‭CHAPTER 1 – FUNDAMENTALS OF ESTIMATING AND COSTING:‬

‭ESTIMATING AND COSTING:‬

‭Estimating‬
‭➔‬ ‭Before taking up any work, the owner should know the total volume of work and its‬
‭probable cost required to carry out the proposed project.‬
‭➔‬ ‭Estimating for any construction work may be defined as the process of calculating‬
‭quantities and costs of various items required in connection with the work.‬
‭➔‬ ‭An estimate is worked out from the dimensions on the drawings.‬
‭➔‬ ‭An estimate is prepared by calculating the quantities of items from the drawings and then‬
‭multiplying them with the unit cost of concerned item.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The accuracy of an estimate depends on careful study of various dimensions on drawings,‬
‭the method of estimating, consideration of rates, probable unforeseen expenses and also‬
‭quantity of tolerance for wastages.‬
‭➔‬ ‭Estimating = quantity surveying‬

‭Costing‬
‭➔‬ ‭Costing is defined as the process of finding out the probable cost of work before starting‬
‭that work.‬
‭➔‬ ‭It is prepared considering the standard rates at the time of making an estimate.‬

‭PURPOSE:‬
‭1.‬ ‭To determine the necessary amount of money required by the owner to complete the‬
‭proposed work. For public works, an estimate is required to obtain administrative,‬
‭technical sanction and budget provision.‬
‭2.‬ ‭To find out quantities of materials required for their timely procurement.‬
‭3.‬ ‭To calculate the number of different categories of workers to be employed for timely‬
‭completion of work.‬
‭4.‬ ‭To check the requirement of tools, plants and equipment required.‬
‭5.‬ ‭To fix the completion period from the volume of work.‬
‭6.‬ ‭To prepare a construction schedule and arrange for funds accordingly.‬
‭7.‬ ‭To justify the investment from the Benefit-Cost ratio. (Ideally > 1)‬
‭8.‬ ‭To invite tenders.‬
‭9.‬ ‭To prepare bills for payment.‬
‭10.‬‭An estimate of an existing property is required for its valuation.‬
‭11.‬‭Alterations in specifications, drawings and estimates can be done if the costing of the‬
‭project is above the budget available.‬
‭1.‬ ‭PROCEDURE OF EXECUTION OF WORK BY PWD (‬‭Public Works‬‭Department‬‭)‬

‭A.‬ ‭ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF PWD‬

‭Government‬

‭↓‬

‭Secretary to Government‬

‭↓‬

‭Chief Engineer (CE)‬

‭↓‬

‭Superintending Engineer (SE)‬

‭(Circle 1,2,3,4) (zonewise)‬

‭↓‬

‭Executive Engineer (EE)‬

‭↓‬

‭Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) - (SDO)‬

‭↓‬

‭Junior Engineer (JE)‬

‭↓‬

‭Supervisor‬

‭↓‬

‭Workers‬

‭(Skilled, Semi-skilled, Unskilled)‬

‭Here, PWD → Public Works Department‬

 ‭SDO → Sub – Divisional Officer‬

‭Also, CPWD → Central Public Works Department‬

‭B.‬‭FUNCTIONS OF THEIR PERSONNEL‬

‭CHIEF ENGINEER:‬
‭1.‬ ‭To submit proposals to the government regarding new works and maintenance works in his‬
‭area (zone / circle / region).‬
‭2.‬ ‭To give approval for projects.‬
‭3.‬ ‭To accept tenders for works by contract method.‬
‭4.‬ ‭To give ‘Technical Sanction’ for works.‬
‭5.‬ ‭To coordinate with the Accountant General of State regarding expenditure in his area.‬

‭SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER:‬
1‭ .‬ ‭To keep administrative and technical control of his circle.‬
‭2.‬ ‭To do inspection of works in his circle.‬
‭3.‬ ‭To arrange for procurement of stores.‬
‭4.‬ ‭To do inspection of divisions in his circle and report to the Chief Engineer.‬
‭5.‬ ‭To keep financial control on execution of works.‬

