Purpose of Estimate

1. To ascertain the necessary amount of money required by the owner to

complete the proposed work. For public construction work, estimates
are required in order to obtain administrative approval, allotment of
funds, and technical sanction.
2. Detailed Estimates
2. To ascertain quantities of materials required in order to program their
timely procurement. To procure controlled materials, if any, like o Detailed estimate involves breaking down the project scope into
cement, steel, etc. smaller unit prices that can be priced individually.
3. Calculate the number of different categories of workers who are to be o This includes detailed particulars for the quantities, rates, and costs of
employed to complete the work within the scheduled time of all the items involved for the satisfactory completion of the project.
completion. o Quantities of all items of work are calculated from their respective
4. To assess the requirement of tools, plants, and equipment required to
dimensions on the drawings. Multiplying these quantities by their
complete the work according to the program.
respective rates in a separate sheet, the cost of all items is worked out
5. To fix up the completion period from the volume of works involved in
individually and summarized. All other expenses required for the
the estimate.
satisfactory completion of the work are added to the above cost
6. To draw up a construction schedule and program and also to arrange
the funds required according to the program.
7. Invite tenders and prepare bills for payment.
8. An estimate for an existing property is required for valuation. 3. Revis
ed
Components of Estimate

1. Quantity Estimate
 The measurement of something by stating how much of it there is. o Revised estimate is a detailed estimate for the revised quantities
 It is shown as a figure and a unit of measurement behind it. and rates of items of work originally provided in the estimate
 Unit of measurement could be in terms of area (m² or sq.m.), length without material deviations of a structural nature from the
(m), volume (cu.m.) , weight (kg.), etc. design originally approved for the project. It is prepared and
submitted for fresh technical sanction.

4. Supplementary Estimate

o While work is in progress, some changes or additional works due

2. Rate
to material deviation of a structural nature from the design
 A fixed charge, payment or value. Rate is the cost built up of material originally approved may be thought necessary for the
cost, wastages, labor cost, plant/equipment cost and profit and development of a project.
overhead.
5. Maintenance or Repair Estimate
3. Cost
o After completion of work, it is necessary to maintain the same for
 An estimate of how much money will be needed or the price to be its proper function and for the same as an estimate is prepared
charged for something. for the items which require renewal, replacement, repairs, etc.

SPECIFICATION

The specification is defined as a short or detailed description of different

parts of the work specifying materials, proportions, quantities, etc.
Types of Estimates
Specification specifies the nature and the class of the work, materials to be
1. Approximate Estimate used in the work, workmanship etc. is very important for the execution of
the work.
o Approximate estimate, also called preliminary estimate, abstract cost
estimate, or budget estimate, is used in the early phases of a project, The cost of a work depends much on specification.
usually before design documents have been completed.
o This is made to find out an approximate cost in a short time and thus Two types of Specifications:
enable the responsible authority concerned to consider the financial
1. General or Brief Specification
aspect of the scheme.
• used to show aspect, standard, and type of constructional work.
• depict the general classifications of the constructional work of the
project
• used to establish the standards of the constructional work that will
help in establishing Detailed Estimate.
2. Detailed Specification
• depict characteristics, quantity, ratio, and formation method of the
material used in construction work in the detailed description.
a. Unit method
• Each component of the constructional work is detailed separately with
 in this method all cost of a unit quantity such as per km for a
the help of Detailed Specifications. Therefore, all aspects establishing
highway, per meter of span for a bridge, per classroom for
standards and quality of the constructional work are disclosed. Hence,
school building, per bed for hospital, per liter for water tank,
it will assist in Detailed Estimate.
etc. are considered first and the estimate is prepared by
• Detailed Specifications of the items employed in ordinary projects are
multiplying the
printed that are used for contracts.
cost per corresponding unit by the number of units in the structure.

b. Superficial or Square method

 a type of approximate estimate wherein the plinth area of a
building shall be determined first. The estimate of a building is
worked out and multiplied by the area of the building with the
area rate of the locality for similar buildings constructed
recently.