ESTIMATION SPECIFICATION & CONTRACTS

UNIT – 1
General items of work in Building: General items of work in Building – Standard Units
Principles of working out quantities for detailed and abstract estimates –Approximate method
of Estimating. Rate Analysis – Working out data for various items of work over head and
contingent charges.

GENERAL ITEMS OF WORK IN BUILDING:

1. Clearing the Site
Materials on the top of the soil, such as vegetation, bushes, and/or other perishables and
organic materials, should be cleared and measured in square meters.
2. Soil Excavation for Foundation Trenches
The earth is excavated for foundation trenches to the exact width and height of the
foundation. The sides and the bottom of these trenches are levelled both longitudinally and
transversely. Its unit is cubic meters.
3. Earthwork in Filling
This includes filling up the excavated part up to the required depth, either with the soil
excavated from the site or soil carried from outside the site. The filling is based on the
quality and type of soil that is excavated. Its unit is cubic meters.
Earthwork in filling can be subdivided into:
• Filling in foundation
• Plinth filling: The depth of filling is from the ground level up to the floor level
4. Damp-Proof Course (DPC)
This is generally a layer of 1:2:4 cement concrete mixture mixed with a water-proofing
compound laid between the plinth and superstructure walls to prevent the seepage of water
rising from the ground through capillary action. It is measured in terms of square meter.
5. Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) Works
In this, one needs to calculate the quantity of PCC required for foundation, trenches, grade
slabs, sills, etc. If the slope is provided for the foundations, its quantity needs to be
determined. Its unit is cubic meters.
6. Reinforced Cement Concrete Works
The concrete in foundations, grade slab, plinth beams, floor beams, lintel beams, columns,
and slabs are all included in the quantities of RCC. This item also includes the concrete in
 Chajja. No need to deduct the volume of reinforcement from the total volume of concrete.
As a separate item, the reinforcement quantity will be determined.
Shuttering of formwork is recommended to be calculated separately. If reinforcement or
shuttering are included and considered as a consolidated item with RCC, this should be
properly described in the item description. Its unit is cubic meters.
7. Steel Work
The quantity includes bending and binding in position and is measured in quintal. No
separate payment for the binding wire is required. For calculation purposes, the quantity of
steel is calculated from the percentage volume of reinforced concrete. But for practical
purposes, reinforcement is calculated from the bar bending schedule and paid after
measuring the bars before concreting.
8. Shuttering (Formwork)
The cost of formwork is approximately 30% of cement concrete. It is measured in square
meters, multiplying length and breadth. The measurement is taken as the actual surface in
concrete with concrete or any other material requiring formwork. General practice is to
consider the area of built-up concrete members.
9. Masonry work
The volume of brickwork is calculated by multiplying the length, breadth, and height of the
wall. Its unit is cubic meters. It is convenient to break masonry work into:
In foundation: Since there are no openings in the wall up to the plinth, no deduction is
required in the volume.
In superstructure wall: The volume of brickwork is first calculated assuming that there
are no openings. After calculating the volume of brickwork, standard deductions for
volumes of openings, volumes of lintel, etc. are made as prescribed in the building
standards.
10. Plastering Work
The measurement is taken as the surface area of the wall before plastering. The required
deduction for door and window opening is thereby calculated. Plastering quantity for the
ceiling is measured as the area between walls. Soffits of stairs are also considered as ceiling
plastering. Certain points to note regarding deductions for openings are as follows:
• Openings not exceeding 0.5 sq.m, no deduction or addition shall be made.
 • In case of openings exceeding 0.5 sq.m but not exceeding 3 sq.m and when both the
faces of the wall are plastered with the same plaster, the deduction has to be made on
only one face.
• For openings of the area exceeding 3 sq.m, deduction shall be made for each face of the
wall plastering.
11. Painting
This item includes quantities measured for applying 2-3 coats of whitewash or colour wash
or emulsion paints. Like in the case of plastering, the quantity for painting is also calculated
as area.
12. Flooring and Tiling
This item consists of two sections:
• The flooring of the ground floor: In this, we measure the quantity of rubble soling
provided below the foundations, floors, pavement, ramps, etc. The quantity includes
either the quantity of thick lime concrete or cement concrete over soling. Then the top
part of the flooring is calculated. This top flooring may be of different types, embedded
in cement mortar bed. All these items together will contribute to flooring on the ground
floor.
• The flooring of top floors: The quantity of flooring is measured as the area between
walls that should be floored.
13. Woodwork for Doors and Windows
This item consists of two sections:
• Door and window frame: By multiplying the total length of the frame to its cross-
section, the quantity for the door and window frame can be determined. The total length
would be two times the height and one width of the opening, as there is no bottom sill.
The window frame quantity would include two vertical lengths and two horizontal
widths. Its unit is cubic meters.
