efficiency is 80%, therefore, actual volume turned out will be
80
100
𝑥 21.2m3/day = 16.96m3/day
N 22,500.00
Therefore, cost/m3 = 16.96m3/day
= 1,326.65/m3

(ii) Vibrator:
If cost of hiring is N5,000.00/day
N 5,000.00
Therefore, cost/m3 = 16.96m3/day
= 296.81/m3

Total Cost for plants N1,621.46/m3

C. Labour:
(i) Mixing: (Assume 1gang size = 2mansons + 6 labourers)
i.e. [(2 x N 2,853.73) + (6 x N 1,956.42)] = N 17,445.98/day

(ii) transporting and placing:

(Assume 1gang size = 2mansons + 12 labourers)
i.e. [(2 x N 2,853.73) + (12 x N 1,956.42)] = N 29,184.50/day

N 46,630.48/day

46,630.48/day
Therefore, cost /m3 = 𝟏𝟔.𝟗𝟔𝐦𝟑/𝐝𝐚𝐲
= N 2,749.44/m3

Grand Summary
A. Materials - N17,284.58/m3
B. Plants - 1,621.46/m3
C. Labour - 2,749.44/m3
N21,655.48 (Net)
Add: 25% P+OH 5,413.87
Rate/m3 = N27,069.35 (Gross)

ALTERNATIVELY
Input Resources:
A. Materials
i. Cement ii. Sand iii. Course aggregate
B. Plants
i. mixing ii. vibrating
C. Labour:
i. mixing ii. Hosting iii. Placing and compacting
8 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

A(i) For Cement:

1m3 cement = 28.8bags @ N 2,500/bag = N 72,000.00

Add: Unloading and stacking (say, 12bags/hr)

28.8𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠
i.e. x N 244.60/hr = 352.22
20𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠/ℎ𝑟
N72,352.22

A(ii) For Sand:

3m3 of sand is required

If a 3.81m3 tipper load costs N 8,500/lorry load

3𝑚3
Therefore, 3.81𝑚3
= 0.79 trip is required @ N 8,500 = N 6,715.00

A(iii) For Granite:

6m3 of sand is required

If a 3.81m3 tipper load costs N 25,500/lorry load

6𝑚3
Therefore, = 1.579 trip is required @ N 25,500 = N 40,264.50
3.81𝑚3

Material Summary
i. Cement - 72,352.22
ii. Sand - 6,715.00
iii. Granite - 40,264.50
Sub-total - 119,331.72
Add: 45% shrinkage + stockpile waste - 53,699.74
N 173,030.99

As the ratio is 1:3:6; this gives a total of 10

𝐍 173,030.99
Cost/m3 = = N17,303.10/m3
𝟏𝟎𝒎𝟑

B. Plant:
(i) 10/7 mixer operating @ 5 minutes per cycle:
Cost of hiring the mixer, say - 20,500.00/day
Cost of fueling 10litres of diesel/day @ N 200/litre - 2,000.00/day
N 22,500.00/day
3
Mixer capacity, say, 2.65m /hr
i.e. 8hrs = 21.2m3/day

NB: Plant efficiency is 80%, therefore, actual volume turned out will be
80
100
𝑥 21.2m3/day = 16.96m3/day
N 22,500.00
Therefore, cost/m3 = 16.96m3/day
= 1,326.65/m3

(ii) Vibrator:
If cost of hiring is N5,000.00/day
N 5,000.00
Therefore, cost/m3 = 16.96m3/day
= 296.81/m3

Total Cost for plants N1,621.46/m3

9 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

C. Labour:
(i) Mixing: (Assume 1gang size = 2mansons + 6 labourers)
i.e. [(2 x N 2,853.73) + (6 x N 1,956.42)] = N 17,445.98/day

(ii) transporting and placing:

(Assume 1gang size = 2 mansons + 12 labourers)
i.e. [(2 x N 2,853.73) + (12 x N 1,956.42)] = N 29,184.50/day

N 46,630.48/day

46,630.48/day
Therefore, cost /m3 = 𝟏𝟔.𝟗𝟔𝐦𝟑/𝐝𝐚𝐲
= N 2,749.44/m3

Grand Summary
A. Materials - N17,303.10/m3
B. Plants - 1,621.46/m3
C. Labour - 2,749.44/m3
N21,674.00/m3 (Net)
Add: 25% P+OH 5,418.50
Rate/m3 = N27,092.50 (Gross)

5.6.4 Reinforcement
Question 7

Consider the following item of work:

Item Description Qty Unit Rate Amount

(N)

A. Bar 12mm nominal size bent

Horizontal, length 12.0-15.0m 3.17 ton 250,000 792,500

Is the quoted rate reasonable? Give the full details of how you arrived at your answer.