‭EXECUTIVE ENGINEER:‬
1‭ .‬ ‭To check whether proper approval, technical and financial sanction is given for the work.‬
‭2.‬ ‭To do effective supervision on the works in his division.‬
‭3.‬ ‭To see that the contractor's accounts are properly maintained and regularly submitted to the‬
‭competent authority.‬
‭4.‬ ‭To collect money from the project fund and give it to the payment of the contractor.‬
‭5.‬ ‭To inspect offices of AE / SDO once in a year.‬
‭6.‬ ‭To ensure that all tools and equipment are properly maintained.‬

‭ASSISTANT ENGINEER:‬
1‭ .‬ ‭To check muster roll.‬
‭2.‬ ‭To maintain all buildings and roads.‬
‭3.‬ ‭To physically verify dead stock in a year.‬
‭4.‬ ‭To maintain construction accounts.‬
‭5.‬ ‭To check the works in progress.‬

‭JUNIOR ENGINEER:‬
1‭ .‬ ‭To take measurements of all works and note it down in ‘Measurement Book’.‬
‭2.‬ ‭To check whether works are done according to ‘Specifications’.‬
‭3.‬ ‭To prepare an estimate of work.‬
‭4.‬ ‭To prepare ‘Running Bill’ and ‘Final Bill’.‬
‭5.‬ ‭To supervise the works in his charge.‬
‭C.‬‭PWD PROCEDURE OF INITIATING WORK:‬
‭➔‬ ‭For any new work, the concerned department prepares a proposal report regarding the‬
‭cost of work and its necessity.‬
‭➔‬ ‭After studying the proposal, the department will then proceed for ‘Administrative‬
‭Approval’.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The Engineering Department will then prepare detailed drawings, designs, estimates and‬
‭submit the same to higher authorities for ‘Technical Sanction’.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The competent authority studies the detailed drawings, designs, estimates carefully and‬
‭verifies it according to the rules stated and then provides ‘Technical Sanction’.‬
‭➔‬ ‭Then the ‘Budget Provision’ is made for the project as per the government plan.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The execution of work is then started by that contractor whose tender is selected.‬

‭●‬ ‭ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL‬

‭➔‬ ‭It is the formal acceptance of the proposal for putting money in the project, given by the‬
‭concerned administrative department.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The said approval also confirms that the plan suits the suggested needs of the project.‬
‭➔‬ ‭For example, Government Polytechnic, Bandra wants to construct a boys hostel in its‬
‭campus.‬
‭They give the details regarding the number of students and their requirements to PWD.‬
‭Then, PWD prepares estimates and drawings on a preliminary basis which is formally‬
‭accepted by GPB.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The administrative approval remains in force for five years.‬
‭➔‬ ‭This approval is required for new/original works only.‬
‭➔‬ ‭Once the administrative approval is obtained, the proposal goes into the second important‬
‭phase known as ‘Technical sanction’.‬

‭●‬ ‭TECHNICAL SANCTION:‬

‭➔‬ ‭On receiving an ‘Administrative Approval’, detailed drawings and estimates are prepared‬
‭by PWD.‬
‭➔‬ ‭These are then submitted to the concerned authority of the Engineering Department, to‬
‭whom the power to give such sanction is authorized by the government.‬
‭➔‬ ‭On detailed analysis and study, the sanction for this proposal which is technically‬
‭(structurally) sound is given and called as ‘Technical Sanction’.‬
‭➔‬ ‭A ‘Technical Sanction’ once given, shall remain valid for five years.‬
‭➔‬ ‭After the Technical Sanction of estimate is given, only then the work is taken up for‬
‭construction.‬
‭➔‬ ‭CE has full powers to grant Technical Sanction.‬
‭➔‬ ‭SE can sanction a work up to 15 lakhs.‬
‭➔‬ ‭EE can sanction a work up to 5 lakhs.‬
‭BUDGET PROVISION:‬
‭➔‬ ‭Every year the estimates are prepared in different divisional offices and then submitted to‬
‭the circle office of SE.‬
‭➔‬ ‭Based on these estimates, raw materials, organizational set up, the total cost for execution‬
‭of work is calculated.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The office of CE prepares the annual budget on the basis of proposals received from SE.‬
‭➔‬ ‭These budget statements are then submitted to ministerial level for sanctioning finance.‬
‭➔‬ ‭This approval of sanctioning finance is termed as ‘Budget Provision’.‬
‭➔‬ ‭The Budget Provision remains in force till 31‬‭st‬ ‭March‬‭of the sanctioned year and the‬
‭allotted amount may be revised from time to time.‬

