ENGINEERING

ESTIMATES AND
BUILDING LAWS
CHAPTER I: CONCEPT OF ESTIMATE
 It is the determination of probable construction costs of
any given project.
 Many items influence and contribute to the cost of a
project; each item must be analyzed, quantified, and
priced.
 For projects constructed with the design-bid-build (DBB)
delivery system, it is necessary for contractors to submit a
competitive cost estimate for the project.
 Because the estimate is prepared from the working
drawings and the project manual for a building, the ability
of the estimator to visualize all of the different phases of
the construction project becomes a prime ingredient in
successful bidding.
VARIABLES IN ESTIMATE:

1. DIRECT FIELD COST

- The direct field costs are the material, labor,
equipment, or subcontracted items that are permanently
and physically integrated into the building.

2. INDIRECT FIELD COST

- The indirect field costs are the cost for the items that
are required to support the field construction efforts.
TYPES OF ESTIMATE:

1. DETAILED ESTIMATE
- The detailed estimate must establish the estimated
quantities and costs of the materials, the time required for
and costs of labor, the equipment required and its cost, the
items required for overhead and the cost of each item, and
the percentage of profit desired, considering the
investment, the time to complete, and the complexity of the
project.
2. ASSEMBLY ESTIMATING
- In assembly estimating, rather than bidding each of the
individual components of the project, the estimator bids the
components in groups known as assemblies.
3. SQUARE FOOT ESTIMATES
- Square-foot estimates are prepared by multiplying the
square footage of a building by a cost per square foot and
then adjusting the price to compensate for differences in the
building heights, length of the building perimeter, and other
building components.
4. PARAMETRIC ESTIMATES
- Parametric estimates use equations that express the
statistical relationship between building parameters and the
cost of the building. The building parameters used in the
equation may include the gross square footage, number of
floors, length of perimeter, percentage of the building that is
common space, and so forth. Parametric estimating is useful
for preparing conceptual estimates based on assumptions of
key building parameters or estimates based upon early
designs.
5. MODEL ESTIMATING
- Model estimating uses computer models to prepare an
estimate based on a number of questions answered by the
estimator. Model estimating is similar to assembly estimating,
but it requires less input from the estimator.

6. PROJECT COMPARISON ESTIMATES

- Project comparison estimates are prepared by comparing
the cost of a proposed project to a completed project.
CONTRACTS
 May be awarded either by a single contract for the entire
project or by separate contracts for the various phases required
for the completion of the project.

1. SINGLE CONTRACT
- Comprises all work required for the completion of a project
and is the responsibility of a single, prime contractor.
- The subcontractors (including mechanical and electrical) and
material suppliers involved in the project are responsible
directly to the prime contractor, who in turn is responsible
directly to the owner.
2. SEPARATE CONTRACT
- The owner signs separate agreements for the construction
of various portions of a project. The separate awards are often
broken into the following phases:

 General construction
 Plumbing
 Heating (ventilating, air-conditioning)
 Electrical
 Sewage disposal (if applicable)
 Elevators (if applicable)
 Specialties
 Other
CHAPTER II: CONCRETE

1. Plain concrete
 Is an artificial stone as result of mixing
cement, fine aggregates, coarse
aggregates and water.

2. Reinforced concrete
 Is a concrete with reinforcement
embedded in such a manner that the two
materials act together in resisting forces.
Different types of cement used in the
construction:
1. Ordinary Portland Cement

2. Rapid hardening Portland cement

 Preferred when high early strength is required

3. Blast Furnace Or Sulphate Cement

 Used on structures to resist chemical attack

4. Low Heat Portland Cement

 For massive section to reduce the heat of hydration
 Different types of cement used in the
construction:
5. Portland Pozzolan Cement
 With low hardening characteristic concrete.
6. High alumina cement
 Sometimes called aluminous cement or cement fundu
 Its chemical composition is different from that of Portland
cement with predominant alumina oxide contents of at least 32%
by weight. The alumina lime ratio is within the limit of 0.85% to
1.3%.
 Has very high rate of strength development as compared with
the ordinary Portland cement. Aside from its rapid hardening
properties, it can resist chemical attack by sulphate and weak
acids including sea water.
Main Composition of Cement

 60 to 65% Lime
 18 -25% Silica
 3 -8% Alumina
 3 -5 % Iron Oxide
 2-5% Magnesia
 1-5% Sulfur Trioxide
AGGREGATES

1. Coarse Aggregate
- Crushed stone, crushed gravel or natural
gravel with particles retained on a 5 mm
sieve.

2. Fine Aggregate
- Crushed stone, crushed gravel, sand or
natural sand with particles passing on a 5
mm sieve.
SIZE OF AGGREGATES
 The aggregate should be small enough for the concrete
mixture to flow around the reinforcement and is ready for
consumption.
 For coarse aggregate (gravel), the maximum nominal size
are usually 40 mm, 20mm, 14 mm or 10 mm diameter. The
choice from the above sizes depends upon the dimensions
of the concrete member more particularly the spacing of
steel bar reinforcements. However, good practice
demands that the maximum size of the coarse aggregate
(gravel) should not exceed 25% of the minimum thickness
of the member nor exceed the clear distance between the
reinforcing bars and the form.
THE PRINCIPLES OF CONCRETE MIXING

 The purpose in concrete mixing is to select an optimum

proportion of cement, water and aggregates to produce a
concrete that will meet the specification requirement
such as:
 Workability

 Strength

 Durability

 Economy
THE PRINCIPLES OF CONCRETE MIXING
 The proportions which will be finally adopted in concrete
mixing has to be established by actual trial and
adjustments in order to attain the desired strength of
concrete required. The processes would be as follows:

1. Water Cement Ratio

- First determined to meet the requirements of strength
and durability

2. Aggregate Cement Ratio

- Chosen to satisfy the workability requirements
The ACI requirements for concrete are
enumerated as follows:

1. Fresh concrete shall be workable. Meaning, that the fresh

concrete can freely flow around the reinforcements and
fill all the voids inside the form.
2. The hardened concrete shall be strong enough to carry
the carry design load.
3. The hardened concrete could withstand the conditions
which it is expected to perform.
4. The concrete should be economically produced.
Concrete mixture maybe classified as
either:
1. Designed Mixture
 The contractor is responsible in selecting the mixture
proportion to achieve the required strength and
workability.