Solution
Unit Rate for 12mm Diameter bar
Input Resources:
(A) Materials:
(i) 12mm diameter bar (ii) Binding wire (iii) Spacers
(B) Labour:
(i) Cutting and bending (ii) Fixing

Materials
Ai. 12mm diameter bar
12mm diameter bar delivered to site @ N160,000.00/ton = N160,000.00/ton
Unloading & Stacking:
Say, 750kg/mad-day (labour output)
Therefore, 1ton will take 1000kg/750kg/man-day = 1.33man-day
1.33man-day @ N1,956.42/day = 2,608.56/ton

10 DeDream©
 First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

b/f N 162,608.56/ton
Aii. Binding wire
Take 12kg/1000kg
i.e 1000kg requires 12kg/1000kg x 1000kg = 12kg
then 12kg @ N250/kg = 3,000.00

Aiii Spacers and chairs

Assume 5% of cost of reinforcement
i.e. 5% of N120,000.00 = 6,000.00

N 171,608.56/ton
Add: 5% waste 8,580.43
N180,188.99/ton
Labour
Bi. Labour cutting and bending
Take 40.5hrs/ton output
i.e 1ton will cost 40.5hrs/ton @ N356.70/hr = N14,446.35/ton
Bii. Labour fixing
Take 40.5hrs/ton output
i.e 1ton will cost 40.5hrs/ton @ N356.70/hr = N14,446.35/ton
28,892.70/ton
Grand Summary
A. Materials - 180,188.99/ton
B. Labour - 28,892.70
N209,081.69/ton (Net)
Add: 25% P+OH 52,270.42
Rate/ton = N261,352.11/ton (Gross)

The rate quoted is N250,00.00/ton, while the rate arrived at is N261,352.11/ton . The rate
quoted is 0.05% lesser than what is calculated here. Therefore the rate quoted is reasonable
and realistic.

5.7 Block and Brick Work

The materials are bricks and blocks. Concrete block known as block are commonest even for load
bearing walls in Nigeria. Sandcrete block can be obtained in a number of sizes and various
composition, strengths, shapes, etc. it is usually made of (1:6) mixed of sand and cement, which
may be hollowed or solid.

Question 8

225mm thick hollow sandcrete block wall, jointed and bedded in cement and sand mortar (1:4) (of
25mm thick) in stretcher bond. (200m2).

Solution
Input Resources
A. Materials
i. Mortar (cement and sand) ii. Block
B. Labour
i. Mixing of mortar, ii. Laying of blocks

11 DeDream©
First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

A. Materials
(i) Mortar
Cement (I ton) delivered to site @ N 2,500/bag = N 50,000.00
Unloading and stacking (say, 20bags/hr)
20𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠
i.e. x N 244.60/hr = 244.60
20𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠/ℎ𝑟
N 50,244.60
Mix by volume:
For Cement: 1m3 cement x 1.44 tonnes @ N50,244.60 = N 72,352.22
For Sand: 4m3 sand x 1.52 tonnes @ N 1,468.05 = 8,925.74

N 81,277.96
Add:
45% shrinkage + waste = 36,575.08
N 117,853.04
As the ratio is 1:4; this gives a total of 5
N 117,853.04
Mortar cost/m3 = 5𝑚3
= N 23,570.61/m3

Mortar Required:
Bottom: 0.45m x 0.23m = 0.1035m2
2 Sides: 2 x 0.23m x 0.23m = 0.1058m2
0.2093m2
Ddt: Voids
i.e. 2 x 0.15m x 0.13m 0.039m2
0.1703m2

Now convert to volume, you multiply by mortar thickness

i.e. 0.1703m2 x 0.02m = 0.003406m3/block (mortar required per block)

then, for 9blocks, 9blocks x 0.003406m3/block = 0.03065m3

Add:
10% stockpile waste 0.00306
0.0337m3

Cost of mortar required for 1m2 block = 0.0337m3 x N 23,570.61/m3 = N 794.33

(ii) Blocks
To get number of blocks in 1m2,
1m x 1m 1m x 1m
𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘
= (0.45+0.02)𝑥 (0.225+0.02)
= 8.68 ≈ 9blocks
Therefore, 1m2 ≡ 9blocks
Add:
5% waste = 0.45
9.45 blocks

Cost of blocks is 9.45 blocks @ N 180.00/block = N1,701.00

Total for materials N 2,495.33

12 DeDream©
First Technical University, Ibadan. Lecture Guide QTS 303 2023

B. Labour:
(i) Mixing: (Assume hand mixing of mortar with labour output of say, 1m3/man-day)
Mortar required is 0.0337m3
0.0337m3
Then, man-day required = 1𝑚3/𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑦
= 0.0337day

0.0337day @ N 1,956.60/day = N 65.93

(ii) Laying: (Assume 1gang size = 2mansons + 1labourer

with output of say, 8m2/gang-day)
i.e. [(2 x N 2,853.73) + N 1,956.42] = N 7,663.88/day

Work content is 1m2

1m2
Then, gang-day required = = 0.125day
8𝑚2/𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑎𝑦

0.125day @ N 7,663.88/day = 957.99

Total for Labour N1,023.92

Grand Summary
A. Materials - N 2,495.33
B. Labour - 1,023.92
N3,519.25 (Net)
Add: 25% P+OH 879.813
Rate/m2 = N4,399.06 (Gross)

13 DeDream©