Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

INTRODUCTION

Estimation is often done by sampling, which is counting a small number of

examples something, and projecting that number onto a larger population. An example of
estimation would be determining how many candies of a given size are in a glass jar. Because
the distribution of candies inside the jar may vary, the observer can count the number of
candies visible through the glass, consider the size of the jar, and presume that a similar
distribution can be found in the parts that cannot be seen, thereby making an estimate of the
total number of candies that could be in the jar if that presumption were true. Estimates can
similarly be generated by projecting results from polls or surveys onto the entire population.

Need of estimating:
1) To know the approximate time limit.,
2) To invitation of tender.
3) To keep control over expenditure.
4) To draw up construction schedule and programme.
5) To obtain administrative approval and technical sanction.

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Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

PRELIMINARY OR APPROXIMATE OR ROUGH ESTIMATE:

This is an inexact estimate to find out a rough cost in a short time which
enables the authority concerned to consider the financial aspect of the scheme, for according
sanction to the same. Such an estimate is framed after knowing the rate of similar works and
from practical knowledge in various ways for various types of works such as:

1. Plinth area or square-meter method,

2 Cubic rate or cubic meter method,

3. Service until or until rate method,

4. Bay method,

5. Approximate quantities with bill method,

6. Cost comparison method,

7. The cost of materials and labour.

Methods of preparation of preliminary or approximate construction cost

estimation for studies of various aspects of work of project and its administrative approval is
discussed. This estimate can decide, in case of commercial projects, whether the net income
earned justifies the amount invested or not.
The approximate estimate is prepared from the practical knowledge and cost of
similar works. The estimate is accompanied by a report duly explaining necessity and utility
of the project and with a site or layout plan. A percentage 5 to 10% is allowed for
contingencies.

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 Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

 METHODS OF APPROXIMATE CONSTRUCTION COST

ESTIMATION PREPARATION:
The following are the methods used for preparation of approximate construction cost
estimates:
1. Plinth area method

2. Cubical contents method

3. Unit base method

4. Approximate Quantities Method

5. Typical bay method

A) PLINTH AREA METHOD:

The cost of construction is determined by multiplying plinth area with plinth area
rate. The area is obtained by multiplying length and breadth (outer dimensions of building).

In fixing the plinth area rate, careful observation and necessary enquiries are made in
respect of quality and quantity aspect of materials and labor, type of foundation, height of
building, roof, wood work, fixtures, number of stores etc.

As per IS 3861-1966, the following areas include while calculating the plinth area of
building:

TYPES OF ESTIMATES:
 Area of walls at floor level.
 Internal shafts of sanitary installations not exceeding 2.0 sq., lifts, air-conditioning ducts etc.,
 Area of barsati at terrace level: Barsati means any covered space open on one side,
constructed on one side, constructed on terraced roof which is used as shelter during rainy
season.
 Porches of non-cantilever type.
 Area of lofts.
 Unenclosed balconies.

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 Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

 Architectural bands, cornices etc.,

This estimation is done by selecting the price of 1 square meter area of a building.
It is mainly adopted for calculating the cost of following buildings:

 Office Buildings.
 Residential Buildings.
 School Buildings.
 Apartment/Flat Buildings.
 Hospitals.

This method is considered as the best method for calculating the cost of new
buildings. In case of multi-storeyed buildings, the following assumptions are to be considered
for the estimation.

1. For 1 square meter area, the cost of all the floors with basement and roof are in equal costs.

2. The cost of the basement is 60% of the floor.

3. The cost of the roof is 40% of the floors.

Plinth area cost estimate is prepared on the basis of plinth area of the building which
is the area covered by external dimensions of building at the floor level and plinth area rate of
the 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 the same locality is 2000 per sq.m then plinth area estimate is
100 X 2000 = 200000.

Open areas, courtyards etc. are should not be included in the plinth area. If the
building is multi-storied, plinth area estimate is prepared separately for each floor level.

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Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

B) CUBICAL CONTENTS METHOD:

This method is generally used for multistoried buildings. It is more accurate that the
other two methods viz., plinth area method and unit base method.

The cost of a structure is calculated approximately as the total cubical contents

(Volume of buildings) multiplied by Local Cubic Rate. The volume of building is obtained
by Length x breadth x depth or height.