• Door and window shutters: By multiplying the height by the breadth and stating the
thickness in the description, the quantity for the door and window shutters can be
determined. For double shutters, the overlapping at the centre in between is not
accounted for. Other fittings are usually paid individually and provided as separate
items. Its unit is square meters.
Types of Estimations:
Estimation is the technique of estimating the various quantities of work and the expected
expenses to be incurred on a particular work or project to execute.
In case the funds available are less than the estimated cost the work is executed in part or by
reducing it or specifications are altered.
Estimation gives an approximate idea of the time required for the completion of the work. The
estimate is required to invite the tender and quotations and to arrange a contract.
The estimate is also essential to control the expenditure during the execution of work. An
estimate decides whether the proposed plan matches the funds and budget available or not.
The rate used in the estimate should check with the current standard schedule of rates (SOR)
& in the case of quantity, it should check with the standard data book.
1. Preliminary Cost Estimate
The preliminary cost estimate is also called an abstract cost estimate or approximate cost
estimate or budget estimate. This estimate is generally prepared in initial stages to know
the approximate cost of the project. By this estimate, the competent sanctioning authority
can decide the financial position and policy for the administration section.
Preliminary estimates are prepared with reference to the cost of similar type projects in a
practical manner. In this estimate, the approximate cost of each important item of work is
displayed individually to know the necessity and utility of each item of work. The items of
work include the cost of lands, cost of roads, electrification, water supply costs, cost of each
building, etc.
2. Detailed Cost Estimate
Detailed cost estimate is prepared when competent administrative authority approved the
preliminary estimates. This is very accurate type of estimate. Quantities of items of work
are measured and the cost of each item of work is calculated separately.
The rates of different items are provided according to the current workable rates and total
estimated cost is calculated. 3 to 5 % of estimated cost is added to this for contingencies as
miscellaneous expenditure. The detailed Estimated should consist following details and
documents.
• Report
• General Specifications
• Detailed Specifications
• Drawings/plans – layout plans, elevation, sectional views, detailed drawings etc.
 • Designs and calculations – In case of buildings design of foundations, beams, slab etc.
• Schedule of rates
3. Approximate Quantity Method Cost Estimate
In approximate quantity method cost estimate, the total wall length of the structure is
measured and this length is multiplied by the rate per running meter which gives the cost
of the building. The rate per running meter is calculated separately for the foundation and
superstructure.
In case of foundation, rate per running meter is decided by considering quantities such as
excavation cost, brick work cost up to plinth. While in case of superstructure quantities like
brickwork for wall, wood works, floor finishing etc. are considered for deciding rate per
running meter.
4. Plinth Area Cost Estimate
Plinth area cost estimate is prepared on the basis of plinth area of building which is the area
covered by external dimensions of building at the floor level and plinth area rate of building
which is the cost of similar building with specifications in that locality.
Plinth area estimate is obtained by multiplying plinth area of building with plinth area rate.
For example, if we require plinth area estimate of 100 sq.m in a particular locality and
plinth area rate of a building in same locality is 2000 per sq.m then plinth area estimate is
100 X 2000 = 200000.
Open areas, courtyards, etc. are not included in the plinth area. If the building is multi-
storied, the plinth area estimate is prepared separately for each floor level.
5. Cube Rate Cost Estimate
Cube rate cost estimate of a building is obtained by multiplying plinth area with the height
of building. Height of building should be considered from floor level to the top of the roof
level. It is more suitable for multi storied buildings.
This method of estimation is accurate than plinth area method. The rate per cubic meter is
taken into consideration based on the costs of similar type of buildings situated in that
location. Foundation, plinth and parapet above the roof level are not considered in this type
of estimate.
6. Revised Cost Estimate
Revised cost estimate is a detailed estimate and it is prepared when the original sanctioned
estimate value is exceeded by 5% or more.
 The increase may be due to sudden increase in cost of materials, cost of transportation etc.
The reason behind the revision of estimate should be mentioned on the last page of revised
estimate.
7. Supplementary Cost Estimate
Supplementary cost estimate is a detailed estimate and it is prepared freshly when there is
a requirement of additional works during the progress of original work. The estimate sheet
should consist of cost of original estimate as well as the total cost of work including
supplementary cost of work for which sanction is required.
8. Annual Repair Cost Estimate
The annual repair cost estimate is also called as annual maintenance estimate which is
prepared to know the maintenance costs of the building which will keep the structure in
safe condition. Whitewashing, painting, minor repairs, etc. are taken into consideration
while preparing annual repair estimate for a building.

