A Bill of Quantities is a precise breakdown of all the material, labour and parts required for a successful construction project. They provide valuable information on cost estimating, project overruns, material ordering along with a host of other benefits.
Quantity surveyors, architects and many others within the construction industry use a Bill of Quantities to help them plan and manage their construction projects.
We are going to look at what a Bill of Quantities contains, traditional methods of estimating and software which now makes this task much easier and more accurate.
Why is a Bill of Quantities Important?
A Bill of Quantities defines the quality and quantity of work to be done by the main contractor. It contains information such as material scheduling, construction and cost planning, and cost analysis. It works as an extensive summation of all materials necessary to complete a construction project.
The prime purpose of a BoQ is to dictate the contractor’s quotation for the construction project by pricing on the items defined by the quantity surveyor. These detailed breakdowns help to create estimates and allowing for successful tendering by contractors and construction professionals.
Types of Bills of Quantities
There are two types of bills of quantities recognised worldwide.
- Firm Bill of Quantities
When a Bill of Quantities is accurately measured and priced, it is considered a Firm Bill of Quantities. It provides accurate and detailed information on the construction project. A Firm Bill of Quantities can usually be crafted using smart and intuitive software
- Approximate Bill of Quantities
This BoQ, sometimes known as a Provisional Bill of Quantities, as the name may suggest, contains incomplete measurements and costs. When there is insufficient information to prepare a Firm Bill of Quantities, this automatically translates to an approximate Bill of Quantities. Nevertheless, it can be re-measured in the process of construction.
In this BoQ most of the details are approximated. Usually, used in the initial stages of a construction project, an approximate Bill of Quantities is a good starting point for many contractors and businesses tending to a job.
Preparing a Bill of Quantities
If you were to follow traditional methods of creating a Bill of Quantities, the first step would be to set up a spreadsheet.
- Include columns listing item numbers, description, unit of measurement, quantity, item rate, labour, and the total cost of materials.
- When filling in your draft, the rate for each item and cost will be filled by the contractors bidding on the project.
- Make a list of all the materials required from the beginning of the construction to its completion. Compare the list with the architect’s plan to ensure that everything is included in the BoQ. For example, if you are constructing a house, you will require sheetrock, bricks, framing materials, paint, and floor and fixtures. Identify the unit of measurement for each.
- Considering that different parts of your project are likely to be handled by different builders, split up the list of materials into sections such as electrical, floor, and kitchen.
- Estimate the labour required for each section and account for it as man-hours. Make a cost estimate based on the architecture’s design. These estimates will be based on the average cost of materials in the area.
- Finally, make a schedule estimate for your construction project. Consider delays that may occur due to conditions such as bad weather and keep it flexible.
As you can see from this more traditional method, there is a lot of room for human error and sporadic changes occurring, that is why it is essential to use software for this task.
Cubit Estimating Pro
Cubit Estimating Pro is software used to take the hassle out of manual estimating. You may follow the same steps as above, however, using digitized software results will be more accurate and quicker. Cubit estimating allows you to calculate quantity take-off directly from plans and drawings.
Cubit Estimating Pro offers a unique and natural take-off solution for estimating building and construction projects.
Benefits of Using Cubit Estimating Pro
Estimating construction projects can be tiring and complicated.
- Cubit Estimating Pro makes it a much easier and quicker affair. Thus, resulting in more accurate estimates, these can be developed in a Bill of Quantities or used as a benchmark for the project completion.
- This software provides an efficient way to process estimates, track projects, put quotes in the tender marketplace, and save time.
- Cubit Estimating has a user-friendly functionality, enabling you to do estimates in a flexible nature. It traces all information by directly importing it, making performing complex take-offs easy Any files such as PDF, CAD, or images can be imported and prepared using the software.
- You can find free online training onsite, including a Cubit Estimating online seminar that introduces potential Cubit users to the software’s features.
Cubit Estimating Pro Features
Building Software Services offers a range of features under the Cubit Estimating Pro that make it the best functionality for estimating.
The 2D Take-off and 3D Visualization Software get a quick and accurate measure from imported documents such as CAD. Cubit completes this process twelve times faster than using manual methods of importing information.
Variations management is another handy feature allowing you to switch out items post estimate to see what changes would occur to your project.
The collaborative nature and ease of use of Cubit mean it can be accessed and altered in real time providing up to date information to all the key players in your construction project.
The importance of a Bill of Quantities:
A Bill of Quantities provides a framework around which contractors and trades can offer their services at competitive prices. It also means that cost overruns can be contained and that each trade knows the parameters of their work.
Software such as Cubit estimating allow for detailed and precise estimates to be generated. It reduces favouritism, human error and speeds up the estimating process.
Time which many civil engineers, quantity surveyors and similar professionals would gladly have on the side of their project.
When to use a Bill of Quantities:
Though they can be used across all project types, a Bill of Quantities is most often used on larger projects in which various contractors and subcontractors will be employed. They allow for planning and hiring across various sectors, a process that is simply not needed on smaller projects.