The length and breadth are measured out to out of walls excluding the plinth offset.
The cost of string course, cornice, corbelling etc., is neglected.

The cost of building = volume of buildings x rate/ unit volume.

This method gives more exact result comparatively than the square meter method.

For multi-storeyed buildings, the following assumptions are considered.

1. For 1 meter cube area the costs of all floors are equal in costs.

2. The cost of the basement is 60% of the cost of different floors.

The volume of the floor is determined as

Volume = Area × Height of one floor

The height of one floor is found out by the following guidelines:

1. Ground Floor: The height of ground floor is calculated from the top of the footing to the
middle of the parapet.

2. First Floor: The height of the first floor is calculated from the ground rooftop to the middle
of the parapet.

3. Other Floors: The height of other floors are calculated from floor to floor.

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Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

Cube rate cost estimate of a building is obtained by multiplying plinth area with the
height of the building. The height of the building should be considered from floor level to the
top of the roof level. It is more suitable for multi-storied buildings.

C) UNIT BASE METHOD:

According to this method the cost of structure is determined by multiplying the total
number of units with unit rate of each item. In case schools and colleges, the unit considered
to be as ‘one student’ and in case of hospital, the unit is ‘one bed’.

The unit rate is calculated by dividing the actual expenditure incurred or cost of
similar building in the nearby locality by the number of units.

D) APPROXIMATE QUANTITY METHOD:

Multiplying total length of wall of building in running meter by cost of the

construction per meter length of such a wall. Total length of walls of building is worked out
from plan. Different sections of wall of building are considered separately. Section of wall
includes all items of works from foundation concrete to roofing. Thus cost of excavation
foundation concrete, brickwork DPC and woodwork. Thus it is better to find out cost
separately.

In approximate quantity method cost estimate, 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. Rate per running meter is calculated separately for foundation and
superstructure.

In case of foundation, the rate per running meter is decided by considering

quantities such as excavation cost, brickwork cost up to plinth. While in case of
superstructure quantities like brickwork for the wall, wood works, floor finishing etc. are
considered for deciding rate per running meter.

In this method, the main items are taken into account using short-cuts in the
approximate calculation of quantities of main items such as walls, roofs, doors and windows,
and finishes, and the cost is computed by adopting current unit costs for these items. The

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grouping of items and fixing their approximate cost requires good judgement and experience.
This method though time-consuming, is more accurate than any of the above approximate
methods.

E) TYPICAL BAY METHOD:

Bays are constructed as compartments or similar portion of structure when area of

structure consist of similar cabins as part such as god own, railway station, factory shades etc.
Which have been built up intermediate columns or with roof brasses on wall placed of those
support members are divided from center to center of supports. This method is useful for
application to framed structures

Consisting of a number of similar bays, as for example, industrial buildings. A

typical interior bay (between two successive columns) is selected and its total cost worked
out. 

Then, the approximate cost of building = Number of bays in the building x cost of
one bay. Suitable correction factors may have to be used to take into account the
dissimilarities in end-bay (and in different floors, if applied to multi storeyed construction). 

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Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

CONCLUSION:

So hereby we have concluded that there are various types for estimating and

they contain various subtypes in them. Estimating is necessary for all engineering work to

know the probable cost of construction. Accuracy of estimation is very important. In

estimation quantities of different item of work is calculated and from these quantities cost is

calculated.

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Department Of Civil Engineering Method of Approximate Estimate

REFERENCES:

1. C. Lon Enloe, Elizabeth Garnett, Jonathan Miles, Physical Science: What the
Technology Professional Needs to Know (2000), p. 47.
2. Raymond A. Kent, "Estimation", Data Construction and Data Analysis for Survey
Research (2001), p. 157.
3. James Tate, John Schoonbeck, Reviewing Mathematics (2003), page 27: "An
overestimate is an estimate you know is greater than the exact answer".
4. James Tate, John Schoonbeck, Reviewing Mathematics (2003), page 27: "An
underestimate is an estimate you know is less than the exact answer".
5. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) Third
Edition, An American National Standard, ANSI/PMI 99-001-2004, Project
Management Institute, Inc, 2004,

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