Rate Analysis
The process of determining rate per unit 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 materials and labour vary from place to place and hence
the rates of different items of works also vary from place to place. The rates of these works
further help in determining cost of particular work and in turn cost of the project.
Necessity of Rate Analysis
• To determine the actual cost per unit of the items.
• To work out the economical use of materials and processes in completing the particulars
item.
• To calculate the cost of extra items which are not provided in the contract bond, but are to
be executed as per the directions of the department.
• To revise the schedule of rates due to increase in the cost of material and labour or due to
change in technique.
Procedure of Rate Analysis
The analysis of rates is worked out for the unit payment of the particular item of work under
two heads: Materials and Labour.
The cost of items of work = Material cost + Labour cost
Other costs included to the above cost of items of work are:
Tools and Plants (T & P) = 2.5 to 3 % of the labour cost
Transportation cost (if conveyance more than 8 km is considered.)
Water charges = 1.5 to 2 % of total cost
Contractor’s profit = 10 %
Material cost
The rate of various materials as per specifications for the items under consideration canbe
chalked out from market survey. The costs of materials are taken as delivered at site of work.
This is inclusive of:
The first cost (cost at origin),
Cost of transport, railway freight (if any), etc.
Local taxes and other charges.
Lead statement
The distance between the source of availability of material and construction site is known as
"Lead” and is expressed in Km. The cost of conveyance of material depends on lead. This
statement is required when a material is transported from a distant place, more than 8kms (5
miles). The lead statement will give the total cost of materials per unit item including first cost,
conveyance loading-unloading, stacking charges etc.
A typical lead statement is provided as follows:
Sl. Materials Unit Cost at Lead(in Conveyance Total Total Cost
No. Source Km) charges (Per Conveyance (In Rs.
(per unit) Km/ PerUnit) charges (/Per /Perunit)
Unit)
1 RoughStone Cum 250.00 25 5.00 125.00 375.00

2 Sand Cum 12.00 20 4.00 80.00 92.00

3 Cement Bag 370.00 Local - - -

Labour cost
To obtain labour cost the number and wages of different categories of labourers, skilled (Skilled
1st Class), semi-skilled (Skilled 2nd Class) and unskilled, required for each unit of work should
be known and this number is multiplied by the respective wage per day. The labour charges
can be obtained from the standard schedule of rates. 30% of the skilled labour provided in the
data may be taken as 1st class, remaining 70% as 2nd class.
The length of time required to do a certain piece of the work may vary according to the skill
and mental development of the workmen and working conditions to the particular job.
Miscellaneous cost
Cost of equipment, Tools and Plants (T & P)
The cost of equipment and ordinary tools and plats and miscellaneous petty items (sundries)
are added to the specific item rate as lump-sum. A provision of 2.5 to 3 % of the labour cost is
made for such items. In certain tools and plants if it is difficult to allocate their use for a
particular item of rate; then the cost of such tools or plants may be allocated to the over-head
expenditure.
For big works and projects where it becomes necessary to use special types of equipment like
batching plants or WMM plant or dumpers or cranes for transportation of concrete mix,
provisions of an amount 1% to 1.5% of the estimated cost is provided in the estimateunder the
head “special tools and plants”.

Water charges
For drinking purpose of the workers and for the work, arrangement of water is made sinking
tube well; bore well or from temporary connection from municipality. For this purpose, a
provision of 1.5 to 2 % of total cost (Material + Labour+ Sundries) is made in the estimate.

Overhead charges
Overhead charges include general office expanses, rents, taxes, supervision and other cost
which are indirect expanses on the job. Expanses for small tools such as planks, ladders, ropes
and other hand tools are also included in the over-head charges. A provision of2.5% to
5% is made in the rate analysis as overhead charge. Overhead charges can be divided under
two categories: General Overhead and job overhead.

