Introduction to Estimate –

 An estimate is anticipated or probable cost of a work and is usually prepared before

the construction is taken up.
 Before undertaking any work or project it is necessary to know its probable cost
which is obtained or derived by estimating.
 The estimate is prepared by computing or calculating the quantities required and
then calculating cost at suitable rates, to get the expenditure likely to be incurred in
the construction of the work or structure.
 The primary object of an estimate is to enable one to know beforehand the cost of
work.
 The actual cost is known only after the completion of the work from the account of
the completed work.
 If the estimate is prepared carefully and correctly there will not be much difference in
between the estimated cost and the actual cost,
 For accurate estimating the estimator should be experienced and fully acquainted
with the methods of construction.
 Accurate estimate is prepared in detail item-wise by Detailed estimate .
 For Detailed estimate the work is divided into different items of the work, and the
quantities under each item are taken out .
 And then an ‘Abstract of estimated cost ‘ is prepared at suitable rates.
 Provision for contingencies, 3% to 5% of the estimated cost is made in the estimate
to cover the miscellaneous petty expenditures which do not come under any item of
work.
 Provision is also made in the estimate for work charged establishment at 1.5 % to
2% of the estimated cost.
 From detailed estimate the quantities of various materials and labour required may
also be calculated.
 The estimate also gives an idea of the time required for the completion of the work.
 The estimate is also required for inviting tenders and to arrange contract and to
control the expenditure during the execution.
 For complete estimate of the project, besides the estimated cost of the different
items of main work, the cost of preliminary works and surveying, cost of land
 including cost of acquisition, cost of leveling and dressing of ground and the cost of
other external services are required to be provided in the estimate.
 Provision for supervision or departmental charges 5% to 10% of the estimated cost
is also made to get the estimated cost of the whole project.

Data for Estimate –

 To make out an estimate for a work the following data is necessary –
1) Drawing (Plans and section etc.)
2) Specifications
3) Rates.
1) Drawings – Plan, sectional elevations and detailed drawing to scale.
Fully dimensions are required. The plan, elevation and sectional elevations are usually
drawn to the scale of 1 cm = 1m (1” = 8’) and detailed drawings are prepared to the
scales 1cm = 10 cm to 1cm =29 cm (1” = 1’ to 1”=2’)
2) Specifications –
General Specification or brief specifications
 A general specification give general idea of whole project, specifies class of brick to
be used, specifies flooring, roofing to be used. Specifies External and Internal Plaster to
be used.
 General Specifications help in preparing Detailed Specifications.

Detailed Specifications-

 These give the detailed description of the various items of work laying down the
quantities and qualities of materials and their proportions, the method of preparation,
workmanship and execution of work.
 Detailed Specification describes every item of work separately, in detail and is
helpful for the execution of the different items of the work.
3) Rates –
 The Rates per unit of items of the work.
 The Rates of various materials to be used in the construction
 Wages of different categories of labour, skilled or unskilled mason, carpenter,
mazdoor, bhisti, etc.
 The location of work and its distance from the source of materials and cost of
transportation should be known.
 Thease rates may be obtained from P.W.D schedule of rate book or the rates
may be worked out by the “Analysis of Rate”, method.

Different Types of Estimate-

The following are the different types of estimate:-

1. Preliminary Estimate or approximate or abstract estimate or rough cost

estimate.
2. Plinth Area Estimate
3. Cube Rate Estimate or cubical content estimate
4. Approximate quantity method estimate
5. Detailed estimate or Item rate estimate
6. Revised Estimate
7. Supplementary estimate
8. Supplementary and revised estimate
9. Annual Repair or maintenance Estimate (A. R. or A. M. Estimate)

