ENGLISH HAND OUT

FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

LECTURER:
Dra. Sriwahyuningsih Sulaiman,M.Pd

SEMARANG STATE POLYTECHNIC

 TOPIC VII
TECHNICAL REPORT and ESTIMATE

8.1 Section A: The Report

The present condition of the surfaces and the proposed finishes is as follows:

Ceiling: Soft distemper on plaster, badly cracked. Hang textured paper at $8.00 per roll and
finish emulsion paint to match BS 3-3033

Walls: Emulsion paint in reasonable condition, but some cracking and flaking apparent on
elevations. Two walls to be finished as the ceiling but to match BS 5-058. Other two walls to
be lined and hung with Vinyl wall-hanging at $18.00 per roll.

Doors: Varnished oak, varnish badly chipped. Finish gloss to match BS 5-059

Architraves and skirting: Generally in poor state, badly chipped. Finish in gloss white.

Window-frames: Existing paintwork in bad condition and requires stripping. Finish gloss
white

Picture 8.1 a damaged room

Adapted from http://www.randles.com/our_old_house/house.html

8.2 Section B: The Estimate

Ceiling: Wash off all existing distemper, cut out and make good all cracks, size and hang with
paper, pattern number XXX at $8.00 per roll and emulsion paint two coats $250

Cornice: Wash off all existing soft distemper, repair defective angle, prepare, seal and paint
one undercoat and one coat egg-shell finish $60

Walls: Wash down, remove all loose paint, make good cracks and size. Two walls to be hung
with paper, pattern number XXX at $8.00 per roll and emulsion paint two coats. Two walls to
be lined with lining paper, and hung with Vinyl, pattern number XXX at $18.00 per roll. $420

Doors and Window-frames: Remove all existing paint, rub down, knot, prime and stop,
apply two coats undercoating and one coat gloss finish. $210
Architraves and skirting: Wash and rub down, fill all indentations and apply two coats
undercoating and one coat gloss finish. $60

Miscellaneous: Prepare and sheet-up room and adjacent areas, remove fittings, clean and
replace fittings, remove debris from site $30

8.3 Section C: Exercises

a. Vocabulary

Walls are sized to make them non-porous. This is particularly necessary in countries
where the plaster on walls is soft and thus easily absorbs water. Priming paintwork
achieves several things. It gives protection against the weather for wood that is
exposed to the elements. It helps cover up any defects there may be in the wood, prior
to painting, to prevent them exuding resin. Stopping is the process of filling any holes
in the wood. Sometimes, the word fill is used instead of stop. Vinyl is a special type of
wall-covering also sold in rolls. It is plastic-coated and easy to clean. Textured paper is
a paper that has a design you can feel with your fingers. Making good cracks means
filling them in before painting, to give a surface that is as perfect as possible. Varnish
is coating that can be seen through, and is often applied to wood.

Picture 8.2 A room in a good condition Picture 8.3 A damaged room

Adapted from: Adapted from:
http://www.attellwireless.net/permanent http://www.flickr.com/photos/ra
/permanent-moveable-walls.htm hramsey2/430352807/

A. The words in list A are used in the passage. Pair these with the words from List B
which could be substituted for them in the passage. Keep the original meaning:

List A List B

Present imperfect
Proposed nearby
Apparent existing
Stripping noticeable
Size suggested
Defective removing
 Stop seal
Adjacent fill
Angle cornice

B. Label figure 2.1 correctly, using the terms below:

Cornice mitre architrave

Skirting angle

C. Label the imperfections illustrated in figure 2.2 correctly, using the terms below:

Cracked flaking chipped indentations

D. Learn this prefix:

Ad = to

Adjacent = next to

Look up the meanings of these words in your dictionaries:

Adjust Adjoin admit adhere advance

Complete each of these sentences with the correct form of a word taken from the
list above

i. The wall had not been sized properly, so the wall-paper would not……..

ii. Because the job was so difficult, the decorator asked for an ……..

On the payment for the work

iii. The window was too high and too small to very
much light, so they decided to enlarge it

iv. The workshop ……….. the office building

v. The rates of pay were out of date, and bad to be …………

a. Comprehension

A. Explain how the report is different from the estimate

B. Choose the correct answer a, b , c, or d, to each of the following questions:

i. According to the passage, on which surface or surfaces is textured paper to

be used:

a. The ceiling only

b. All walls
c. Two walls only
d. Two walls and the ceiling

ii. According to the passage, what is to be put underneath the Vinyl wall-
hanging?
 a. Emulsion paint
b. Distemper
c. White lining paper

d. One coat gloss finish

iii. According to passage, which of the following materials will not be used for
the proposed finishes?

a. Distemper
b. Paper
c. Emulsion paint
d. Vinyl

iv. According to the passage, when is size applied to a surface?

a. Before it is painted
b. Before the paper is hung
c. After it has been painted
d. During stripping

C. List all the materials that will be required to redecorate the room (picture 8.3)

b. Language Practice

A. This technical report and estimate is written in abbreviated English. Many words
have been left out:

For example:

Soft distemper on plaster, badly cracked for the distemper on the plaster is soft and
badly cracked.

Referring to the passage if necessary, rewrite the following in full:

i. Soft distemper, some damage to external mitre on elevation.

ii. Emulsion paint in reasonable condition

iii. Finish in gloss white, generally in poor state.

B. Study this example:

i. Two walls to be finished the same as the ceiling

ii. Finish two walls the same as the ceiling.

Change the following into the style of ii above:

i. The other two walls to be lined and hung with Vinyl

ii. All existing paint to be rubbed down
iii. Defective angle to be repaired
iv. Cracks to be made good and sized
v. Two walls to be hung with oatmeal paper
 C. Study this example:

i. What is the present state of the surfaces and what finishes do you propose?
ii. The present state of the surfaces and the proposed and the proposed finishes
are as follows

Respond to the following questions in the style of ii above:

i. What are the mechanical faults in the vehicle and what repairs do you
suggest?

ii. What is the condition of the building and what improvements do you
recommend?

iii. What are the defects of the system and what modifications do you plan?

iv. What are the health hazards in the factory and what safeguards do you
require?

D. Study this example:

i. Wash off all existing soft distemper from the ceiling.

ii. Ceiling: Wash off all existing distemper.

Change the following into the style of ii above:

i. Finish the architraves and skirting in gloss white.

ii. The emulsion paint on the walls is in a reasonable condition
iii. The varnish on the oak doors is badly chipped
iv. The existing paintwork of the window frames is in bad condition

c. Composition

Picture 8.4 A damaged room

Adapted from http://www.123rf.com/photo_7720312_abandoned-room-
with-broken-door-and-dramatic-light-at-vereggaria-hotel-prodromos-
cyprus.html

Study this picture of a room very carefully, then write a detailed technical report. The owner
wants the four walls to be hung with Vinyl. You must decide how the rest of the room is to be
repaired, painted or plastered.