General overhead:
These are the expanses made throughout the year irrespective to running works in hand. These
include:
• Establishment charge including rent of office space and taxes
• Salaries to office staff
• Purchase of stationary, Printing, postage etc.
• Electricity, telephone and water bills
• Travelling expanses
• Job overhead:
These are the expanses indirectly incurred for the job or the project. These include:
• Salaries of personnel engaged for the work (Site engineers, Surveyors or siteoffice staff)
• Rent of temporary site office space, electricity, telephone and water bills
• Handling of materials
• Repairs, carriage and depreciation of T & P.
• Labour welfare, safety measures and insurance etc.
• Interest on investment
• Theft and other losses.

Contractor’s profit
Generally, a provision of 10% is made in the rate analysis as contractor’s profit for ordinary
contracts. For small jobs 15% profit and for large jobs 8% profit may be considered as
reasonable. Contractor’s profit is not included in rate analysis if material is supplied by the
department.

Rate Analysis of Important Items

1. Earthwork in excavation in foundation including filling in trenches up to 30m lead and
1.5 m lift. Assume volume of excavation = 100 cu m

Particulars Qnty/Nos. Rate (Rs.) Cost (Rs.)

Material Charges - - -
Labour Charges

1. Head Mason ⁄ Nos. 450.00 per day 225.00

2. Beldar 18 Nos. 250.00 per day 4500.00

3. Mazdoor 14 Nos. 220.0 per day 3080.00
T&P, Sundries, etc. LS 240.00 LS 240.00
Total Materials and Labour 8045.00
Add 1.5% water charges 120.67

Add 10% Contractors profit 804.50

Grand Total 8970.17
Rate per cu m Rs. 89.70
2. First class brickwork in super structure with cement mortar (1:6)
Estimation of Materials
Assume volume of brickwork = 10 cu m
Nominal size of modular brick = 10 cm×10 cm× 20 cm
Hence, the number of bricks required =
Actual size of modular brick = 9 cm× 9 cm× 19 cm
The remaining space is filled by mortar, hence the volume of mortar required for 10 cum
= 10 – (5000 × 0.09 ×0.09 × 0.19)
= 2.3 cu m.
Additional mortar required for frog filling, brick bonding and wastages @ 15%.
Thus, volume of set mortar = 2.3 + 2.3 × 15\100 = 2.64 cum.
But, 1.25 cu m of dry volume of mortar materials produces 1.0 cu m set mortar.
Hence, volume of dry materials required for 2.64 cu m of set mortar
= 1.25 × 2.64 cu m
= 3.30 cu m.
[Note: As a thumb rule, dry volume of mortar materials is 30% of brick work]
Sum of proportion of cement and sand = 1+6 = 7
Hence, volume of cement = 3.3/7 = 0.47 cu m.
However, cement is available in 50 kg bag whose volume is 0.0347 cu m.
[Mass = 50 kg; Density =1440 kg/m3; Thus, Volume = 50/1440 = 0.0347 cu m]
[Thumb rule: 1 cu m of cement = 30 bags of cement.]
Therefore, number of bags required = 0.47 / 0.0347 ≈ 13.5 bags.
Volume of sand required = 0.47 × 6 = 2.82 cu m.
Rate Analysis
Assume, the volume of brickwork = 10 cu m.
Particulars Qnty/Nos. Rate (Rs.) Cost (Rs.)
Material Charges

1. Brick 5000 Nos. 250.00 (/100 nos.) 12500.00

2. Cement 13.5 bags 320.00 per bag 4320.00
3. Sand 2.82 cu m 350 per cu m 987.00
Labour Charges
1. Head Mason 2 Nos. 450.00 per day 900.00

2. Mason 6 Nos. 350.00 per day 2100.00

3. Mazdoor 16 Nos. 220.00 per day 3520.00
4. Bhisti 08 Nos. 220.0 per day 1760.00
T&P, Sundries, etc. LS 200.00 LS 200.00
Total Materials and Labour 26287.00
Add 1.5% water charges 394.30
Add 10% Contractors profit 2628.70
Grand Total 29310
Rate per cu m Rs. 2931.00
3. 12 mm thick plaster with cement mortar (1:6)
Estimation of Materials
Assume plastering area = 100 sq m
Hence volume of mortar for 12 mm plaster = 100 m × 0.012 m = 1.2 cum
Add 30 % more to the above volume for filling of joints, for making un uniform surfacewell
and for wastages. Thus, total set volume of mortar including wastages and joint filling etc.
= 1.2 + 1.2 × 30\100
= 1.56 cu m.
As, 1.25 cu m of dry volume of mortar materials produces 1.0 cu m set mortar;
Volume of dry materials required for 1.56 cu m of set mortar is
= 1.25 × 1.56 cu m = 1.95 cu m,
Hence, volume of cement = 1.95/7 = 0.28 cu m.
Number of bags required = 0.28 / 0.0347 ≈ 8 bags.
Volume of sand required = 0.28 × 6 = 1.68 cu m.
Rate Analysis
Assume, the area of plastering = 100 sq. m.
Particulars Qnty/Nos. Rate (Rs.) Cost (Rs.)
Material Charges