‭ OLES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ESTIMATOR:‬

R
‭A building estimator is an individual who quantifies the materials, labour and equipment‬
‭needed to complete a construction project.‬

‭The roles and responsibilities of an estimator are:-‬

‭1.‬ P ‭ repares work to be estimated by gathering proposals, drawings, specifications, designs‬

‭and related documents.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Identifies labour, material and time requirements by studying all necessary documents.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Computes costs by analyzing labour, material and time requirements.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Resolves discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Presents prepared estimates by assembling and displaying numerical and descriptive‬
‭information.‬
‭6.‬ ‭Prepares special reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information and‬
‭trends.‬
‭7.‬ ‭Maintains cost database by entering and backing up data.‬
‭8.‬ ‭Maintains technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing technical‬
‭publications.‬
‭9.‬ ‭Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.‬
‭10.‬ ‭Prepares all sorts of approximate and detailed estimates, rate analysis, bar bending‬
‭schedule, earthwork calculations etc. and records the same in Measurement sheet,‬
‭Abstract sheet and Face sheet.‬

‭PRINCIPLE OF UNITS:‬
1‭ . Mass, voluminous and thick works are measured in‬‭m‭3‬ ‬‭(cubic meter)‬
‭2. Shallow, thin and surface works are measured in‬‭m‬‭2‬‭(square meter)‬
‭3. Long and thin works are measured in‬‭m (meters or‬‭running meters / RMT)‬
‭4. Piece works are measured in‬‭numbers‬
‭MODES OF MEASUREMENT:‬

‭ ARTHWORK‬
E
‭Earthwork in excavation‬ ‭ ‭3‬ ‬
m
‭Earth filling, cutting‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Surface dressing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Cutting of trees‬ ‭numbers‬
‭Puddling‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Quarrying of stones‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Blasting of rock‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭For excavation Lead = 30m and Lift = 1.5m‬
‭CONCRETE‬
‭Lime concrete‬ ‭ ‭3‬ ‬
m
‭Plain cement concrete‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Reinforced cement concrete‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Cement concrete grill work‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭DAMP PROOF COURSE (DPC)‬
‭DPC‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭BRICKWORK‬
‭Brickwork masonry‬ ‭ ‭3‬ ‬
m
‭Half brick thick brickwork‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Thin partition wall‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Jack arch roofing including top finishing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Coping, Cornice, Porgetting, Bridge edging‬ ‭m‬
‭Honey comb brickwork‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭STONEWORK‬
‭Stone masonry‬ ‭ ‭3‬ ‬
m
‭Cut stone work in lintel, beam‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Stone slab in roof, shelve, sill, stone chajja (thickness specified)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Stone work in wall facing or lining (thickness given)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭WOOD WORK‬
‭Wood work in door and window frame, rafter, truss‬ ‭ ‭3‬ ‬
m
‭Door and window shutters (thickness specified)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Door and window fittings‬ ‭numbers‬
‭Timbering (thickness specified)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Sawing of timber‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Wood work in partition, Plywood‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Panel work‬ ‭m‬
‭STEEL WORK‬
‭Rolled steel Joists, Channel, Tee, Angle, Flat‬ ‭ uintal‬
q
‭Steel reinforcement bars‬ ‭quintal‬
‭Bending, binding‬ ‭quintal‬
‭Fabrication and hoisting‬ ‭quintal‬
‭Fabric reinforcement, wire netting‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭ usset plate‬
G ‭ uintal‬
q
‭Cutting of Joists, Channels‬ ‭cm‬
‭Cutting of Angles, Tees, Plate‬ ‭cm‬‭2‬
‭Threading‬ ‭cm‬
‭Welding, soldering‬ ‭cm‬
‭Boring holes‬ ‭numbers‬
‭Cast iron (CI) pipe (diameter specified)‬ ‭m‬
‭Rivets, bolts, nuts‬ ‭quintal‬
‭Barbed wire fencing‬ ‭m‬
‭Railing‬ ‭m‬
‭Iron grill, collapsible gate‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Rolling shutter‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Steel doors and windows‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭ROOFING‬
‭Tiled roof (any tile)‬ ‭ ‭2‬ ‬
m
‭Timber roofing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Thatch roofing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Eaves board (thickness specified)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭RCC slab roof‬ ‭m‭3‬ ‬
‭Mud roof or Lime concrete roof over brick (thickness specified)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Ridges, valleys, gutters‬ ‭m‬
‭Tar felting, Bituminous painting‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Insulating layer in roof of sand and clay, asphalt etc.‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Expansion or contraction construction joint‬ ‭m‬
‭Ceiling – Timber, AC sheet, Paste board, False‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Centring and shuttering, formwork‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭PLASTERING, POINTING AND FINISHING‬
‭Plastering (any type) (thickness and proportion specified)‬ ‭ ‭2‬ ‬
m
‭Pointing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Dado (thickness specified)‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Skirting (thickness and height specified)‬ ‭m‬
‭Cement or lime mortar rubbing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭White washing, Colour washing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Distempering‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Painting, Varnishing‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Polishing of wood work‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Painting letters and figures‬ ‭numbers‬
‭Oiling and clearing of doors and windows‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Coal tarring‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Removal of paint or varnish‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭FLOORING‬
‭Flooring (any tile, any thickness and over any layer)‬ ‭ ‭2‬ ‬
m
‭Apron or Plinth protection‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
‭Door and window sill slab work‬ ‭m‭2‬ ‬
 ‭ ISCELLANEOUS WORKS‬
M
‭Plumbing fixtures and fittings‬ ‭ umbers‬
n
‭Site clearance‬ ‭Lumpsum‬

