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Service 03 / 07

Construction Cost Estimating

Cost estimates built up line by line from measured quantities and explicit rates. Every quantity, unit, formula and rate stays visible for review.

Output
Cost estimate
Workflow
Covers Drawing, Intelligence, Takeoff, BOQ, Estimate, then human review.
See the outputHow it's checked
ES-01 · Estimate build-up · section E · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative estimate build-up: wall W-01, 16.00 by 2.60 metres, gives 41.60 square metres, multiplied by the named rate E.1 to give cost E.1; item lines sum to the section E total, and section totals sum to the estimate.W-01 · 16.00 m41.60 m²2.60QUANTITY41.60 m²×CONTROLLED RATErate E.1=COSTcost E.1E.23 nr × rate E.2 = cost E.2Σ SECTION E · MASONRYsection EESTIMATE · Σ SECTIONSestimateRATES NAMED, NOT VALUED · ILLUSTRATIVE

Build-up

Build-up (illustrative)
ItemCalculationResult
E.141.60 m² × rate E.1cost E.1
E.23 nr × rate E.2cost E.2
EΣ E.1 … E.nsection E
ΣΣ sectionsestimate

Rates named from the controlled rate set

What it does

An estimate you can follow from the total back to the quantity

A construction cost estimate prices the measured work. Each line multiplies a measured quantity by an explicit rate. Lines add up to section totals, and sections to the estimate.

The quantity, its unit, the formula and the rate stay visible. A reviewer can follow any total back to the drawings.

QTYQuantity
Measured from the drawings
UNITUnit
Carried with every quantity
f(x)Formula
cost = quantity × rate, stated per line
RATEControlled rate
An explicit input from the project's rate set
ΣTotals
Lines roll up into sections and the estimate
CHECKValidation
Units, sources and rates checked before issue

Inputs

What we work from

The project's own documents. Core inputs are needed for this service; the others are used where the project has them.

  • Architectural drawings

    Core

    Plans, sections and elevations.

  • Specifications

    Core

    Defines the work each line prices.

  • Quantity schedule or BOQ

    Where relevant

    An existing takeoff or bill can be priced.

  • Controlled rate set

    Core

    Rates are explicit project inputs, not generated automatically.

Workflow

From quantities to a reviewed estimate

The calculation is explicit at every step: quantity, unit, rate and result.

  • Estimator
  • AI-assisted suggestion
  • Controlled calculation
  • Human review
  1. 01

    Takeoff

    Confirm quantities

    Quantities come from the takeoff or bill, with units and sources.

    Who: Estimator

  2. 02

    BOQ

    Structure the estimate

    Lines are organised by work section.

    Who: Estimator

  3. 03

    Estimate

    Apply controlled rates

    Each line takes a named rate from the project's controlled rate set.

    Who: Estimator

  4. 04

    Estimate

    Calculate

    cost = quantity × rate, line by line. Units must match.

    Who: Controlled calculation

  5. 05

    Estimate

    Total

    Lines roll up to section totals and the estimate total.

    Who: Controlled calculation

  6. 06

    Review

    Validate and review

    Units, sources and rates are checked, then an estimator reviews the result.

    Who: Human review

Deliverable

Cost estimate

Built up by work section. Each line shows its quantity, unit, named rate and formula.

Every output includes

  • Estimate by work section
  • Quantity, unit and rate reference per line
  • Section totals and estimate total
  • Validation record
ES-01Cost estimate
Illustrative Example
Illustrative cost estimate build-up
ItemQuantityRateCost
Section E
E.141.60 m²rate E.141.60 × E.1
E.23 nrrate E.23 × E.2
Σ section EΣ E
Section M
M.144.80 m²rate M.144.80 × M.1
M.227.20 mrate M.227.20 × M.2
Σ section MΣ M
Estimate totalΣ E + Σ M
Unit matchSource sheetRate sourceReviewed
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Checked and traceable

Every figure can be followed back

The estimate is validated as a calculation, then reviewed as an estimate.

Checked before issue

  1. 01Unit of rate matches unit of quantity
  2. 02Every rate has a recorded source
  3. 03Every quantity has a source sheet
  4. 04Section totals reconcile to the estimate total
  5. 05Estimator review before issue

One line followed back to its source, and one drawing revision handled. Neither is real project data.

Illustrative Example
Trace · estimate back to the drawing

  1. Estimate

    Σ sections

  2. Section

    E · Masonry

  3. Line

    E.1 · 41.60 m² × rate E.1

  4. Quantity

    41.60 m² · W-01

  5. Source

    A-301 · Wall section · Rev B

  6. State

    Reviewed

Revision · Line E.1

Was 39.52 m² × rate E.1

changed to 41.60 m² × rate E.1

The line recalculates from the revised quantity. The named rate is unchanged.

Construction Cost Estimating

See the working behind every figure

Every figure in a cost estimate shows its working. Next, see how commercial estimating organises an estimate by trade.

Get a quoteNext: Commercial Estimating

Related services

  • Output · Bill of Quantities

    BOQ Preparation

    Bills of Quantities structured into work sections, with clear item descriptions, units and quantities.

  • Output · Trade-structured estimate

    Commercial Estimating

    Estimating for commercial building projects, structured by trade and work section.

  • Output · Tender estimate pack

    Tender Estimating

    Quantities and estimates prepared to support tender submissions, with scope assumptions recorded.