UNIT-2

Approximate estimate 6 Hrs

Plinth area rate method, Cubical Content method, Service Unit method and its application,
Typical Bay method, Approximate Quantity method, problems.
Approximate estimate
The approximate estimate is done in order to find out an approximate cost in a very short time
before starting the project. The estimation is made before selecting the final specification and
design of the project. This method is also known as a preliminary or rough estimation.
METHODS OF PREPARATION OF APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE
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.
The following are the methods used for preparation of approximate estimates.
• Plinth area method
• Cubical contents methods
• Service unit or Unit rate method
• Typical bay method
• Approximate quantity method
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 of materials and labour, type of foundation, height of building, fixtures, number of
storey’s etc.,
Following areas are included while calculating the plinth area of building
• Area of walls at floor level.
• Internal shafts of sanitary installations not exceeding 2.0 m2, lifts, air-conditioning
ducts etc.,
• Area of bar sati at terrace level
• Porches of non-cantilever type.
Areas which are not to include are:
• Area of lofts. Unenclosed balconies up to 1.80 m
• Architectural bands, cornices etc.,
• Domes, towers projecting above terrace level.
• Box louvers and vertical sun breakers

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Example 1 .1: Prepare an approximate estimate of building project with total plinth area
of all building is 80 sqm. and from following data:
Plinth area rate Rs. 40000 per sqm
Cost of water supply @7½%of cost of building.
Cost of Sanitary and electrical installations each @ 7½% of cost of building.
Cost of architectural features @1% of building cost. Cost of roads and lawns @5% of
building cost.
Cost of P.S. and contingencies @4% of building cost.
Determine the total cost of building project.
Solution:-
Data given:
Plinth area = 80 m2
Plinth area rate = Rs. 40000 per Sq.m
Cost of building = 80 X 40000 = Rs. 32,00,000.00
Add the cost of water supply=7.5 X 3200000/100 = + Rs. 2,40,000.00
Add Cost of Sanitary& Electrical Installations=15 X 3200000/100 = + Rs. 4,80,000.00
Add Architectural features= 1 X 3200000/100 = + Rs. 32,000.00
Add Cost of Roads and lawns=5 X 3200000/100= + Rs. 1,60,000.00
Add cost of P.S. & Contingencies=4 X 3200000/100= + Rs. 1,28,000.00
Total cost of the building= Rs .42,40,000.00
Add Supervision charges 8%= 8 X 4240000/100 Rs. 3,39,200.00
Grand Total Rs.45,79,200.00

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Cubical Content Method:
This method is generally used for multi-storeyed buildings. It is more accurate that the other
two methods viz., plinth area method and unit rate 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 off set. The cost of string
course, cornice, corbelling etc., is neglected.
The cost of building= volume of buildings x rate/ unit volume
Example 2: Prepare the rough estimate for a proposed commercial complex for a
municipal corporation for the following data:
Plinth Area = 500m2/floor Ht of each storey = 3.5m No. of storey’s = G+2
Cubical content rate = Rs. 1000/m3
Provided for a following as a percentage of structured cost
water supply & Sanitary arrangement-8%
Electrification -6%
Fluctuation of rates - 5%
Contractors profit - 10%
Petty supervision & contingencies- 3%
Solution:
Cubical content = No. of storey’s (Plinth Area x height of each storey)
= 3(500x3.5) = 5250m3
Structural cost = Cubical content x cubical content rate= 5250 x 1000 = 52.5 Lakhs
Water supply installations=52.5X8/100 = 4.2 Lakhs
Electrification6% =52.5X6/100 = 3.15 Lakhs
Fluctuation of rates =52.5X5/100 = 2.625 lakhs
Total 9.975 lakhs
Structural cost =52.5 lakhs
Total cost =62.475 lakhs
P S& contingencies =62.475X3/100= =1.875 Lakhs
Contractor profit=62.475X10/100= = 6.247 Lakhs
Total cost = 70.596 lakhs

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Service unit or Unit rate method:
Unit cost method of estimation in construction projects starts with dividing a project into
various components or elements for the purpose of cost estimation. The cost of each of the
project's components or elements are assessed and their cost estimation is calculated. Sum of
costs of each project elements gives the total construction cost of the project.
Example: Prepare an approximate estimate or rough cost estimate of a hospital building
for 50 beds. The cost of construction altogether for each bed isRs. 60,000/ -. Determine
the total cost of hospital building.
Solution:
No. of beds = 50
Cost of construction = Rs. 60,000/-
Total Cost of Hospital building = 50x 60,000= Rs. 30,00,000/-
Example: To prepare the rough cost estimate of a hostel building which accommodate
150 students. The cost of construction including all provisions is Rs. 15,000/- per student.
Determine total cost of building.
Solution:
No. of students= 150
Cost of construction including all L.S. provisions = Rs. 15,000/- Total Cost of hostel
building =150 x 15000 = Rs. 22,50,000/- (Rupees twenty two lakhs, fifty thousand
Typical bay method
The Typical Bay method of the approximate cost estimate is suitable when the structure has a
number of bays. Bay is basically a centre-to-centre distance between two supports. When the
area of the building consists of parts with similar shapes and sizes, such as godowns, factory
sheds, then this method is suitable for calculating the approximate cost estimate.
The cost per bay is calculated, and then it is multiplied by the number of bays present in that
Building.
Approximate Quantity Method:- To find the running meter rate of foundation, the
approximate quantities of items such as excavation,foundation, brickwork upto plinth, DPC,
are calculated per running metre of walls. By calculating price or rate per running metre is
determined from approximate quantities of brick work, wood works, roofs, floors etc. For this
method plan of building must be available.
In this method approximate total length of walls is found in running metre (RMT) and this total
length is multiplied by the rate per running meter of wall. For this, structure is divided into two
parts.
1. foundation (Including plinth)

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2. Super structure
The running meter cost for foundation and super structure should be calculated first and then
running meter rate should be multiplied by total length of walls. For this method plan of
building must be available. Floor area = plinth area – area of the wall.

Example :
Prepare approximate estimate for small residential building using following data:
S.N Room Size Numbers
1. Drawing hall 3.6m x5.0m 01 no
2. Bedroom 2.7 m x 5.5m 02 no
3. Kitchen 2.7m x 5.5 m 01 no
4. Toilet block 2.8 m x3.0 m 01 no
Plinth area rate Rs 7000/- square metre.
Ans-
Total carpet area = (3.6 x 5.0 x1)+(2.7 x 5.5 x 2) + (2.7 x 5.5 x 1) + (2.8 x 3.0 x 1)
= 70.95 m2
Add 20% for area under walls
Total plinth area = (70.95 x 1.2) = 84.14 m2
Total approximate cost of the residential building
= 85.14 x rate/m2
= 85.14 x 7000 = Rs. 595980 /-

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