Estimation is a crucial aspect of any civil engineering project as it enables builders to have an understanding of the amount of work and the associated costs before commencing the project. Therefore, it is imperative to know how to estimate all the items involved in the project to ensure that the builder can accurately budget for the required materials and labour.
A building project involves several items that require estimation. These items may include but are not limited to the foundation, the structure, the walls, the roofing, the doors and windows, the plumbing system, the electrical system, and the finishes. Each of these items has its unique set of requirements, and it is essential to accurately estimate their costs to avoid any unexpected expenses.
The foundation of a building is crucial, and its estimation is necessary to ensure that it is strong enough to support the entire structure. The structure, which comprises of beams, columns, and slabs, also needs to be estimated accurately to ensure that it meets the necessary safety requirements. Walls, roofing, doors, and windows require estimation to ensure that they are of the correct dimensions and materials.
The plumbing and electrical systems are integral parts of any building and require estimation to ensure that they meet the necessary safety and functionality standards. Lastly, the finishes, such as flooring, paint, and fittings, require estimation to ensure that they are of the desired quality and aesthetic.
In conclusion, an accurate estimation of all the items involved in a building project is crucial to ensure that the builder can budget effectively and avoid any unexpected expenses. Each item requires specific attention to detail, and it is essential to have a thorough understanding of each aspect of the project to estimate it accurately.
1. Clearing the Site
In order to properly assess and understand the state of a particular plot of land, it is important to take into consideration any materials that may be present on top of the soil. This could include a variety of items such as vegetation, bushes, or other perishable and organic materials.
To accurately quantify the amount of space that is covered by these materials, it is necessary to clear the area and measure it in square meters. By doing so, one can gain a better understanding of the composition and characteristics of the soil beneath, as well as any potential obstacles that may need to be addressed in order to make the area suitable for a particular use or purpose.
Additionally, measuring the area in square meters can help to provide a standardized metric for comparison between different plots of land, making it easier to evaluate the relative size and density of materials present on the surface. This information can be particularly useful for a variety of applications, such as urban planning, agriculture, or environmental conservation efforts.
Overall, clearing and measuring materials on the top of the soil can provide important insights into the state of a particular plot of land, and can help to inform decision-making processes related to its use and management.
2. Soil Excavation for Foundation Trenches
When constructing a building, the first step is to prepare the foundation. The ground must be excavated to create trenches that are the exact width and height of the foundation. The sides and bottom of these trenches are carefully leveled both longitudinally and transversely to ensure that the foundation will be stable and secure. The amount of earth that is excavated is measured in cubic meters, which is a unit of volume. This process is crucial because the foundation is responsible for supporting the weight of the entire building. If the foundation is not properly prepared, the building could collapse or suffer from structural damage. Therefore, it is essential to take great care when excavating the trenches for the foundation to ensure that the building will stand strong and steady for years to come.
3. Earthwork in Filling
Earthwork in construction refers to the process of excavating soil to create a foundation for a building or structure. This excavation creates a depression or hole in the ground which needs to be filled up to the required depth. The filling material can either come from the soil excavated from the site or can be brought in from outside. The quantity of filling material required is measured in cubic meters and is determined based on the type and quality of soil that is excavated.
There are two main types of earthwork in filling: filling in foundation and plinth filling. Filling in foundation refers to the process of filling up the excavated part of the ground up to the foundation level of the building. This is an essential part of the construction process as it ensures that the building has a stable and strong base.
Plinth filling, on the other hand, involves filling up the area from the ground level up to the floor level of the building. This is done to ensure that the ground is level and that the building is supported evenly across its base. The depth of the plinth filling can vary depending on the requirements of the building and the type of soil that is being used.
The given context describes a layer that is commonly used to prevent the seepage of water from the ground through capillary action. This layer is made up of a cement concrete mixture with a ratio of 1:2:4, mixed with a water-proofing compound. It is typically laid between the plinth and superstructure walls.
The purpose of this layer is to serve as a barrier against water that rises from the ground, which can cause damage to the structure over time. By placing this layer in between the walls and the plinth, it helps to prevent any water from seeping through and causing damage.
The measurement of this layer is typically done in square meters, which allows for accurate calculations of the area that needs to be covered. Overall, this layer is an essential component in preventing water damage to buildings and structures, particularly in areas where water seepage is a common issue.
5. Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) Works
The task at hand involves computing the amount of PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) required for various purposes such as foundations, trenches, grade slabs, sills, and others. This calculation needs to be done in terms of cubic meters. Furthermore, if the slope is provided for the foundations, then the quantity of PCC required for that slope also needs to be determined.