1. Cement 8 bags 320.00 per bag 2560.00

2. Sand 1.68 cu m 350 per cu m 588.00
Labour Charges
1. Head Mason 2 Nos. 450.00 per day 900.00

2. Mason 6 Nos. 350.00 per day 2100.00

3. Mazdoor 08 Nos. 220.00 per day 1760.00
4. Bhisti 02 Nos. 220.0 per day 440.00
T&P, Sundries, etc. LS 200.00 LS 130.00
Total Materials and Labour 8478.00
Add 1.5% water charges 127.17
Add 10% Contractors profit 847.80
Grand Total 9452.97
Rate per sq m Rs. 94.53
4. Cement Concrete (1:2:4) for RC work excluding reinforcement and form work
Estimation of Materials
Assume volume of R.C.C = 10 cu m (Set volume)
1.54 cu m dry volume of concrete making materials produces 1.0 cu m set concrete
Therefore, volume of dry materials required for 10 cu m of set concrete is 15.4 cu m.
Sum of proportion of cement, sand and coarse aggregate = 1+2+4 = 7
Hence, volume of cement = 15.4/7 = 2.2 cu m.
Number of bags required = 2.2 / 0.0347 ≈ 64 bags.
Volume of sand required = 2.2 × 2 = 4.4 cu m.
Volume of course aggregate required = 2.2 × 4 = 8.8 cu m.
Rate Analysis
Assume, volume of R.C.C. = 10 cu m.
Particulars Qnty/Nos. Rate (Rs.) Cost (Rs.)
Material Charges

1. Cement 64 bags 320.00 per bag 20480.00

2. Sand 4.4 cu m 350 per cu m 1540.00
3. Coarse aggregate 8.8 cu m 800 per cu m 7040.00
Labour Charges
1. Head Mason ⁄ Nos. 450.00 per day 225.00

2. Mason 2 Nos. 350.00 per day 700.00

3. Beldar 10 Nos. 220.00 per day 2200.00
4. Mazdoor 10 Nos. 220.00 per day 2200.00
5. Bhisti 05 Nos. 220.0 per day 1100.00
T&P, Sundries, etc. LS 200.00 LS 200.00
Scaffolding LS 400.00 LS 400.00
Total Materials and Labour 36085.00
Add 1.5% water charges 541.28
Add 10% Contractors profit 3608.50
Grand Total 40234.78
Rate per sq m Rs. 4023.50
5. Lime Concrete in foundation with 25 mm down brick chips (or jhama chips)with lime
surki mortar (1:2:5½)
Estimation of Materials
Assume volume of lime concrete = 10 cu m (Set volume)
1.54 cu m dry volume produces 1.0 cu m set concrete
Therefore, volume of dry materials required for 10 cu m of set lime concrete is 15.4 cu m.Sum
of proportion of cement, sand and coarse aggregate = 1+2+5½ = 8½
Hence, volume of slaked lime = 15.4/8½ = 1.8 cu m.
Volume of surki required = 1.8 × 2 = 3.6 cu m.
Volume of jhama brick chips required = 1.8 × 5½ = 10 cu m.
Rate Analysis
Assume, volume of R.C.C. = 10 cu m.
Particulars Qnty/Nos. Rate (Rs.) Cost (Rs.)
Material Charges

1. Slaked lime 1.8 cum 600.00 per cum 1080.00

2. Surki 3.6 cu m 250.00 per cu m 900.00
3. Brick chips 10.0 cu m 350.00 per cu m 3500.00
Labour Charges
1. Head Mason ⁄ Nos. 450.00 per day 225.00

2. Mason 1 Nos. 350.00 per day 350.00

3. Mazdoor 18 Nos. 220.00 per day 3960.00
4. Bhisti 02 Nos. 220.0 per day 440.00
T&P, Sundries, etc. LS 300.00 LS 150.00
Total Materials and Labour 10605.00
Add 1.5% water charges 159.08
Add 10% Contractors profit 1060.50
Grand Total 11824.58
Rate per sq m Rs. 1182.50