The document discusses key concepts related to estimating and costing for construction projects. It defines estimation as calculating quantities and expected costs for a work or project. Estimation requires drawings, specifications, and rate schedules. Estimates are needed to determine feasibility, schedule, invite tenders, and control costs. The document outlines procedures for detailed and approximate estimating, including measuring quantities and abstracting costs. It also covers contingencies, work charged establishment charges, and modes of measurement for construction items.

1. ESTIMATING AND COSTING
Unit 1

2. Definitions
• Estimation is the Technique of Calculating or Computing the
various quantities and the expected expenditure to be incurred
on a particular work or project.
• The following Requirements are necessary for preparing an
estimate:
• Drawings like plan, elevation and sections of important points.
• Detailed specifications about workmanship & properties of
materials etc.
• Standard schedule of rates of the current year.

3. Needs for Estimation and Costing
• Estimate give an idea of the cost of the work and hence its feasibility can be
determined i.e, whether the project could be taken up with in the funds
available or not.
• Estimate gives an idea of time required for the completion of the work.
• Estimate is required to invite the tenders and Quotations and to Arrange
contract.
• Estimate is also required to control the expenditure during the execution of
work.
• Estimate decides whether the proposed plan matches the funds avail or not.

4. Procedure
for
Estimating
Estimates involving in the
following operations:
1. Preparing detailed
Estimate.
2. Calculating the rate of
each unit of work.
3. Preparing abstract of
estimate.

5. Data
Required
To
Prepare
An
Estimate
1. Drawing i.e plans,
elevations, sections etc.
2. Specifications.
3. Rates.

6. Data Required….
Drawings:
• If the drawings are not clear and without complete dimensions the
preparation of estimation become very difficult. So, it is very essential
before preparing an estimate.
Rates:
• For preparing the estimate the unit rates of each item of work are required.
• For arriving at the unit rates of each item.
• The rates of various materials to be used in the construction.
• The cost of transport materials.
• The wages of labour, skilled or un-skilled of masons, carpenters, mazdoor ,
etc.,

7. Data Required….
Specifications:
A. General Specifications:
This gives the nature, quality, class, work and materials
in general terms to be used in various parts of work. It
helps no form a general idea of building.
B. Detailed Specifications:
These gives the Detailed description of the various
items of work laying down the quantities and qualities
of materials, their proportions, the method of
preparation workmanship and execution of work.

8. Quantity Estimating Methods
• The quantities like earth work, foundation
concrete, brickwork in plinth and super structure
etc., can be workout by any of following methods:
a) Long wall – Short wall method
b) Centre line method

9. Long wall – Short wall method
• In this method, the wall along the length of room is
considered to be long wall while the wall
perpendicular to long wall is said to be short wall.
• To get the length of long wall or short wall, calculate
first the center line lengths of individual walls.
• Then the length of long wall, (out to out) may be
calculated after adding half breadth at each end to its
center line length.
• Thus the length of short wall measured into in and
may be found by deducting half breadth from its
center line length each end.

10. Center line method
• This method is suitable for walls of similar cross
sections.
• Here the total center line length is multiplied by
breadth and depth of respective item to get the total
quantity at a time.
• When cross walls or partition or verandah walls join
with main wall, the center line length gets reduced by
half of breadth for each junction.
• Such junctions or joints are studied carefully while
calculating total center line length.
• The estimates prepared by this method are most
accurate and quick.

11. Types of Estimates
• i. Detailed Estimate
• ii. Approximate Estimate

12. Detailed Estimate
• The preparation of detailed estimate consists of
working out quantities of various items of work and
then determine the cost each item.
This prepared in two stages:
a) Details of measurements and calculation of
quantities
b) b) Abstract of Estimated cost

13. UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS
• The units of measurements are mainly categorized for their nature, shape and
size and for making payments to the contractor and also. The principle of units
of measurements normally consists the following:
• a) Single units work like doors, windows, trusses etc., is expressed in numbers.
• b) Works consists linear measurements involve length like cornice, fencing, hand
rail, bands of specified width etc., are expressed in running meters (RM)
• c) Works consists areal surface measurements involve area like plastering, white
washing, partitions of specified thickness etc., and are expressed in square
meters (m2)
• d) Works consists cubical contents which involve volume like earth work,
cement concrete, Masonry etc are expressed in Cubic metres.

14. Details of measurements and
calculation of
quantities

15. Details of measurements and
calculation of
quantities

16. Details of measurements and
calculation of
quantities

17. Details of measurements and
calculation of
quantities

18. Details of measurements and
calculation of
quantities

19. Measurement Sheet

20. Abstracting
The main functions of an Abstract of an Estimate :
(i) The total estimated cost of the project can be known.
(ii) The various items of the work to be carried out to
complete the project can also be known.
(iii) The abstract of estimate creates a part of a tender
document from which a contractor can arrive at the total
construction cost of a project after applying his own
rates.
(iv)It is the basis on which percentage tenders are called
after excluding the amounts of contingencies, etc.
(v) The bills of work done are also prepared on the basis
of abstract of estimate.

21. Bill of Quantities
• The abstract form is commonly known as the bill of quantities and
the process of writing the bill of quantities is called the billing.
• A bill of quantities indicates a document which lists all the items
necessary for the complete construction of the project.
• Each item of the bill of quantities includes a brief description of
every item together with its estimated quantity.
• Main function of bill of quantities is to provide a basis on which
tenders can be obtained from the prospective contractors and the
bills of quantities, when priced, afford a means of comparing the
various tenders obtained from different contractors for the same
job.
• The rates mentioned in the bill of quantities can be used to assess
the value of work as executed and they help in preparing the
revised estimate, if found necessary. However, the quantities
mentioned in the bill of quantities should be accurate as far as
possible so as to narrow down the gap between the estimated and
actual figures.