1. Preliminary Estimate or approximate or abstract estimate

 It is required for preliminary studies of various aspects of a work or project.
 It is required to decide the financial position and policy for administrative sanction
by the competent administrative authority.
 The approximate estimate is prepared from the practical knowledge and cost of
similar works.
 The estimate is prepared showing separately the approximate cost of all important
items of work as cost of land, cost of each building, cost of roads, water supply
sanitary works, electrification, etc.
 The estimate is accompanied by a brief report explaining the necessity and utility
of project and showing how the cost of separate items have been arrived at.
 This is also accompanied with a site plan or layout plan.
 A percentage of about 5% to 10% is added as contingencies.
 In case of commercial projects such as Irrigation projects, Residential building
project and similar project which earn revenue income, the probable income may
be worked out, and from the preliminary the approx. cost may be known and then
it may be seen whether the investment on project is justified or not.
2. Plinth Area Estimate for building (P.A. Estimate)
 This is prepared on the basis of plinth area of building.
 Plinth area estimate is calculated by finding out plinth area of building and
multiplying by plinth area rate.
 The plinth area Rate is obtained from the cost of similar buildings having
similar specifications, height and construction in locality.
 Plinth area is calculated by taking external dimensions of the covered area of
building at floor level, courtyard or any other open area is not included.
 If the plans of building are not ready or not available, floor area of proposed
room is worked out and 30 to 40% of the floor area is added to account for area
under walls and circulation area. Addition of these two gives plinth area of proposed
building.
 For storied buildings plinth area estimate is prepared separately for each
storey.
3. Cube Rate Estimate
 This is also an approximate estimate and is calculated by multiplying cubic
content of building (length X Width X Height) with cube rate.
 Cube rate is obtained from the cost of similar building having similar
specifications, height and construction in locality.
 Cubic content is worked out by taking length and width as external dimensions
of the building at floor level and height is taken from floor level to top of roof. In
case of sloped roof average height is worked out with help of maximum height
and minimum height.
 The foundation plinth as well as parapet wall above roof are not taken into
account while working out cubic content of building.
 For storied building the height should be taken between floor level of one strey
to top of next higher floor.
 Cubic rate estimate is more accurate as compared to plinth area estimate as the
height of the building also considered.
4. Approximate Quantity Method Estimate
 For this method plan or line plan of building should be available.
 In this method structure is divided into two parts i.e. Foundation including
plinth and super structure.
  Approximate length of wall is calculated and is multiplied with rate per running
meter.
 Rate per running meter is worked out separately for foundation including
plinth and superstructure.
 To calculate the approx. quantities of foundation including plinth Approximate
Quantities of item such as excavation, brickwork upto plinth and DPC are calculated
for meter length and then multiplied by rates of these items per meter length.
 Similarly for superstructure the approx. quantities of brickwork, wood work,
roof floor finishes etc. are worked out per meter length and priced.
 The sum of these two rates gives the rate per running meter, which is
multiplied with approx. length of wall to arrive at approx. cost of the building
5. Detailed estimate or Item Rate Estimate
 Detailed estimate is also Known as item rate estimate is an accurate estimate
and prepared in two stages as under-
I. Details of Measurement and calculations—
 The dimensions, length, width and height or thickness of each item of work is
calculated correctly from drawings and quantities under each item are computed in
tabular form name as details of measurement form or measurement sheet.
 Measurement sheet

Item No. Descriptions No. Length Width Height Qunatity

or Or
perticulars Depth

II. Abstract of estimated cost-

 The cost of under item of work calculated from quantities already computed at
Standard Schedule of Rates (SSR) in abstract of estimate form.
 Abstract Sheet-

Item No. Descriptions Quantity Unit Rate Amount

or
perticulars
 III. The following percentages are added to the cost worked at SSR rates-
a. The prevailing % percentage above or below SSR for similar works under
execution.
b. 3 to 5 % as contingencies to meet petty contingent unforeseen expenditure.
c. One and half to 2 % as to meet the expenditure of work charged establishment
IV. General –
 Detailed estimate is prepared work wise (Building wise) eg. Main block,
servant quarter, garage, boundry wall etc.
 Detailed estimate is accompanied by-
1) Project Report
2) General Specifications
3) Detailed Specifications
4) Drawings- Plans, Elevations, Sections, Detailed drawings, site plan
or layout plan.
5) Calculations design- design of foundation, slab ,beams ,columns etc
6) Analysis of Rates – If rates are not as per schedule of rates or for
non scheduled items
It can be used to calculate the materials and man power required.
7) Revised Estimate
Revised Estimate is a detailed estimate and is required to be prepared under any one
of the following circumstances-
a) When the original sanctioned estimate is exceeded or likely to exceed by more
than 5%
b) When the expenditure on a work exceeds or likely to exceed the amount of
administrative approval by 10%
c) When there are material deviations from the original proposal, even though the
cost may be met from the sanctioned amount.
 A comparative statement showing variations of each item of work, its quantity
rate and cost under original and revised side by side , the excess or saving and
reasons for variation accompany the revised estimate.

