BUILDING ECONOMICS

APPROXIMATE QUANTITIES
Approximate quantities priced at rates produced at the time the quantities are computed provide the
most reliable method of approximate estimating. It does however involve more work than any of the
methods previously described. There are occasions when lack of information prevents its use. The
method is sometimes described as rough quantities and the pricing document resembles an
abbreviated bill of quantities. It provides an excellent basis for cost checking during the detailed
design of a project.
Composite price rate items are obtained by combining or grouping bill items. It comprises a process
of joining together items under single description. For example, a brick work item measured in square
meters will normally include all accompanying labour and finishing to both wall faces. Doors and
windows are usually enumerated as extra over the walling and associated finishings, thus avoiding the
need to make adjustments to the walling.
It is good practice to build up a series of prices for composite items from a number of priced bills and
to examine critically the range of variation between these prices and to establish the underlying
reasons, and the relationships between the net cost of the main components, such as brick walls of
various thicknesses and the gross cost of composite or all-in items, such as brick walls including
finishings and all incidental labour. Sundry labours are covered by the addition of a percentage to the
composite items. The priced preliminaries in a bill of quantities must be examined before any priced
rates are extracted, because different approaches adopted by contractors, with a view to securing
compatibility of rates as between different contractors.
It is desirable to develop an instinct for forecasting the total cost of small projects from an
examination of the drawings prior to receipt of tenders. Afterwards these estimates can be usefully
compared with the tenders and the reasons for any disparities then assessed. This process will help QS
to acquire a feel for building prices and to build up expert intuition.
Example:
Example shows a plan and a section of a small factory check office for which the estimated cost is to
be obtained using the approximate quantities approach. The normal practice is followed of using
paper with dimensions columns and provision for squaring on the left hand side of the sheet, rate and
pricing column on the right hand side.
The priced rates for a project of this nature will vary tremendously with the particular circumstances.
Considerations include whether or not it can be included as part of a large contract, the state of the
market, the time of the year when the work is to be undertaken, and particularly the availability of
small builders in the locality, if it is a separate contract. Very small projects are usually more
expensive in terms of cost per unit of floor area because of the limited amount of work to be carried
out in each trade and the larger proportional amount of overheads. It should be borne in mind that it




may be necessary to adjust the estimate in order to make allowance for possible increased costs
occurring between the date of preparing the estimate and the date of letting the contract.





Estimate for factory check office
Ref
no.
Dimensions Extension Description and price build up Quantity Rate Amount
Floor Slab Base
2.750 2.100
Add Walls 2/215 0.430 0.430
Proj.
Conc 2/100 0.200 0.200
3.380 2.730

1. 3.38
2.73
9.23 Excavate over site, remove surplus
spoil, lay 150 mm bed of hardcore,
polythene membrane and 150 mm bed
of concrete (1:2:4) floated to smooth
finish and splayed top edge to
projecting part of slab. 9 m
2
21.00 189.00
Price build up
1m
2
excavate oversite & disposal 5.00
1m
2
hard core 3.10
0.15m
3
concrete bed 10.20
1m
2
polyth. Memb. 100mmwide 0.70
1m
2
floated finish to conc. 1.00
20.00
Sundry labour 5% 1.00
Cost per m
2
21.00


Walls
Walls 2.750
2.100
2/4.850
9.700
Add corners 0.860
10.560

2. 10.56
2.20
23.23 One brick wall in Flemish bond in
gauged mortar (1:1:6), faced externally
with facing bricks, PC 200 / 1000
and flush pointed and two coats of
emulsion paint internally. 23m
2
65.40 1504.20
Price build up
1m
2
of one-brick wall, faced externally
and flush pointed both sides 56.00
1m
2
emulsion paint 2.80
0.5 m
2
dpc. 5.00
63.80
Sundry labour 2 1/2% 1.60
Cost per m
2
65.40


Metal windows
3. 3.00 3.00 Extra over last for metal window size
925 x 1010 mm. including glass,
painting, etc. 2 nr 46.12 92.20
Price build up
1nr window and fixing 47.00
1m
2
glass 14.50





2.00m
2
painting 7.50
1mconcrete roofing tile sill 7.20
1mquarry tile sill 6.20
2.9memulsion reveal 2.40
1.9mface work to reveal 2.80
1.2mconcrete lintel 21.20
108.80
Sundry labour 2 1/2% 2.72
111.52
Less 1m
2
of brick wall with finishing
65.40
Extra cost of window over wall 46.12
Door
4. 1.00 1.00 Extra over brick wall for framed,
ledged and braced door, including
frame, painting, etc. 1 nr 52.22 52.22
Price build up
1nr door 54.00
3.40m
2
painting 15.30
1pair cross garnets 1.90
1nr lock 10.80
5.0mframe 45.00
10mpainting frame (both sides) 17.00
5.0memulsion reveal 4.50
4.0mface work to reveal 5.80
1.1mconcrete lintel 20.00
174.30
Sundry labour, cramps, etc 5% 8.72
183.02
Less 2m
2
of brick wall with finishing
130.80
Extra cost of door over wall 52.22

5. 3.38
2.37
9.23 Reinforced concrete roof, average 162
mm thick, reinforced with fabric
reinforcement and covered with two
coats of asphalt. 9m
2
60.69 546.21
Price build up
0.16 m
3
RC roof slab average 162mm
thick 12.20
1.0m
2
fabric reinforcement 1.80
1m
2
formwork to soffit 25.00
1m
2
two coats of asphalt 16.00
1m
2
emulsion paint 2.80
57.80
Sundry items, 5% 2.89
Cost per m
2
60.69

6. Electrical work 230.00
7. Telephone 130.00
8. Contingencies 300.00
9. Preliminaries 150.00
Estimated cost of building 3193.87
Rounded off to 3200.00
554.11/ m
2





Other examples for composite items:
ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT AMOUNT
Strip
Foundation
Excavating trench 1m deep in heavy soil; leveling; compacting;
earthwork support; backfilling; disposal of surplus material from site;
concrete 11.50 N/mm
2
foundation 300 mmthick; hollow brickwork in
cement mortar to 150 mm above ground level; bitumen hessian-based
horizontal dpc; and facing bricks (pc 300/1000) externally.
m 75.00
(16.50 for each additional 300 mmin depth)
Hollow
ground
floor
construction
Excavation; disposal of surplus; hardcore 100 mm thick; concrete
11.50 N/mm
2
bed 150 mm thick; half brick sleeper walls;
honeycombed at 2 mcenters; horizontal dpc; 100 x 50 mmplates; 50
x 100 mmjoists at 400 mmcenters; and 25 mmtongued and grooved
softwood boarded flooring.
m
2
75.00
Upper floor 50 x 175 mmjoists at 400 mm centers with ends creosoted and built
into brickwork; 50 x 25 mm herringbone strutting; trimming to
openings; 25 mm tongued and grooved softwood boarded flooring;
plasterboard; one coat of 5 mmgypsumplaster; and two coats of
emulsion paint.
m
2
32.00
Pitched roof (Measured on flat plan area) 75 x 40 mm plates; trussed rafters at 2
mcenters; 32 x 100 mmrafters and ceiling joists at 500 mmcenter; 40
x 150 mmpurlins; 50 x 125 mm binders; 25 x 150 mm ridge; 40 x 19
mm battens; felt; and concrete interlocking tiles nailed every second
course.
m
2
38.20
Stairs 900 mm wide to BS 585; treads and risers; winders; balustrade one
side; plasterboard and one coat of plaster to soffit and painting; rising
2600 mm.
nr 480.00