2. Prescribed Mixture
 The designing engineer specify the mixture proportion.
The contractor’s responsibility is only to provide a
properly mixed concrete containing the right proportions
as prescribed.
CONCRETE PROPORTIONS
 The most common and easy way of proportioning concrete is
the volume method using a measuring box for sand and gravel.

Measuring box for 40 kg cement ( 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm)

Measuring box for 50 kg cement 9 30 cm x 30 xm x 38 cm )
CONCRETE PROPORTION TABLE

CEMENT
SAND GRAVEL
CLASS MIXTURE
40kg/Bag 50kg/bag (cu.m) (cu. m)

AA 1: 1 ½ :3 12 9.5 0.50 1.00

A 1: 2 :4 9 7 0.50 1.00

B 1: 2 ½ :5 7.5 6 0.50 1.00

C 1: 3 : 6 6 5 0.50 1.00
STRENGTH OF MIXTURE

a. Class AA - 4000 PSI

b. Class A - 3500 PSI
c. Class B - 2500 PSI
d. Class C - 2000 PSI
In actual concreting and masonry work, there are
several factors that might affect the accuracy of the
estimate. Some which are enumerated as follows:

 Inaccurate volume of delivered aggregates by the supplied

is very common. Delivery truck measurements must be
checked to assure that the volume of aggregates delivered
is exactly as ordered.
 Dumping of aggregates (sand and gravel) uneven ground
surface and grassy areas reduces the net volume of
aggregates.
 Improper measuring of the aggregates during the mixing
operation. This is a common practice when the work is on
its momentum where laborers fails to observed the right
measuring of aggregates being delivered to the mixer.
In actual concreting and masonry work, there are
several factors that might affect the accuracy of the
estimate. Some which are enumerated as follows:

 The cement and fine aggregate for grouting concrete joint

is often overlooked in the estimate.
 Cement waste due to bag breakage is usually caused
wreckless handling and hauling.
 Pilferages of materials. This could be avoided through a
good system of construction management.
Ordering coarse aggregate must be
specific as to:
 Kind of gravel, either crushed stone or natural gravel from
the creek.
 The minimum and maximum size of the stone must be
specified. It shall be free from mixed sand because sand is
cheaper than gravel.
 Natural gravel from the creek requires screening to obtain
a well graded aggregate but screening involves additional
cost on labor.
ESTIMATION FOR DIFFERENT
CONCRETE WORKS:
CONCRETE SLAB AND CONCRETE WALL
METHODS:
1. Volume Method
Step 1: Find the volume of the slab/wall.
Step 2: Select the appropriate concrete proportion and class
mixture.
Step 3: Multiply the volume by the corresponding values from
the concrete proportion table to determine the number of bags
of cement needed and the volume of sand and gravel.
2. Area Method
Step1: Solve for the area of the slab/wall.
Step 2: Select the appropriate concrete proportion and class
mixture.
Step 3: Multiply the computed area to the corresponding values
from the table below.
QUANTITY OF CEMENT, SAND AND GRAVEL FOR
SLAB AND WALLS PER SQUARE METER AREA
SLAB/WALL MIXTURE CLASS Sand Gravel
THICKNESS (cu.m) (cu.m)
40 kg cement 50 kg cement
(cm)
A B C A B C
5.0 0.450 0.375 0.300 0.350 0.300 0.250 0.0250 0.050
7.5 0.625 0.563 0.450 0.525 0.450 0.375 0.0375 0.075
10.0 0.900 0.750 0.600 0.700 0.600 0.500 0.0500 0.100
12.5 1.125 0.938 0.750 0.875 0.750 0.625 0.0630 0.125
15.0 1.350 1.125 0.900 1.050 0.900 0.750 0.0750 0.150
17.5 1.575 1.313 1.050 1.225 1.050 0.875 0.0880 0.175
20.0 1.800 1.500 1.200 1.400 1.200 1.00 0.1000 0.200
22.5 2.030 1.688 1.350 1.575 1.350 1.125 0.1125 0.225
25.0 2.25 1.875 1.500 1.750 1.500 1.250 0.1250 0.250
27.5 2.475 2.063 1.650 1.925 1.650 1.375 0.1380 0.275
30.0 2.700 2.250 1.800 2.100 1.800 1.500 0.1500 0.300
CONCRETE COLUMN AND BEAMS
 Volume Method
Step 1: Solve for the total volume of the column.
Step 2: Select the appropriate concrete proportion and class
mixture.
Step 3: Multiply the volume by the corresponding values from the
concrete proportion table to determine the number of bags of
cement needed and the volume of sand and gravel.
 Linear Meter Method
Step 1: find the total length of the 8 columns.
Step 2: Select the appropriate concrete proportion and class
mixture.
Step 3:Multiply the computed length to the corresponding values
from the table below.