8) Supplementary Estimate
 This is fresh detailed estimate of the additional works in addition to original
estimate.
 And is prepared when additional works are required to supplement the
original works, or when further development is required is required during progress
of work.
 The abstract should show the amount of original estimate and the total
amount including the supplementary amount for which sanction is required.

9) Supplementary and Revised Estimate

 When work is partially abandoned and the estimated cost of the remaining work
is less than 95% of the original sanctioned estimate
OR
 When there are material deviations and changes in design, which may cause
substantial savings, then the amount of original estimate is revised by the
competent authority.
 A supplementary and revised estimate is then prepared and fresh technical
sanction of competent authority is obtained.
10) Annual Repair or Maintenance Estimate
 This is detailed estimate to maintain the structures in proper order and in safe
condition.
 For building this includes periodical services i.e. white / color washing /
distempering, painting and minor repairs.

11) Project Estimate

 Beside the estimated cost of different item of work, the following is also
included-
 Cost of preliminary works ex. Kacha road, site leveling, surveying and soil
investigation etc.
 Cost of land including cost of acquisition.
 Cost of external services
 5% to 10% is added for supervision of departmental charges to get the
estimated cost of a project.
 BILL OF QUANTITIES-
If in the abtract sheet column of the rate and amount are left blank (to be
filled by the contractor as in the case of item rate contract) then it is known as
Bill of quantities. (BOQs)

Qualities of an estimator –
 For accurate estimating the estimator should be experienced and fully acquainted
with the methods of construction.
 In preparing an estimate, the Estimator must have good knowledge regarding the
important rules of quantity surveying.
 He must thoroughly understand the drawings of the structure, for which he is going
to prepare an estimate.
 He must also be clearly informed about the specifications showing nature and
classes of works and the materials to be used because the rates at which various
types of works can be executed depend upon its specifications.
 Knowledge of the details of construction work.
 Experience in construction work.
 Having information regarding materials required, machinery needed, overhead
problems, and cost of all kinds.
 Selection of a good method for preparing an estimate.
 Ability to be careful, thorough, hard working and accurate.
 Ability to collect, classify and evaluate data relating to the estimation
 Ability to visualize all the steps during the process of construction.
Spot Items –
 The estimate of a new building can be worked out from plans very easily.
 But there are certain works like additions and alterations to an existing building
whose estimate one cannot frame unless one inspects the existing building
 and studies it in detail in order to get a picture of all the items of works which cannot
be shown on the plans or which are partly shown.
 Thus, as the name suggests “spot items” or “site items” are all the items of works
whose estimate can be framed after the necessary inspection and measurement at
site.
 Examples – making an opening in the wall, old wall of the existing building to be
connected to new works, connection of old roof with new roof, site clearing.
Prime Cost (P.C.) and Provisional sum (P.S.) –
 For various reasons, it is not always possible to encompass everything necessary for
the completion of a building at the stage when the quantities are being taken out.
 It may also be necessary for the architect to select certain articles such as sanitary
fittings, etc., in consultation with his clients and the details of the same are not
considered at an early stage.
 Hence, the contractor is asked to put in his bill the prime cost. Price of an items
which are to be adjusted against the actual cost.
 Moreover, the specialist works like lift installation or air conditioning etc., are being
installed by specialist firms which will also be included in the contract by the
main contractor after obtaining their quotations and the same in known as
Provisional sums. (P.S.)