‭DESIRED ACCURACY IN MEASUREMENTS OF DIFFERENT ITEMS OF WORK AS PER‬

‭IS 1200 (LIMITS / RULES OF MEASUREMENT):‬

‭1. Measurement shall be item wise for the finished item of work and its description shall‬
‭include materials, transport, labour, fabrication, hoisting, tools and plants, overheads,‬
‭shape, size, design and specifications.‬
‭2. While recording measurements, the order shall be in the sequence of length, breadth and‬
‭height or depth or thickness.‬
‭3. All works shall be measured net subject to following tolerances unless otherwise stated:-‬
‭a) Dimensions shall be measured to the nearest‬‭0.01 m.‬
‭b) Areas shall be measured to the nearest‬‭0.01‬‭m‬‭2‭.‬ ‬
‭c) Cubic contents shall be measured to the nearest‬‭0.01 m‬‭3‬‭.‬
‭d) Weights shall be measured to the nearest‬‭0.01‬‭Kg‬‭.‬
‭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 materials, proportions and workmanship.‬
‭6. In case of structural concrete, brickwork, stone masonry, the following categories shall be‬
‭considered for measuring separately with height:-‬
‭a) Foundation to Plinth level.‬
‭b) Plinth level to First floor level.‬
‭c) First floor level to Second floor level and so on.‬
‭d) Parapet is measured with corresponding lower floor.‬