22. Approximate Estimate
• The approximate estimate is done in order to find
out an approximate cost in very short time before
starting the project. The estimation is made before
selecting the final specification and design of the
project.

23. Method of Approximate Estimate
• The approximate cost of a building can be found
out by the use of any one of the following six
methods:
• (i) Service-unit method
• (ii) Square-metre method
• (iii) Cubic-metre method
• (iv) Typical-bay method
• (v) Approximate quantities method
• (vi) Empirical equations for materials and
manpower.

24. • Roads
• It mainly consists of four items and the approximate cost of
these items are worked out and then added together to
obtain the approximate cost
• 1. The cost of Land Acquired
• 2. The cost of Excavation, embankment and drainage
• 3. The cost of pavement
• 4. The cost of other structures such as culverts, bridges, etc.
• Irrigation canals:
• The unit to be adopted for finding out the approximate cost
of an irrigation canal may be one of the following:
• (i) area of land under the command of canal; or
• (ii) per kilometer length.
• Water supply and sanitary projects:
For such projects, the unit to be adopted to arrive at the
approximate cost may be one of the following:
• (i) area served by the project
• (ii) population served by the project.

25. Mode of Measurement
• The methods and units of measurements for civil
construction works are mainly categorized for their
nature, shape and size and for making payments to the
contractor. The principle of units of measurements
normally consists the following:
units of measurement
• a) Single units work like doors, windows, trusses etc.,
are expressed in numbers.
• b) Works consists linear measurements involve length
like cornice, fencing, handrail, bands of specified width
etc., are expressed in running meters (RM)

26. Mode of Measurement
• c) Works consists areal surface measurements
involve area like plastering, white washing,
partitions of specified thickness etc., and are
expressed in square meters (m2)
• d) Works consists cubical contents which involve
volume like earth work, cement concrete, Masonry
etc are expressed in Cubic metres.

27. • The rules for measurement of each item are invariably described in IS – 1200. However,
some of the general rules are listed below:
1. Measurement shall be made for finished item of work and description of each item
shall include materials, transport, labour, fabrication tools and plant and all types of
overheads for finished the work in required shape, size and specification.
2. In booking, the order shall be in sequence of length, breadth and height or thickness.
3. All works shall be measured subject to the following tolerances.
• Linear measurement shall be measured to the nearest 0.01m.
• Areas shall be measured to the nearest 0.01 SQM
• Cubic contents shall be worked out to the nearest 0.01 cum.
4. Same type of work under different conditions and nature shall be measured separately
under separate items.
5. The bill of quantities shall fully describe the materials, proportions, workmanships and
accurately represent the work to be executed.
6. In case of masonry (stone or brick) or structural concrete, the categories shall be
measured separately and the heights shall be described as:
• From foundation to plinth level
• From plinth to first floor level
• From first floor to second floor level and so on.

28. Contingencies
• The term “contingencies” indicates the incidental expenses of miscellaneous character which
cannot be classified under any distinct item sub-head, yet pertain to the work as a whole. To
meet such unforeseen expenses an additional amount of 3% to 5% of the estimated cost of the
works is provided in the total estimate. Miscellaneous incidental expenses which cannot be
classified under any sub-head or item, are met from the amount provided under contingencies.
• For example, suppose there is an item in estimate for cement plastering 1:4 with neat cement
finish, but during execution, it is desired to provide nosing at the end of the steps. As there is no
allocation of funds for this small work, the cost of such work may be met up from the
contingency fund. But in case an expenditure is necessary due to change of design or due to
increased volume of work, and whose cost cannot be covered from the contingency fund,
supplementary or revised estimate are submitted for its sanction before taking up the work.
• If there is any saving against the amount provided under contingencies, this amount my be
utilised with the sanction of the complement authority to meet the expenses of extra items of
work.
• The provisions for contingencies cannot be diverted to any new work or repair which is not
provided in the estimate and of which cost exceeds ₹ 2000/- without the sanction of
superintending engineer.

29. • Contingencies are downside risk estimates that
make allowance for the unknown risks associated
with a project.
• A construction contingency, as it relates to a build
project, is a percentage of a contract value set aside
for unpredictable changes in the scope of the work.
• The estimated costs of the known-unknowns is
referred to by cost estimators as cost contingency.
Contingency "refers to costs that will probably
occur based on past experience, but with some
uncertainty regarding the amount.

30. Work charged Establishment
charges
• The work changed establishment will include the temporary establishment as are employed for
the execution or the immediate technical supervision or departmental stores in connection with
the specific work.
• Work charged staff may be technical person or an under staff of technical person to assist him at
work site, guard, etc. But work charged staff does not include non-industrial employees such as
the typist, draftsman, clerk, etc.
• Every payment made to a member of the work charged establishment whether on account of his
wages or actual travelling expenses is charged to the work estimate on which they are
employed. For such work charged establishment an amount of 1.5% to 2% (according to P.W.D.)
of the estimated cost of the works is provided in the estimate.
• Generally, the work charged persons are employed on monthly basis or temporary basis
according to the progress of work. Their services lasts for the sanctioned period but may be
continued on fresh sanction. Their services are terminable by one month’s notice for one year
continuous service. But for less than one year service, 14 days’ notice is required to terminate
their services.