BUILDING MEASUREMENT AND ESTIMATION

(ARC-427)

FIRST SEMESTER 2023/24 ACADEMIC

SESSION

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI

BORNO STATE

FEBRUARY, 2024
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INTRODUCTION
Building Measurement and estimation are crucial aspects of the construction
industry, particularly for quantity surveying and architecture students, as they
provide the foundation for planning, budgeting, and executing building
projects. Those elements can be measured in number, length, area, volume,
weight or time, then collated and structured to produce an un-priced bill of
quantities. This process is sometimes referred to as 'working up'. Always
measure gross building area and then deduct items such as exterior and
interior walls openings etc, to find approximate building space area.
MEASUREMENT
In the context of construction, measurement refers to quantifying the physical
attributes of materials, spaces, and structures. This involves taking accurate
dimensions of lengths, areas, volumes, weights and other relevant parameters
using various tools and techniques. Measurement of quantities for
construction works is the transformation of drawn information into
descriptions and quantities, undertaken to value, cost, and price construction
work.
ESTIMATION
Estimation involves predicting the quantities and costs of materials, labor, and
other resources required for a construction project. It requires analyzing
project specifications, understanding market rates, and considering factors like
inflation, overheads, and contingencies.
BILL OF QUANTITIES (BOQ)
Bills of Quantities is a comprehensive document used in the construction
industry to list all the materials, parts, and labor required to complete a
construction project. It serves as a detailed inventory of the items needed for
construction, along with their quantities and specifications. Here's a
breakdown of what a Bill of Quantities typically includes and its significance in
construction:
Contents of a Bill of Quantities:
1. Item Description: Each item required for the project is listed along with
a description that specifies its type, quality, size, and any other relevant
details.

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 2. Quantity: The quantity of each item needed for the project is specified,
usually in standardized units such as meters, square meters, cubic
meters, or individual pieces.
3. Unit of Measurement: The unit of measurement for each item is
provided to ensure consistency and accuracy in quantifying the materials
and labor required.
4. Rates: Rates or prices are assigned to each item, indicating the cost per
unit. These rates may be obtained from market surveys, supplier
quotations, or historical data.
5. Amount/Total Cost: The total cost for each item is calculated by
multiplying the quantity required by the unit rate. This provides a sub-
total for each item and helps in estimating the overall project cost.
IMPORTANCE OF A BILL OF QUANTITIES:
1. Accuracy: A well-prepared Bills of Quantities ensures that all necessary
materials and labor are accounted for accurately, minimizing the risk of
shortages or overages during construction.
2. Cost Estimation: By quantifying the materials and labor required for the
project, a Bills of Quantities enables accurate cost estimation, allowing
stakeholders to budget effectively and allocate resources efficiently.
3. Tendering Process: A Bills of Quantities serves as a basis for inviting bids
from contractors and suppliers during the tendering process.
Contractors use the Bills of Quantities to prepare their price quotations,
ensuring that all parties are pricing based on the same scope of work.
4. Contractual Documentation: Once a contractor is selected, the Bills of
Quantities becomes part of the contract documentation, providing a
clear reference for the scope of work, quantities, rates, and costs agreed
upon by both parties.
5. Variation Orders: In the event of changes or modifications to the project
scope during construction, the Bills of Quantities serves as a benchmark
for assessing the impact on costs and quantities, facilitating the
preparation of variation orders.
6. Cost Control: Throughout the construction process, the Bills of
Quantities is used as a tool for cost control, allowing project managers to
monitor expenditure against the budget and identify any deviations that
may require corrective action.

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Pre-contract measurement

During the early design stages, the quantity surveyor will measure the
dimensions of the building to produce budget estimates, perhaps based on
bench-marking against similar buildings. As the design develops, they will
measure more detailed approximate quantities for cost planning purposes,
ensuring that the design can be achieved within the budget.

The quantity surveyor then measures the completed working drawings to

produce a bill of quantities. Contractors tender for the job by pricing the work
described in the bill of quantities.

Post-contract measurement

The contractor may use measurement for:

Preparing a construction methodology.

Ordering goods and materials.
Procuring subcontract works.
Calculating the effects of any variations.
Assessing work done against the construction programme.
Making payments to subcontractors.
Preparing or assessing valuations of work completed for interim
payments.

The quantity surveyor may undertake measurement for:

➢ Cost control.
➢ Estimating the cost of variations to the work.
➢ Calculating the value of nominated subcontractors’ and suppliers’ work.
➢ Preparing or assessing interim valuations to pay the contractor for work
done.

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Sn Description of Items Qty Unit Rate Amount

Picture below shows the typical sample of BoQ spreadshet

TAKING OFF
Refers to the process of quantifying materials and components from
architectural and engineering drawings to create a comprehensive list of items
required for a construction project. This list is often used in conjunction with
pricing information to generate accurate cost estimates and develop a Bill of
Quantities (BOQ). The term ‘taking off’ refers to the process of identifying
elements of construction works that can be measured and priced. Those
elements can be measured in number, length, area, volume, weight or time,
then collated and structured to produce an un-priced bill of quantities. This
process is sometimes referred to as ‘working up’.

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 SPREADSHEET COLUMNS

1. The binding column

The binding column for binding dimension sheets together.
2. The timesing column
The timesing column is used to enter multipliers when there is more than one
of a particular quantity and item to be measured. In the first example below
the dimension 1.20 x 1.20 has been timesed or multiplied by 16.
3. The dimension column
The dimension column, where the measurements are recorded always in the
order of; length, width, depth or height and to two decimal places.
4. The squaring column
The squaring column, where the calculated quantities are entered.
5. The description column.
The description column contains the description of the item to be priced.
Sometimes descriptions are abbreviated.

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IMPORTANCE OF TAKING OFF:
1. Accurate Cost Estimation: Taking off is critical for accurately estimating
the costs of materials, labor, and other resources required for a
construction project. This information forms the basis for developing
budgets and pricing bids.
2. Project Planning: By quantifying materials and components early in the
project lifecycle, stakeholders can better plan procurement,
scheduling, and resource allocation to ensure timely and cost-effective
project delivery.
3. Risk Management: A comprehensive takeoff helps identify potential
risks and challenges associated with material availability, construction
complexity, and resource constraints, allowing for proactive risk
mitigation strategies.
4. Contractual Documentation: The data derived from the takeoff
process forms an essential part of contractual documentation,
including the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) and construction contracts,
providing a clear reference for project scope and specifications.
5. Cost Control: Throughout the construction process, the takeoff data
serves as a benchmark for monitoring and controlling costs, enabling

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 project managers to track expenditures, identify variances, and
implement cost-saving measures as needed.
Picture below shows the typical sample of taking off spreadsheet