‭ ULES FOR DEDUCTION IN MASONRY WORKS, PLASTERING AND POINTING‬

R
‭AND PAINTING WORK AS PER IS 1200‬

‭DEDUCTION FOR BRICKWORK:‬

‭ o deduction or addition shall be made for the following:-‬
N
‭1. Opening up to 0.1 m‬‭2‬ ‭in section.‬
‭2. Ends of joints, beams, lintels, posts, rafters, purlins, corbels, steps etc.‬
‭3. Wall plates and bed plates, bearing of slabs, chajjas and the like where the thickness does‬
‭not exceed 10 cm and the bearing does not extend over full width (thickness) of wall.‬
‭DEDUCTION FOR PLASTERING AND POINTING:‬
‭1. No deductions shall be made for ends of joists, beams, posts etc. and openings less than 0.5‬
‭m‬‭2‬ ‭each and no addition shall be made for reveals, jambs, soffits, sills etc. of these‬
‭openings.‬
‭2. For openings more than 0.5 m‬‭2‬ ‭but less than 3 m‬‭2‬ ‭each, deduction shall be made for one‬
‭face only and the other face shall be allowed for jambs, soffits and sills which shall not be‬
‭measured.‬
‭3. In case of openings of area above 3 m‬‭2‬ ‭each, deduction‬‭shall be made for both faces of‬
‭openings and the jambs, sills shall be measured and added.‬
‭4. When the two faces are plastered with different mortars or if one side is plastered and the‬
‭other is pointed then, the deduction shall be made for the outer face only.‬

‭RULES FOR PAINTING:‬

‭ ainting of doors and windows should be measured closed and flat in m‬‭2‬ ‭including edges,‬
P
‭frames, cleats etc.‬
‭Different types of doors and windows shall be grouped under one item and areas of uneven‬
‭surfaces shall be covered into equivalent area by multiplying the flat measured area with a‬
‭multiplying factor (on each side) as given below:-‬

‭ anelled, framed, battened and ledged‬

P ‭ .125‬
1
‭Fully glazed‬ ‭0.5‬
‭Partly panelled and partly glazed‬ ‭1‬
‭Flush door‬ ‭1‬
‭Louvered door‬ ‭1.5‬
‭Corrugated Galvanised Iron (GI) sheet in roof‬ ‭1.14‬
‭Corrugated Asbestos cement (AC) sheet in roof‬ ‭1.2‬
‭Steel rolling shutters‬ ‭1.25‬
‭Guard bars, balustrades, grating, railing, grills‬ ‭1 (for painting all over)‬

‭ TANDARD FORMATS OF MEASUREMENT SHEET, ABSTRACT SHEET, FACE‬

S
‭SHEET‬

‭MEASUREMENT SHEET:‬

‭Wi‬ ‭Hei‬
‭It‬ ‭Len‬
‭d‬ ‭g‬
e‭ ‭N‬ ‭gt‬
‭t‬ ‭h‬
‭m ‭
o ‭h‬ ‭Quant‬
‭Description‬ ‭h‬ ‭t‬
‭n ‭s ‭(‬ ‭ity‬
‭(‬ ‭(‬
‭o ‭. ‭m‬
‭m ‭m‬
‭. ‭)‬
‭)‬ ‭)‬
‭ABSTRACT SHEET:‬

‭It‬
‭Per‬
e‭
‭u‬
‭m ‭Quan‬ ‭Rate‬ ‭Cost‬
‭Description‬ ‭n‬
‭n ‭tity‬ ‭(‬‭̀ ‭)‬ ‬ ‭(‬‭̀ ‭)‬ ‬
‭i‬
‭o
‭t‬
‭.
‭FACE SHEET:‬

‭Sr.‬
‭N‬ ‭Particulars‬ ‭Amount‬
‭o‬

‭1.‬ ‭Estimated cost of abstracted items (ground‬ ‭Rs‬

‭floor)‬ ‭_____________________‬
‭2.‬ ‭__‬
‭Estimated cost of abstracted items (first‬ ‭+‬
‭3.‬ ‭floor)‬ ‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭4.‬ ‭Total cost for ground and first floor‬ ‭__‬

‭5.‬ ‭Water supply & sanitary charges @___ %‬ ‭Rs‬

‭(4-8%)‬ ‭_____________________‬
‭6.‬ ‭__‬
‭Electrification charges @ ___ % (5-10%)‬ ‭+‬
‭7.‬ ‭Rs‬
‭Other service charges (AC, lift etc. @ ___‬ ‭_____________________‬
‭8.‬ ‭%)‬ ‭__‬
‭+‬
‭9.‬ ‭Total cost of all items‬ ‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭10.‬ ‭__‬
‭Add 5% contingencies‬ ‭+‬
‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭Add 2-2.5% for work charged establishment‬
‭__‬
‭Total estimated cost of the project‬
‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭__‬

‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭__‬
‭+‬
‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭__‬

‭Rs‬
‭_____________________‬
‭__‬