ESTIMATION AND COSTING

By
PRASAD GANPULE
 Introduction :
 The word ‘estimate’ is derived from Latin word
‘Estimatus’. The meaning of this word is to get the
approximate judgment.

 In civil engineering we have to judge the overall

quantities of different items occurring in the
construction activity.
 We have to estimate the cost for the
given item. The cost for any item
includes three major factors viz.

 Material cost
 Labour cost or Workmanship cost
 Overheads and Profit
 The systematic procedure of working out the
quantities based on given drawing, designs and
specifications with the help of simple mathematical
formulae is known as ‘Quantity surveying’.
 The quantities always studied in
three stages:
 Approximate Quantities – Based on preliminary
drawings and with certain
assumptions.

 Detail Quantities – Based on final drawings and

finalized specifications.
 Actual Quantities – Based on actual measurements
recorded after execution of work.
With the help of ‘Estimate’ we can get
following information:

 Quantities of various items

 Quantities of different material to be used

 Basic information for finalizing workmanship

 TYPES OF ESTIMATE
 Detailed Estimate – Working out quantities, rates,
overheard and overall cost

 Approximate Estimate – Working out on thumb rule

basis

 Quantity Estimate – Only working of quantities of

item or material
 Revised Estimate – Working out for items which are
revised due to change in
specification or design

 Supplementary Estimate – For all additional

supplementary work

 Estimate to prove reduction or increase in cost –

To ascertain or conform the change in quantity or cost
of any item before or after execution
 Complete Estimate – Worked out after completion of
work with quantities certified in
all interim bills

 Annual maintenance and repair Estimate –

The mandatory maintenance and repair cost for
functioning of the services.

The procedure of working out quantities with using

the mathematical system is the basis behind the
quantity workout.
 Different types of units of
measurements :
 A. Volumetric measurement: To calculate volume of
any object we need set of three dimensions ‘Length’,
‘Breadth’ and ‘Height / Depth’.

 Volume = Length (l) * Breadth (b) Height (h) or Depth

(d)

 Volume = l*b*d or l*b*h

 The unit for this working is m3 or cum

 B. Surface or Area Measurement : To calculate
surface of any object we need set of two dimensions –
Length and Breadth or Length and height or Breadth
and height

Area = l*b or l*h or b*h

 The unit for this working is m2 or sq. m

 C. Linear measurements : To calculate Length of any
object we need single dimension i.e. Length (l)

The unit for this working is m or rmt.

 D. Numerical measurements: To calculate quantity

on Number basis with unit ‘Nos’.
Few other units used for specific items
are -
 For structural steel and reinforcement steel :
quantities are workout with ‘weight’ measurement and
unit for same is ‘Ton’ or ‘kg’.

 For items : With fix quantities for small jobs like

pump room, cleaning plot, small room etc. is workout
as ‘lumpsum’ or Job work.
Volumatric Area Linear Number
All excavation Anti termite Water supply and Sanitary wave
drainage lines
Earth filling Any masonry Skirting Electrical fitting
below 230 mm
Rubble soling All plastering Kitchen platform Drain line
items chamber
All plain and Roof water Electrical cabling.
reinforced - Proofing Making road
concrete item - Tank water
- Proofing etc.
Any masonry of Door and Window
thickness 230mm
and above
Water proofing for Window or door
toilet grill
All flooring item