6. Reinforced Cement Concrete Works
The quantities of Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) required for foundations, grade slab, plinth beams, floor beams, lintel beams, columns, and slabs, along with the concrete in Chajja, are all included in this item. It is unnecessary to subtract the volume of reinforcement from the total volume of concrete as the reinforcement quantity will be determined separately. However, if reinforcement or shuttering of formwork are consolidated with RCC and included in this item, it should be clearly stated in the item description. The unit of measurement for RCC is cubic meters.
It is recommended that the shuttering or formwork used for RCC construction is calculated separately from the concrete quantities. This is to ensure a clear understanding of the amount of material used and to aid in accurate budgeting and cost estimation. In cases where the shuttering or formwork is included and considered as a consolidated item with RCC, it must be properly described in the item description. The unit of measurement for shuttering is also cubic meters.
7. Steel Work
The measurement of steel in construction includes both bending and binding in position, and is typically expressed in quintal units. Interestingly, no separate payment for binding wire is required.
For calculation purposes, the quantity of steel is determined based on the percentage volume of reinforced concrete. However, for practical purposes, reinforcement is calculated from the bar bending schedule and is paid for after measuring the bars before concreting.
8. Shuttering (Formwork)
Formwork is an essential component in the construction process, and its cost is a significant factor in determining the overall expense of a project. Typically, the cost of formwork is estimated to be around 30% of the cost of cement concrete. To calculate the cost of formwork, the measurement is taken in square meters by multiplying the length and breadth of the required area. The measurement is based on the actual surface area of concrete with or without any additional material that requires formwork.
In construction, it is common practice to consider the area of built-up concrete members when calculating the cost of formwork. This includes the measurement of walls, columns, beams, and other concrete structures that require formwork during the construction process. By accurately estimating the cost of formwork, construction professionals can effectively plan and manage the expenses of a project and ensure that it remains within budget constraints.
9. Masonry work
The calculation of the volume of brickwork involves multiplying the length, breadth, and height of the wall. The resulting unit of measurement is cubic meters. To facilitate the process, masonry work is typically broken down into two main categories: foundation and superstructure wall.
For foundation brickwork, there are no openings in the wall up to the plinth, meaning that no deductions are required in the calculation of the volume.
On the other hand, for superstructure wall brickwork, the volume is first calculated assuming that there are no openings. Once this calculation is complete, deductions for the volumes of openings, lintels, and other components are made according to the building standards. This ensures that the final volume accurately reflects the true amount of brickwork required for the project.
10. Plastering Work
The method of measuring the surface area of a wall before plastering involves deducting the area of door and window openings. The deduction for these openings is calculated based on their size. If the openings do not exceed 0.5 square meters, no deduction or addition is made to the wall area measurement. However, if the openings exceed 0.5 square meters but do not exceed 3 square meters, and if both faces of the wall are plastered with the same material, then the deduction is only made on one face of the wall.
In the case of openings that exceed 3 square meters, the deduction for plastering quantity is made for each face of the wall. This means that the deduction is calculated separately for each side of the wall that requires plastering. When measuring the quantity of plaster required for the ceiling, the area between the walls is taken into consideration. Additionally, the soffits of stairs are also considered as part of the ceiling plastering. These are important points to note when making deductions for openings in wall plastering measurements.
11. Painting
When calculating the quantities needed for 2-3 coats of whitewash, color wash, or emulsion paints, the measurements are based on the area being painted. This is similar to how quantities are determined for plastering. By measuring the area, the appropriate amount of paint can be determined to ensure that enough is purchased to complete the job. Accurately calculating the required quantities of paint is important to avoid running out of paint mid-project or purchasing too much and wasting resources. Therefore, it is essential to carefully measure the area to be painted and use this information to determine the appropriate amount of paint needed for 2-3 coats of coverage.
12. Flooring and Tiling
This item is divided into two sections. The first section pertains to the flooring of the ground floor. Here, the quantity of rubble soling provided below various structures such as foundations, floors, pavement, ramps, etc. is measured. The quantity also includes the amount of either thick lime concrete or cement concrete over the soling. Additionally, the quantity of the top part of the flooring is calculated, which may be of different types and embedded in cement mortar bed. All these items collectively contribute to the flooring on the ground floor.
The second section deals with the flooring of top floors. The quantity of flooring is determined by measuring the area between walls that require flooring.
13. Woodwork for Doors and Windows
The item being considered has two components: the door and window frame, and the door and window shutters. To determine the quantity of the door and window frame, the total length of the frame must be multiplied by its cross-section. To calculate the total length, two times the height and one width of the opening should be used, as there is no bottom sill. The quantity for the window frame should include two vertical lengths and two horizontal widths, and its unit of measurement is cubic meters.
To determine the quantity of the door and window shutters, the height should be multiplied by the breadth, and the thickness should be stated in the description. In the case of double shutters, the overlapping at the center in between is not accounted for. Other fittings are typically paid for and provided separately. The unit of measurement for the door and window shutters is square meters.
It is essential to calculate all of these quantities with great precision when estimating the item.